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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 2009-12-31 Year-End Meeting of the Ithaca: Town Board. Thursday, December 31 , 2009 at110: 0 a. m . it i; I �m .q��fi'' 215 North Tio'ga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 1 � '. i ; ! l °� . , !. ! AGENDA P I P 1 . Call to Order 2 . 10 : 02 a. m . -- Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Amendments to the 1993 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan Relating to Certain Environmental Studies of the Northeast Ithaca Area Conducted by the Town Board and Conservation/Open Space Recommendations for Lands in the Northeast Study Area 3 , Consider Authorization to Submit a Grant Proposal to the Park Foundation for a Sustainability Planner Position for the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca 4 , Consider Resolution of Appreciation for Peter Stein 5 . Consider approval of end-of-year vouchers 6 . Consider changes to the Policies and Procedures Manual 71 Consider an executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular person 8 . Consider Adjournment Year-End Meeting of the Ithaca,, ToWn Board i Thursday, December 31 , 2009 at f10 . 00 a. m .' > 215 North Tioga :.Street, , Ithaca, NY, ; ,14850 , I , ,11 . rIt Present : Supervisor Engman ; Councilwoman Leary; Councilman Stein ; Councilman Goodman ; Councilman Levine ; Councilwoman Hunter; Councilman DePaolo Staff: Deb DeAugistine , Deputy Town Clerk ; Jim Weber, Highway Superintendent ; Judy Drake , Human Resources Specialist ; Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning Call to Order: Supervisor Engman called the meeting to order at 10 : 07 a . m . , noting that it is a very short meeting , so for the public hearing , the town board agreed to a three- minute limit for speakers . Agenda Item No. 2 : Public Hearinq Regarding Proposed Amendments to the 1993 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan Relating to Certain Environmental Studies of the Northeast Ithaca Area Conducted by the Town Board and Conservation/Open Space Recommendations for Lands in the Northeast Study Area Attachment A Supervisor Engman opened the public hearing at 10 : 08 a . m . and invited public comment . Larry ' s Handouts - Attachment # 1 Larry Fabbroni [verbatim] : Let me say it's impossible to give my presentation in three minutes ; I didn 't know you set a time limitation until two seconds before beginning . I don 't think it was appropriate to schedule this public hearing for this short meeting . The inconvenience it has caused us to even be here is without precedent . My name is Larry Fabbroni and I ' m the project engineer for Mr. Lucente . My credentials are a BSC in Civil Engineering , and MSC in Civil Engineering . As part of the record I 'd like to enter in everything that was presented on December 7th by both myself, by my environmental consultants , by Cornell 's consultants , and Mr. LiVigne that night ; so , in other words , everything that the public presented on December 7th should be part of this record . Our stance is still that we presented a very workable 30- lot subdivision in our last proposal to you . We would like to have more discussion about that in earnest rather than schedule these public hearings three- minute limitations or the last meeting we were at , we couldn 't even say anything at . This isn 't an open and transparent government . The Comprehensive Plan — you ' re not following the Comprehensive Plan . And the short story is that if you go through the first 30 pages of what I handed to you , it's all out of your Comprehensive Plan . You ' re not following your Comprehensive Plan ; you ' re not even the person to change your Comprehensive Plan . And so , I don 't know what we' re doing here at these public hearings when the Planning Board is the one that's supposed to be hearing and changing the Comprehensive Plan . Moving on to that , you depend totally on your consultant's study, and , basically it's a personal opinion of one person . If you look through that study very carefully, which I assume some of you have , there 's Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 2 of 13 nothing rated higher than state 4 or 5 of all the plants that wereifound , in that , study and: nothing higher than global 5 . Those are two highly recognized rating', systems globally and state-wide . The rest of the opinions and subjectivity in that !report are all based on some local list that Mr. Wesley created . Mr. Wesley hasn 't appeared at any of, these public hearings , including the ones that were at the Planning Board ? ' He changed his mind after three years of me talking to him . I hired Mr. Wesley for some projects I 've done , and I ' m very with his transparency in all of this , but if you look carefully at the study, it all depends on the rarities study that he's done locally. If you look at it in a global sense or in a longer sense , you ' ll see that , basically, it's all dependent on one opinion . The fellow who did this study says that , if you look at the executive summary very carefully , you ' ll see that they say this or that or more study is needed about