HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-05 CAC Minutes
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
February 5, 2025
6:30 In Person
Lansing Town Hall
MINUTES
1. Call Meeting to Order
Present: Ed Dubovi, Robyn Bailey, Brian Boerman, John Fleming, John Hatfield, Travis Kitch, Lisa
Scanlon,
Excused Absence: John Fleming, Todd Walters
Non-CAC attendees: Jerry Sheng, CCE; Christine Montague, Town Board
A quorum of the CAC members was present.
2. Discussion on the implementation of the Climate Smart Communities program
Jerry Sheng from CCE was present to outline the program and to advise on its implantation. The
Town of Lansing registered for the program but has not taken further action. Beyond the benefit of
the Town becoming more energy efficient, being a participant in the program makes the Town eligible
for grant programs. While the main one has a 50% match, that still might be attractive for the Town.
Providing documentation that eligible actions were done will take staff time to identity the actions and
to locate documentation. CAC proposes that town staff review eligible actions and for future actions,
the documentation can be collected as it becomes available, thus preventing file searching. Question
arose as to whether eligible actions were being built into the new highway building. A meeting will be
held to explore that issue.
The Town Board will need to name a new primary contact for the program. ED will forward the
Natural Resources Inventory document and the Open Space Conservation Plan to Jerry for submission
to the CSC as eligible actions.
3. Designating Critical Environmental Areas
The CAC was asked to consider designating Critical Environmental Areas in the Town of Lansing.
The Town has the authority to designate CEAs if they meet certain criteria. Designating a property as a
CEA does not change its land us status, but it does require the lead agency in the SEQR process to
address the issue of the impact of a development on the CEA. As a starting point in moving forward
with CEAs, it was reasoned that using the current Unique Natural Areas inventory might be useful.
There are 32 UNAs in the Town. The issue of wetland designation was discussed in light of NYS
releasing new regulations dealing with freshwater wetlands. Seems to be some discrepancies among
the federal, state and local maps of wetlands. More discussion will be needed to try and identify which
properties might be considered for CEA designation.
4. Buffers
The CAC is continuing to collect information on the issues of buffers and optimal planting to
achieve the desired goal.
5. Misc.
-Note was made concerning the public meeting addressing the issue of the Yellow Barn solar
development. The meeting will be February 20, 2025, at the Groton High School at 6 PM
-the issue of a Climate Resiliency Plan for the town was mentioned as Jerry Sheng is developing
one for the Town of Dryden.
-note was made of the County’s effort to revise its Hazard Mitigation Plan which will involve the
Town.
-note was also made of the plans to revise the zoning maps for the Town.