HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-06 CAC MinutesTown of Lansing Conservation Advisory Council
Minutes of meeting 7-6-23, 6:30 pm via Zoom
In Attendance: Carrie A. Koplinka-Loehr; Edward Dubovi; Karen Edelstein; John Fleming; Ruth Groff
(Lansing Town Board liaison)
Absent: Gabrielle Desnoes; David Wolfe; Todd Walter; Robin Bailey; Adam Buck;
Minutes for meeting for CAC meeting on 4/6/23 were approved.
1. Discussion of proposed amendments to the Town code regarding appointment to town
committees.
Initial concern was that the town board was proposing to assume full responsibility for the
screening of candidates for town committees including the CAC. Previously, the CAC members did the
interviewing and made recommendations to the town board. The change proposed seems to bring the
Lansing town board more in line with most other town boards with regard to committee appointments.
In the draft revision, the CAC is recommending that members be allowed to review applications, attend
interviews, and have input in the decision-making process.
The item that was of most concern was the assignment of the Ag committee to a subcommittee
status under the CAC. This was a surprise to all concerned and appears to have been proposed without
consultation with the Ag committee members. The Ag committee spent a considerable amount of time
reviewing the components of the new Ag zoning district and recommendations were forwarded with no
additional review by the CAC. No reason for the change in status was provided and a serious lack of
communication with the committee was noted.
The CAC suggested other changes to the proposed amendments to eliminate some of the
ambiguity.
2. Path to becoming a Conservation Advisory Board
As envisioned by the state statue that outlined the creation of conservation advisory councils,
with the completion and adoption of the Open Space Index, it would be possible for the town board to
approve the creation of a Conservation Advisory Board which could have input into development plans
affecting properties in the OSI. Other responsibilities could be assigned by the town board. Contact was
made with the chair of the CAB for the town of Dryden, Gian Dodici. Gian was able to call into the CAC
meeting and related some of the issues that the CAB has had with town planning. Documents shared by
the Town of Ithaca show a much more substantive role for the CAB in town planning. Clearly town
boards set the priorities for CABs.
3. Lansing Trail Update
Initial discussion was whether the CAC through the OSI had any role to play with regard to the
future of new trails in the town. Consultant’s view was to keep the two issues separate so as not to add
more complexity to the OSI process. Proposed trail maps were shared and Ruth Hopkins as a member of
the Trails committee “zoomed” into our meeting, reviewed previous planning efforts, and identified
future needs for the planning process.
4. EPOD -- Environmental Protection Overlay District
As mentioned by John Zepko, there may be interest in creating an EPOD for some portion of the
L1 zoning district. This could be a new direction for the CAC if approved by the town board. More
discussion would be needed as the OSI is completed.
5. A revised work plan for the CAC was distributed electronically that reflected several revised
priorities from the Planning Department.
6. There were no committee reports of note.