the wildlife corridor. There 's no conclusive evidence . One thing I did that I thought you might be interested in , and again , it's very difficult in three minutes , to say . . . I looked at the bird study, and I looked at the bird study from Mr. Lucente's land and the bird study from the Cornell land , and this isn 't by any means to cast any dispersions on the Cornell Land . It was just to say, What birds did we see on the Lucente land that we didn 't see on the Cornell land . So if you look at the list I gave you , you ' ll see all the birds crossed out on Mr. Lucente 's land that were seen on Cornell land . There's very few remaining birds that weren 't seen on both properties . What does that mean ? The birds travel . Our consultant told you that, if we had a one hundred -foot corridor, and we maintained a tree line all through the project , we would take care of the birds very well , as far as the wildlife corridor goes . None of that is able to be discussed when we come to a meeting and we can 't say a word , or we have three minutes to present the information to you . But I thought that would be at least interesting to note to those of you who say that what say is nothing new every time I come here . And in the reverse , what birds did we see on Cornell 's land that weren 't on Mr. Lucente' s land . If you look at the list of Cornell 's land , you ' ll see numbers next to the different observation posts . Those are the number of birds at those observations posts that were seen on the Cornell land that weren 't seen on Mr. Lucente's land . Well , what does that mean ? There ' s nothing unusual or spectacular about Mr. Lucente's land ecologically. When you look at the whole Comprehensive Plan , you start overlaying all these things : land uses , resources , all these maps that I provided you in this outline — you start overlaying all that , you come to some conclusion , I think , if you ' re a reasonable person , that Mr. Lucente's is very developable . Look at a day like today . It's flat — you can walk , you can bike , you can play on the street , you can operate in the snow , you 've got transit surrounding the project , you 've got water and sewer through the project , right up to the corner of the project : everything that your Comprehensive Plan talks about optimizing and prioritizing density of development . And you have a diversity of housing up there , you 've got townhouses just over the border in the Village of Lansing , you 've got apartments , and these are medium density residential . It's just ridiculous that we have to come here and then have these sudden constraints put on us to make a reasonable presentation . Thank you . Mr. Levine invited Mr. Fabbroni to continue if he had more to say that wasn 't repetitive , saying he didn 't want Mr. Fabbroni to feel he left anything out of his argument . n Town Board Minutes: December 31 , 2009 11 Page 3 of 13 Mr. Fabbroni commented that he didn 't know how it' s possible ' to , be <calm . when that was the introduction , but he'd try . r Mr. Engman noted that public comments do need limits , and thatlhere has always been a three-minute time limit on presentations . The Town Board felt after .the last meeting that the limit needed to be reinstituted . Mr. Fabbroni responded that the Board shouldn 't have scheduled the public hearing for this meeting . He did not write his speech today, thinking he would have better interaction with the board if he didn 't write the speech , but instead , gave the board the outline . He expressed that he was very annoyed , not knowing what the format was . Had he known , he would have provided a full , written speech of what he was going to say. Mr. Kanter noted that there will be a second public hearing on the topic at the January 11 , 2010 meeting . He explained the process for amending the Comprehensive Plan , which would involve a SEQR review, which will be available before the January 11 meeting , and a second public hearing . Ms . Hunter requested that the Town Board discuss whether they would prefer to change the time limit . The Board discussed the merits of a longer limit or setting a limit and allowing the Supervisor the discretion of allowing a longer time limit . Councilwoman Hunter moved a 10-minute limit on speakers at the public hearings scheduled for the meeting of January 11 , 2010 . Councilman Stein seconded the motion . The supervisor called for a vote , which carried 6 to 1 , with Mr. Levine voting nay. RESOLVED , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca agrees to set a 10-minute time limit on speakers at the public hearings to be held at the regular Town Board meeting of January 11 , 2010 . MOVED : Councilwoman Hunter SECONDED : Councilman Stein VOTE : Supervisor Engman , aye ; Councilwoman Leary, aye ; Councilman Stein , aye ; Councilman Goodman , aye ; Councilman Levine , nay ; Councilwoman Hunter, aye ; Councilman DePaolo , aye . Motion Carried Councilman Stein moved and Councilwoman Leary seconded a motion setting a 10- minute time limit on speakers effective immediately. The motion was defeated by a 5-2 vote . MOVED : Councilman Stein SECONDED : Councilwoman Leary VOTE : Supervisor Engman , nay; Councilwoman Leary, aye ; Councilman Stein , nay; Councilman Goodman , nay ; Councilman Levine , aye ; Councilwoman Hunter, nay; Councilman DePaolo , nay . Motion Defeated Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page .4 of 13 Larry Fabbroni [verbatim] : Under, the circumstances , I willsubmit. my thoughts to you in writing before the next meeting , because it's too disruptive . I would like to take a minute , though , to talk about the 30- lot plan , which I think is the resolution and compromise to this all . In your loose leaf binder packet , which I hope you will all bring next time , you ' ll find yet another plan that we submitted that moved the [inaudible] area that's largely been disturbed . Looking in the loose leaf binder of materials I gave you , some of the first big maps you come to shows you where this area is already disturbed . The other thing I was getting at was that with the bird study and the ecological study, if you study it very carefully, you ' ll see this whole area to the south is considered low ecological value . I don 't think that the fellow who did this study took this disturbance correctly into account because he used an earlier aerial photo ; he didn 't use a current what's-on -the-ground situation in terms of this area . Furthermore , this is largely area 13 , which is also a low ecological area . There's area 10 , right along an old hedgerow that would largely be protected by the conservation easements at the rear of these lots . The rest of the plan would and move the stormwater facilities away from the neighbors and their concerns . This particular map show it 300 feet away from the Selco property. In particular, Mr. Selco expressed a concern about it . They all comply with the current-day stormwater regulation of the state , although I ' ll tell you the state has a new draft out, and we' re more than willing to incorporate the new ideas into the eventual stormwater plan , some of which are underground storage — that' s soft of Ithaca's answer to rain barrels , because rain barrels don 't work too well in this climate , as you might imagine . Also , there 's porous pavement , and there ' s other ways of replanting trees and things of that sort — there's even a discussion of a 50-foot buffer around lands like this , and using that 50-foot buffer as part of the sotrmwater retention , because if it's left as a natural area it would prevent peak runoffs from exasperating the problem . The final thing : you know we talked about this drainage ad nauseum , but all these facilities get built up front of any development , because of the stormwater regulations and just the practicality and economics of it all . There ' s going to be a dramatic increase in storage capacity right up front that gives you a long period of time to observe and make adjustments . These facilities that we presented have control structures at the end . It's as simple as changing them : the mouth of the opening or doing other things to further hold back the water in peak events . So , the notion that we ' re going to build something and suddenly there 's going to be a horrendous event — if anything , if there's a horrendous event , it's going to mitigate anything that's going on downstream as far as peak load impacts . I hope we get to discuss this more before you rush ahead and change the Comprehensive Plan and zoning . That' s my frustration . I want to end with that . The Supervisor declared that he would use the privilege of the presiding officer to decide that , since one presenter had 10 minutes to speak, the other landowner, Cornell , should have 10 minutes and a representative to the neighborhood association should also have 10 minutes to speak in front of the Board . Everyone else would be limited to the three-minute limit . Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 5 of 13 Tom LiVigne , Cornell University, provided a letter addresse'd ;to .the � supervisor (see attachment #2) , which he read from . Mr. DePaolo noted that the proposal on the table is not designed to rezone , Cornell 's entire parcel , but would leave 63 Cornell units under current .density allowances . He noted that a proposal was made at a meeting between Cornell and the Town a week or two prior that would allow for maximum density calculations to be used on that parcel . The anticipated land- use map in the current Comprehensive Plan prioritizes a majority of that parcel — more than is currently being proposed for rezoning — for open space and conservations , so there has been a long- range prioritization of a fairly sizeable portion of that property for conservation . He argued that this is not an arbitrary and last minute action . Mr. DePaolo invited Mr. LiVigne to comment on the density that would be allowed under both the current zoning proposal and the proposal that would allow Cornell to utilize the maximum density calculation . Mr. LiVigne [verbatim] : We still intend to present an MOU , as we discussed earlier, after the first of the year. We hope to discuss that at length . We think this has far- reaching implications , not only on this land , but other land that Cornell owns in the