The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCB 2026-02-24 att CB 2026-02-24 Final 1 CONSERVATION BOARD February 24, 2026 Hybrid Present: Anne Clark (co-chair), *Jeanne Grace (co-chair), *Steve Bissen, Gian Dodici, *Kate McKee, *Andrew Miller, Nancy Munkenbeck, Craig Schutt, *Tim Woods, Absent: Naomi Cator-Szymanski (alternate) Liaison(s): *Spring Buck (Town Board) Staff: Loren Sparling (Deputy Town Clerk) Guest(s): Evan Carpenter (Agriculture Advisory Committee), *Robin Tropper-Herbel “*” denotes attendance via Zoom The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m and opened with introductions of the Board members and guests. Review and Acceptance of Minutes A Clark noted that the minutes from January’s meeting have yet to be completed and so they will be reviewed at the next session. Report: Climate Action Committee A Clark reported that the Committee wrote a letter in support of a data center moratorium in advance of a Town Board decision on the matter. The Town Board has since resolved to pass the ban to ensure municipal resources and environmental standards are protected. The Repair Café is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, in the basement of the Dryden Center for Community. This is a community event aimed at fixing lamps and electronics, among other things, and providing guidance for mobile devices. Fixers are still needed, particularly for cell phones and iPads. A Japanese-style Miyawaki micro-forest planting is scheduled for May near the old cement factory. The project will use native species that will quickly grow into a dense, woody vegetation area. The purpose of this project is to transform what is currently an eyesore into a natural area. There is also early discussion regarding an owner interested in developing a hub of affordable housing near the old NYSEG building (at the intersection of Rtes 13 and 366) on the 100-acre Leonardo property. S Buck related that the Housing Committee wanted to conduct a study to understand the site’s potential, but not in association with an actual project proposal. More may have transpired since last she heard a month ago. New Business: Presentation on the Resolution Regarding a Moratorium on Major Subdivisons Passed by Dryden’s Agricultural Advisory Committee on 2/18/26 Evan Carpenter, chair of the Agriculture Advisory Committee (AAC), reported that the AAC presented a resolution to the Town Board last Thursday, requesting an 18-month moratorium on major subdivisions on agricultural land containing prime soils or soils of statewide importance (see attached). The moratorium is intended to provide the Zoning Advisory Group (ZAG) with sufficient time to align the Town’s zoning laws with both the Comprehensive Plan and the Agricultural Plan, ensuring better protection for agricultural lands. CB 2026-02-24 Final 2 The proposal highlights a long-standing tension between protecting land as a community resource and respecting the property rights of farmers. Farmers often view their land as a liquid asset. Just as a business might sell equipment (e.g., bulldozers and backhoes), a farmer may wish to sell a portion of land to fund other operations. There is internal debate regarding the fairness of zoning laws that restrict a farmer’s ability to develop their own land when other types of business assets are not subject to similar municipal oversight. At the same time, farmers want to protect lands that are used for agriculture. E Carpenter noted the paradox that farmers find themselves in. How can tracts of farmed land be both protected and potentially developed at the same time? He cited the Ezra Village development that is planned for the area bounded by Mott Rd and North Rd/Rte 13. That will be on viable ag land, but it has the ability to be hooked up to sewer, water, and other necessities for development. It makes sense for a development to go there. Locating a dense development in West Dryden or on Hile School Rd does not. The Board discussed the practical implications of placing residential developments adjacent to active livestock operations. Farm odors are heavy and tend to move downhill. One Board member noted that while they do not smell their own farm at their house, their downhill neighbors experience significant odors. While buyers are often required to sign a Right to Farm disclosure at closing, these are often buried in paperwork. New residents may be unaware of seasonal activities like manure lagoon cleaning. Robin Tropper-Herbel noted that mature forests like Trillium Woods serve as essential buffers for odor and noise. Removing these trees would make the surrounding area significantly drier and windier. A critical issue identified is the discrepancy between the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and its zoning ordinances. The Comprehensive Plan identifies certain areas (like those near Trillium Woods) as the lowest priorities for development due to conservable soils. N Munkenbeck remarked that current zoning often designates similar areas as Rural Residential, encouraging the creation of lots of little lots rather than maintaining agricultural use. It seemed inordinately contradictory to her that Ag District #1 includes land currently zoned as Rural Residential. She also noted that under previous planners, agriculture was not a focus, leading to a passive, rather than active, approach to Town planning. S Buck wondered whether a moratorium on developing ag land would cause developers to trend toward deforestation activities in the Town. N Munkenbeck encouraged Board members to think of good ag land as not only arable cropland, but also good quality pasture land. Sloped properties can be very useful as well. If you have good soil, then you can work with it. Board members further expressed their concern regarding the Hile School Rd development, specifically the Trillium Woods parcel. If developed as a standard subdivision, the area could lose its status as a Unique Natural Area (UNA), impacting the local microclimate and removing a natural buffer. The Board suggested that if development must occur, it should be forced into a conservation development model to mitigate environmental and community impacts. Board members formally moved to support this moratorium, emphasizing the need to align zoning with the Comprehensive Plan in regard to the protection of not only agricultural lands, but also conservation objectives. It was clarified that the moratorium is designed to restrict major subdivisions on prime soils or soils of statewide importance rather than small- scale improvements. This would not prevent farmers from building garages, extending farm buildings, or constructing farmworker housing. CB 2026-02-24 Final 3 RESOLUTION #3 (2026) – SUPPORT FOR MORATORIUM ON MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS N Munkenbeck offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board supports the moratorium on major subdivisions as presented by the Agriculture Advisory Committee, to allow the Zoning Advisory Group to develop a plan for aligning Dryden Township zoning with the Comprehensive Plan, especially in regard to the protection of agricultural lands and conservation objectives. 2nd C Schutt Roll Call Vote A Clark Yes J Grace Yes S Bissen Yes G Dodici Yes K McKee Yes A Miller Yes N Munkenbeck Yes C Schutt Yes T Woods Yes Board members requested that this resolution be distributed to the Town Board, Planning Board, Zoning Advisory Group, and Affordable and Workforce Housing Committee. It was noted that the ecological data for both Trillium Woods and the fir tree swamp are significantly outdated, with some records being over a decade old. Historical records indicate the presence of globeflowers and a specific species of violet in the swamp. While UNA borders were recently redrawn using improved mapping technology, the areas have not been re- inventoried through field checks. T Woods proposed conducting a current ecological inventory of the Trillium Woods area to provide firm knowledge for environmental protection arguments. Subsequent discussion included the need for funding and formal owner permission (which may be difficult to obtain if the owners are currently seeking subdivision). S Bissen agreed to bring the request to the next UNA meeting to see if it can be prioritized, though funding may delay the process for at least a year. Old Business: Update on Co-Meeting with Climate Action Committee A Clark reported that she discussed a potential co-meeting with the Climate Action Committee in late spring (May or June) and they were receptive to the idea. To make it easy for all, she proposes that Conservation Board members be prepared to adapt their schedules during one of those months in order to jointly meet on the third Tuesday of the month. Old Business: High School Rep Updates K McKee will reach out to the high school to find student representatives. Old Business: Newsletter Ideas for March or April A Clark welcomes any spring-oriented newsletter item ideas. J Grace is waiting to hear back from Gwen Beck to confirm a date in May with her for the ribbon-cutting for the memorial garden. Once they talk, she will prepare an article regarding the dedication ceremony. The linden tree has still yet to be collected from the Plantsmen Nursery. CB 2026-02-24 Final 4 There being no further business, on motion made by N Munkenbeck, seconded by K McKee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Loren Sparling Deputy Town Clerk