HomeMy WebLinkAboutCornell Orchards 6.19.19 Q eta T h in--
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Comments to Town of Lansing Board 6-19-19 Regarding Cornell Orchards:
An Opportunity for Public Lands
From: Carrie Koplinka-Loehr, 118 Ross Road; Lansing, NY 14882; 607-257-2329
Background
Location: 154 Sweazey Rd. Town of Lansing Tax,maps: 23:-1-23.2 and 24.-2-9 (see reverse).
https://property.tompkins-co.org/IMO/quickstream.aspx?file=PDFMAPS/503289/023000.pdf
Zoning:L1- Lakeshore 1 and RA- Rural Agriculture
Link to Land Use Ordinance,requirements:
https://www.lansingtown.com/planning-board/land-use-ordinance?...ordinance...
Size: about 96 acres total. Roughly 35 acres are on the north side of Sweazey and are still being
used for research. About 60 are on the south side where Cornell has been removing apple
trees. Nearer the lake on both sides is woods; a small bit (2.3 acres) is along Bill George Road. .
Large parcels, not:lots, will be sold.
Decision-making entities: Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, part of College of`
• Ag and Life Sciences (CALS). Reason for sale: land is "underutilized." Cornell Real Estate is the
go-between for CALS and private realtors.
Kristen Gutenberger at Cornell Real Estate (keg7@.cornell.edu, direct 607.266.7872) said
on 5/23/19 that the College of Ag& Life Sciences is still determining how and IF to subdivide
the property; it could be in one,two, or three phases. They could wait until professors are done
with their research (a few years) or part of it could go up for sale this summer.
Value. Kristen said an appraisal was done a few years ago and it averaged $7,000 to $7,500 per
acre. Uphill land (away from the lake) is flatter and more desirable,therefore more costly, than
the steeper, wooded acreage, but it's unclear how and if the land would be divided. Kristen said
Cornell would go for "highest and best offer.
Assessed value on tax rolls: $280K for land; $400K full market value; including buildings.
Wholly tax exempt at present.
Comments
This property has sweeping views of Cayuga Lake, a large wooded portion, an open part, several
streams, and gorges. Wildlife is active and neighbors have seen wood thrushes, hooded
warblers, and screech owls, among other birds. It's located in a portion of Lansing that has no
public park for several miles and could offer spectacular walking and:birding opportunities.
The property has been off the Lansing tax rolls for decades and the creation of public
land would not represent a loss of revenue. Funding would be needed for the purchase and
maintenance of any trails and parking.
The Town could be involved in a number of ways. Possibilities are to: .
—Work with the Finger Lakes Land Trust on a solution;the director is willing and already met
with a group of neighbors in May.
—Apply for state funds to acquire the property through the.Consolidated Funding Application
that is due in July: The Town of Ithaca has done this several times successfully.
—Consider the NYS Water Quality Improvement Program for funding.
—Put pressure on Cornell to consider the betterment of the Lansing community and to not sell
to the "highest and best offer" unless "best" means best for the community's recreation.
—At a minimum,tighten zoning and make sure 60 houses are not perched on a property that is
so close to the lake and to streams.
—Ensure that pending regulations for steep slopes and stream setbacks are followed.
—Entrust the project to the Conservation Advisory.Council when that entity is created.
—Consider assisting with a private conservation easement for one or two individuals;the Town
would offer incentives and assistance with easement fees; funds for this could be generated
by town taxes on the property.
Resources Available to Town of Lansing
Finger Lakes Land Trust,Andy Zepp, Director. 202 East Court Street, Ithaca. Zepp Andrew
<andrewzepp@fllt.org>
Director of Planning,Town of Lansing, C.J. Randall, who appreciates how Conservation Advisory
Councils are clearing houses for purchasing and transferring development rights and forming
partnerships at the town level.
Town of Ithaca Planning Department, Mike Smith. 215 N. Tioga St., 273-1747 (press 2 for
Planning); msmith@town.ithaca.ny.us. Successful with NYS grants and working with FLLT.
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