Town . We feel we need to comment on this as it's been presented to us . Sapsucker Woods : There are some things in the Comprehensive Plan with regard to how many trees can be cut , when they can be cut , fencing , those kinds of things . Those are of concern to us . We feel that on our land we should be able to do the things we need to do to manage our land the way we feel is proper to do that . Councilwoman Leary asked for a clarification on the Town Board ' s authority to make a revision to the Comprehensive Plan , and the Town Board 's role as lead agency on this revision . Mr. Kanter verified that the Town Board is the lead agency on this series of amendments to the Comp Plan . He further stated that , under the overall update of the Comp Plan that is being led by the Comprehensive Plan Committee , was the establishment of a citizen advisory committee to update the plan and recommend changes to the plan to the Town Board . It would then be the Town Board 's responsibility to adopt the Plan update . The Town Board itself can propose and pursue amendments to the Comp Plan , as in this particular set of amendments , or can delegate the responsibility to the Planning Board to make recommendations on a Comp Plan update . It is the Town Board 's responsibility to adopt it . Bill Sonnenstuhl , speaking as president of NINA [verbatim] : I don 't expect to use ten minutes and would like to thank you for even considering that we have ten minutes . We will reserve comments for the next meeting . I would appreciate getting copies of the materials that Cornell and Mr. Lucente have given you . I would particularly like to see a new proposed sketch for the 30- lot development . Just let me say that , as you all know, we support rezoning . Where those boundaries are actually drawn at the moment is your prerogative — your decision to make . We ' ll continue to negotiate in good faith . Thank you . Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 6 of 13 Hearing ,no more comment , the Supervisor closed the public hearing at 10 : 50 a . m . , reminding those present that there will be a second public hearing on this topic on January :11 ,th , with -a . 10- minute limit on speakers : o Agenda Item No. 3 : Consider Authorization to Submit a Grant Proposal to the Park Foundation for a Sustainability Planner Position for the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca Attachment # 3 The Supervisor opened the topic by explaining that he approached the Park Foundation a few months ago because he knew of their interest in sustainability . He explained to them that the Town doesn 't have the resources the City and County have to accomplish projects like determining their carbon footprint, creating goals for reducing energy use , and exploring other sustainability options in the Town . He proposed that we share a planner with the Town of Dryden to develop protocols and models that the Town would use and then promulgate with other towns so they could accomplish what larger municipalities have been able to . Ithaca and Dryden would develop a memorandum of agreement regarding how to share the position , most likely one town would hire and house the person , with an agreement on how much time the individual would spend between the two towns developing the sustainability plan . Supervisor Engman moved and Councilman Stein seconded the motion to authorize the supervisor to submit the grant proposal . Discussion : The Board discussed the timeframe for the position , which is June 2010-June 2013 . Although the position informs the Comp Plan , it will not affect the due date of the Comp Plan , which is the end of the next year. The sustainability planner will work with the planning staff and report directly to the Town 's Director of Planning . The proposal does not promise that it will continue to fund the position after the grant period , only that the Town will try to maintain the results of the work done . If the results are incorporated it into the Comp Plan , it would eventually become part of how the Town operates : it's just a matter of using the models developed for monitoring and reporting out as continuing responsibilities . Mr. DePaolo wondered whether this position would be an unnecessary redundancy, considering the Town already did a NYSERDA audit , which did not produce much good information , and because the Town has a performance contract with Johnson Controls . The Supervisor responded that the position could provide a more sophisticated extension of what's already been done ; to go more deeply. The ideal is to find that which is feasible . He also noted that the work is not limited to energy efficiency of the buildings , but also looking into sustainable food systems — the future of community Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 7 of 13 gardens , buying local , supporting agricultural ., industry in a sustainable way — and things like the, purchase of vehicles . h 4 Mr. DePaolo suggested that using the initiative to include an examination of local building codes — incorporating green building codes and not simply relying on state building code -- could yield significant benefits . Ms . Leary suggested looking at transportation systems and sustainable land use . Ms . Hunter was concerned that support of community agriculture was not included on the application . The Supervisor said he would make sure to include it . TB RESOLUTION NO . 