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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB 2025-03-25 CB 2025-03-25 Final 1 CONSERVATION BOARD March 25, 2025 Hybrid Present: Anne Clark (acting chair), *Steve Bissen, *Naomi Cator-Szymanski (alternate), Jeanne Grace, *Kate McKee, *Nancy Munkenbeck, Craig Schutt Absent: Gian Dodici (chair), Andrew Miller, Tim Woods Liaisons: *Spring Buck (Town Board) Staff: Loren Sparling (Deputy Town Clerk) “*” denotes attendance via Zoom The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. A Clark served as chair in the absence of G Dodici. N Cator-Szymanski was activated as a voting member in the absence of A Miller and T Woods. Review and Acceptance of Minutes RESOLUTION #3 (2025) – ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY 28, 2025 C Schutt offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board of the Town of Dryden hereby accepts the meeting minutes of January 28, 2025, as written . 2nd S Bissen Roll Call Vote S Bissen Yes A Clark Yes K McKee Yes N Munkenbeck Abstain C Schutt Yes N Cator-Symanski Yes J Grace arrived at 7:04 p.m. RESOLUTION #4 (2025) – ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2025 A Clark offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board of the Town of Dryden hereby accepts the meeting minutes of February 25, 2025, as written. 2nd C Schutt Roll Call Vote S Bissen Yes A Clark Yes J Grace Yes K McKee Yes N Munkenbeck Abstain C Schutt Yes N Cator-Symanski Yes Report: Agriculture Advisory Committee C Schutt distributed the following report to Board members via email: CB 2025-03-25 Final 2 The Ag Committee met this month. Most of the discussion involved the zoning update being underway. A member of the AC had attended the kickoff meeting, and he reported on the discussions that took place during that first meeting. Report: Climate Smart Communities Task Force A Clark distributed the following report to Board members via email: The Climate Smart meeting was cancelled due to Alice being ill. These are from several follow-up emails: Gina Cassidy, Alice and Jerry Sheng (CCE) are … working on documenting Dryden accomplishments toward Silver Certification … due in early April. Following meeting cancellation, Christina Dravis shared a response from Tompkins Hwy Dept providing a map of roads that could be adopted and also an application form. The Task Force is hoping to promote this. Jerry Sheng also reminded us to promote the Earthfest including a CCE sponsored "clothing swap and mend" event. Here is his summary: Additionally, we will be looking for donations for mending supplies like small embroidery hoops, scissors for threads, threads, fabric, etc. CCE Tompkins (615 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY 14850) will be hosting a small donation box for these mending supplies. Additionally, I have a volunteer form put together for folks who may be interested in helping out with the clothing swap or teaching others how to mend clothing, textiles, and leather materials. Please feel free to share this form with folks so we can start staffing our table with volunteers. Here is the volunteer form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRJLiozpHOEzvydZqVOkNXwcMZo344OS 6G83kqrDuTcCgrCA/viewform?usp=dialog Report: Environmental Management Council (EMC) S Bissen reported that Tompkins County’s Environmental Management Council (EMC) is holding its annual gathering of conservation boards on Thursday, May 8 at the Stewart Park pavilion from 4-6 p.m. Board members were encouraged to attend. Report: Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council (OLWMC) A Clark distributed the following report to Board members via email: The OLWMC meeting occurred on 18 March. … Two items of interest to CB members: Olivia Greene of [The Nature Conservancy] presented work toward a new preserve being set up on Long Hill Rd, near Venice. This and a second site at S end of the Lake are among priority properties to protect the Watershed. Also as announced by the DEC, The Owasco Flats Wildlife Management area will be increased by a large parcel (https://dec.ny.gov/news/press- releases/2025/3/dec-and-the-nature -conservancy-announce-92-acre-addition-to-owasco -flats - wildlife-management-area). Olivia showed a nice map of the priority properties …. Also of note is that a new 2024 report on the Owasco Lake Watershed coming soon. New Business: Zoning Rewrite Stemming from the zoning rewrite work session that took place on March 6, 2025, N Munkenbeck raised concerns about growing interest in building data centers and battery CB 2025-03-25 Final 3 backup facilities within the Town. Such data centers house huge banks of computers that require high electricity consumption. She also raised concerns about the increased use of water that would be needed to cool down these centers. She described the battery backup facilities as a group of “steel buildings filled with lithium-ion batteries inside a fence,” that would potentially serve as a backup for substations. A significant concern that was highlighted at the work session was the protocol for responders to “just stand back and let it burn,” should a fire break out. She also expressed her uncertainty as to the potential impact that toxins would have on the environment if such fires were allowed to burn. Through this zoning committee, the Planning Board is working on how to regulate these two types of facilities, aiming to have proposals ready for the Town Board by the fall. She relayed that there is a proposal for a battery storage facility before the Town that is currently on hold as the issue is studied. The rationale is that, if not specifically zoned, such facilities could be placed anywhere. Zoning committee participants surmised that the only area in the Town in which the facility could be located is near NYSEG. S Buck clarified that the Town has instituted a moratorium on data center development for about another year and a half to allow time to determine if they should be allowed in the Town, and, if so, under what zoning regulations. The Planning Board had discussed limiting data centers by square footage, with S Buck raising concerns about the possibility of multiple smaller facilities circumventing such limits. She wants to ensure that, should data centers be allowed in the Town, they be well regulated. The legal complexities of limiting energy usage were also noted. Regarding the committee’s discussion about battery storage facilities, S Buck acknowledged New York