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Home My WebLink About2016-08-30 Conservation Board August 30, 2016 Page 1 of 4 Dryden Conservation Board August 30, 2016 Members Present: Bob Beck (Chair), Gian Dodici, Charlie Smith, Craig Schutt, Milo Richmond, and Tim Woods (Alternate) Liaisons Present: Kathy Servoss (Town Board) and David Weinstein (Planning Chair) The meeting was called to order at 7:12PM. Review and approval of minutes from May 31, 2016: C. Schutt moved to approve the minutes .The motion was seconded by C. Smith and unanimously approved. Citizens Privilege: G. Dodici said the Highway Department mowed along his road recently. They avoided the day lilies but reached beyond them to mow his wildflowers. E. Bieber shared the alert regarding the blue-green algae in Dryden Lake. Board reports: The Board discussed the length and depth of reports being presented. Although some feel too much time is spent discussing what is happening on other boards and commissions and not enough time working on the projects with which the Town Board has charged the Board, the general consensus of those present was that the reports are relevant and important to the Conservation Board. It was agreed that some of the reports can be written and shared prior to the meeting. Discussion can then be held during the meeting as needed. Town Board: K. Servoss - The Montgomery Park Resolution allocated up to $60,000 from the Recreation Reserve Fund for the Montgomery Park renovations. The resolution can be subject to a public referendum. Some of this funding will be “in kind work”. - The Jim Schug Trail fitness centers are moving forward. A grant was awarded for $3700. They need at least $6000 to install all of the stations so sponsorships are being sought. - The Town Board is holding budget presentations by the department heads on September 8th. The public is welcome to attend but questions will not be addressed at that time. - The Town Board will be holding a public hearing on the tax cap on September 15th at 6 PM. Planning Board: D. Weinstein Please see attached. Ag Advisory Committee: C. Schutt - The Ag Committee did not meet last month DRYC - The DRYC did not meet last month. Conservation Board August 30, 2016 Page 2 of 4 Planning Department: R. Burger - not present Tompkins County EMC: S. Bissen - not present Rail Trail Task Force: B. Beck - The Task Force has 2 signed leases and believe they have 22 more leases that area signature ready leases. There are about 40 total properties for which they need leases. - B. Beck indicated that after a meeting with the William George Agency, it appears they may be on board with the continuation of the trail. On the other end, they are getting a significant number of easements signed. There is a concern about getting enough easements to qualify for a grant application by the end of October. - To apply for the NYS DOT TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant, the DOT requires the applicant to have leases for the area for which the grant is being sought. If the trail doesn’t get the folks along the trail onboard, then the grant will not be given. - They do not yet have approval to pass through the Game Farm. NRCP: The Board discussed a better way to share the documents they are creating. Several members have had difficulty using the drop box. - Should everyone have editorial powers? Should the edits be sent to everyone or just the person/persons that are working on that section? The Board agreed to send edits (typed in red) back to the original author who will then incorporate the suggested changes or defend why those changes are not necessary/desirable. - C. Schutt shared the manner in which the Ag Committee is working on their plan – prioritizing the goals and identifying the various groups/organizations that can help fulfill those goals. - D. Weinstein asked whether threats to Natural Resources should be a separate section or should it be included in each of the pertinent sections. The Board agreed that having the threat section in the pertinent section will be helpful and less redundant. Water Resources: G. Dodici - G. Dodici presented his section of the plan. Using the Ancram plan as a guide, he has adjusted the information to apply to Dryden. - C. Smith asked G. Dodici what he considers a 100 foot buffer. From the center of the stream, from either bank, etc? G. Dodici said he sees it as 100 feet from each bank = 200 feet plus the stream width. Farmland Resources: C. Schutt - C. Schutt used the same method as G. Dodici and presented the information he has generated. - C. Smith asked what the Ag Committee believes regarding stream buffering. - C. Schutt believes they will refer to the State and Federal programs regarding stream buffering. Biological Resources: N. Munkenbeck and D. Weinstein Recreational Resources: N. Munkenbeck and D. Weinstein Conservation Board August 30, 2016 Page 3 of 4 Enduring Resources and Scenic Features: M. Richmond has been working on creating a map of what he believes are interesting or important scenic features. The following website provides more information. http://tompkinscountyny.gov/files/planning/nri/documents/TCSRreportJan17.pdf - B. Beck pointed out that there is a plethora of work previously completed (open space plan parts, the land acquisition guidelines, trail management work, etc.) that can be pulled into the NRCP. - A short discussion was held regarding methods of farmland protection. C. Smith asked a couple questions about how farmland can be kept farmland – Ag-land Protection Programs and Ag exemptions. Some of the programs are not financially beneficial right now because the cost of farmland is close to the cost of developable property. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20PM. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk Key issues discussed at the Planning Board Meeting 8/25/16 Conservation Board August 30, 2016 Page 4 of 4 (report by David Weinstein) 1. Infrastructure law examination: The Town Board has tasked the Planning Board with examining the towns laws concerning infrastructure development. The priority in this examination will be our laws involving pipeline development because the recently enacted limited time moratorium has created some urgency. The goal of this effort is to make sure that all of our infrastructure laws are parallel in terms of their treatment of issues such as bonding, environmental impact assessment, and review procedures. This effort will begin this month with a compilation of the relevant laws of other County municipalities to identify issues addressed elsewhere that we want to make sure are treated within Dryden. 2. Planning to reduce concerns about traffic on route 366 through Varna: With the recent flurry of development proposals in and around Varna, the public has raised repeated concerns about increasing traffic problems. The Planning Board discussed ways we might become stronger advocates for traffic control and safety measures that could be implemented, starting with input into the upcoming road rebuilding project in Varna that will begin being designed shortly. 3. Varna pocket parks: The Varna Community Plan envisions the creation of small public “pocket parks” being created as part to development projects in the hamlet. However, no such park was created as part of the rental townhouse development at 902 Dryden Road, and there was no agreement reached as yet on whether the common land that will be part of the owner- occupied “Tiny Timbers” subdivision development at 5 Freese Road will be open to the public who are not part of the homeowners association there. The only public land that will accompany the 1061 Dryden Road rental townhouse development if built will be the trail land that will be deeded to the town for the rail-to-trail project. The Board will begin exploring ways to make sure parks and sidewalk connections between parcels throughout the hamlet are implemented to help achieve the vision of a walkable community. 4. Proposed fill ordinance: A subcommittee of the Board is developing a proposal for an ordinance that will provide some regulation of activities that involve large amounts of fill material being deposited on land within the town. There is sentiment that the town needs some oversight for such activities, including the ability to steer them away from the denser residential areas of the town. 5. Stream buffering: Some members of the Board are exploring ideas for reducing the landowner activities that have the potential to degrade the environment within proximity of the larger town streams and creeks. Particular concerns include erosion acceleration and the loss of the flood-mitigating riparian buffer vegetation. The Planning Department has already provided a copy of the 2009 riparian protection proposal made by the Conservation Board so that this can be used as a potential template for ideas, along with recent ordinances enacted by other Tompkins County municipalities to address this concern. 6. New chair of the Planning Board is Marty Moseley, following the resignation from the board of Joe Laquatra. Joe’s seat was filled by making the Board’s alternate member, Joe Wilson, a full member. The board is looking for candidates to fill two alternate member positions.