State’s strong initiative to encourage renewable energy storage, as well as the tension thus created between the State’s desire for green energy solutions and the safety and environmental concerns associated with current battery technology. This is something that both the Planning Board and the zoning consultant will need to consider. S Bissen added that the economics of building both types of facilities favor locations near existing power infrastructure to avoid the cost of running major new power lines. This suggests areas near substations will potentially be zoned for development of these facilities. To this, N Munkenbeck highlighted the complexities of finding suitable sites that meet both land use and safety requirements. She worries that, although battery storage containers are designed to contain any flames from a fire, the heat from the fire may cause flames to arise outside of the container, which could potentially impact electrical substations if the two were located next to one another. The rapid pace of technological change in battery technology was noted as a factor in making long-term planning challenging. Discussion returned to data centers, with it being indicated that there is much concern about increased noise, water use, power draw, and generator emissions associated with such facilities. It was acknowledged that the Board will be asked for their input on these matters, emphasizing the importance of their ongoing awareness and deliberation. Old Business: Update on Tree Planting at O. D. von Engeln J Grace reaffirmed the Board’s decision to undertake a multi-tree planting initiative at von Engeln in the fall to allow more time for planning and fundraising. She will reconnect with The Nature Conservancy to discuss this plan (multi-tree planting of native species), share a list CB 2025-03-25 Final 4 of potential species, and provide a map of the proposed planting area to get a rough budget for fundraising. Contacting the Rail Trail Task Force to advertise the initiative on their Facebook page was identified as a key step for outreach. J Grace related that Amanda Anderson, bookkeeper for the Town, has provided information on how donations can be directed to a specific holding account for the project; payment of any invoices associated with the project will come from that account. J Grace will also research different plaque options and their associated costs to inform future fundraising goals. The Board aimed to narrow down a planting date in April or May. Ideas for community involvement in planting or site preparation were then discussed. The possibility of including invasive species control in the project in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy was raised. The idea of featuring the tree planting initiative in the Town’s newsletter (potentially the May issue) was supported in order to inform the community about this and potentially solicit donations. Old Business: CCE Reforestation Grant The proposed grant application for both the Campbell Meadows and Pinckney Road sites fell through because the locations were just outside the eligible area, as defined by the grant’s scope. Applications were still submitted for sites in Trumansburg and the City of Ithaca. The possibility of another round of funding exists, prompting the suggestion to re- examine the map and identify other potential Town-owned sites within Dryden that might be eligible. Old Business: DRYC Update C Schutt reported that development plans for the Town-owned ball fields have been scaled back considerably for lack of funds. Ideas for outbuildings and bathrooms have been scrapped, with the focus now on creating one or two ball fields in the most cost-effective manner possible. The Highway Department is expected to handle much of the groundwork for building the fields. J Grace mentioned the existence of a State municipal parks and recreation grant, funded by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which has a funding cap of $10 million total and may require a 10% match. The possibility of a staged approach to development, starting with basic infrastructure like a shelter or dugouts, was considered. The Board briefly touched upon the type of infield surface and the importance of drainage. The avoidance of artificial turf was expressed due to environmental concerns. Old Business: Newsletter Submissions The primary newsletter contribution for May will focus on the von Engeln tree planting fundraising efforts. CB 2025-03-25 Final 5 Due to the quick turnaround time for the April newsletter, the Board brainstormed simple, actionable conservation “quick tips.” K McKee volunteered to provide information about delaying yard cleanup to support pollinators, noting that the Xerces Society has good resources on this. Reminding residents of the State’s burn ban was also suggested. Other potential quick tips include information on pollinator gardens, ticks, avoiding toxic pesticides, and the timing for planting certain species. S Bissen suggested a tip for May regarding using strong/cleaning vinegar (45%) as a broad-spectrum herbicide, noting its effectiveness but also the need for cautious use due to its acidity. The edibility of garlic mustard was also briefly mentioned as a potential future newsletter item. Other Items Dryden Dairy Day Booth. S Buck suggested that there be a Town of Dryden booth at Dryden Dairy Day to provide information about volunteer opportunities on the Town’s various advisory boards, as well as answer any questions that residents might have. The Climate Smart Task Force had a presence at previous Dairy Days. The idea of including representatives and information from various conservation- minded organizations, such as the Community Science Institute, was discussed as a way to cross-promote initiatives and volunteer opportunities. Dryden Dairy Day is always held on the second Saturday of June, which falls this year on June 14. Biomonitoring NY Study. L Sparling mentioned that New York State Department of Health is currently conducting a biomonitoring project to learn more about levels of chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, and heavy metals in the blood and urine of New Yorkers. Bumblebee Intelligence. Information was also shared about a study demonstrating bumblebees’ ability to learn complex problem-solving through observation. There being no further business, on motion made by A Clark, seconded by S Bissen, the meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Loren Sparling Deputy Town Clerk