2009=259m, Authorization to Submit a Grant Proposal to the Park Foundation for a Sustainability Planner Position for the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca is updating its Comprehensive Plan , which will incorporate new topics such as sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction , and WHEREAS , the Town of Dryden will soon be updating its Comprehensive Plan to include sustainability, and WHEREAS , the Park Foundation offers grants to fund projects related to sustainable . and environmental issues , and WHEREAS , the Towns of Ithaca and Dryden have met on a number of occasions to discuss a grant funding proposal to support a sustainability planner position to be shared between the two towns for a three year period , and WHEREAS , the cost to fund the position for three years totals $225 , 000 , and the in - kind services provided by the Towns include supervision and administration of the position , WHEREAS , the Towns of Ithaca and Dryden will formulate and sign an intermuniGipal agreement to formalize the contractual relationship between the Towns , now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca , is hereby authorized to file a joint application with the Town of Dryden for funding to support a Sustainability Planner for three years , with a total request of $225 , 000 . 00 . MOVED : Supervisor Engman SECONDED : Councilman Stein VOTE : Supervisor Engman , aye ; Councilwoman Leary, aye ; Councilman Stein , aye ; Councilman Goodman , aye ; Councilman Levine , aye ; Councilwoman Hunter, aye ; Councilman DePaolo , aye . Motion Carried - unanimous Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 8 of 13 Agenda Item No. An Consider Resolution of Appreciation for Peter Stein The Supervisor introduced the resolution , which .he read aloud . Councilwoman Leary { moved the resolution and Councilwoman Hunter seconded . Councilwoman Leary presented Councilman Stein with a framed poster of what it's like living in Ithaca , and includes the resolution of appreciation . Councilman Stein thanked the Board and said the years have gone by quickly . He has learned a lot about government . He noted that after sitting on the sidelines for years commenting on government , he took office and was amazed by how little he knew. He will now learn about counties . "Life stays interesting by doing new things . I hope I 've contributed something to the Town . I certainly have seen how all of the staff of the Town work long hours in the interest of improving the lives of the people who live here . That's a noble profession . I was happy to have taken part in it and happy to have met new people who are now friends . " TB RESOLUTION NO . 2009=260 : Recognition of Peter Stein ' s Years of Service to the Community WHEREAS , Peter Stein , 77 , served as a Councilman on the Town Board from January 1 , 2004 , through December 31 , 2009 ; and WHEREAS , Peter, in his role as Councilman , has contributed his valuable time , energy, and insight as chair of the Public Works Committee and as a member of the Comprehensive Plan Revision Committee , Planning Committee , Personnel , the intermunicipal Special Joint Committee , City/Town Shared Services Committee , among others ; and WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca has greatly benefited from Peter' s thoughtful consideration , devotion , intelligence , good humor, and his desire to serve our community in order to make it a better place to live ; and WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca is appreciative for Peter's invaluable contributions and over five years of exemplary service as a Town Board member; NOW , THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , on behalf of the Town and its citizens , expresses its sincere appreciation , admiration and gratitude to Peter Stein for his distinguished , dedicated , and productive service to our community, and wishes him well in representing the town and greater community in his new position on the Tompkins County Legislature . MOVED : Councilwoman Leary Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 9 of 13 SECONDED : Councilwoman Hunter ` .: VOTE : Supervisor Engman , aye ; Councilwoman Leary, aye ; Councilman Stein , abstain ; Councilman Goodman , aye ; Councilman Levine , aye ; Councilwoman Hunter, aye ; Councilman DePaolo , aye . Motion Carried Agenda Item No. 5 : Consider Approval of Year-End Vouchers Councilman DePaolo noted that since he had not had time to go through the vouchers , he would abstain from voting . TB RESOLUTION NO. 2009=261 : Town of Ithaca Abstract WHEREAS , the following numbered vouchers have been presented to the Ithaca Town Board for approval of payment ; and WHEREAS , the said vouchers have been audited for payment by the said Town Board ; now therefore be it RESOLVED , that the Town Board hereby authorizes the payment of the said vouchers in total for the amounts indicated . VOUCHER NOS , 7744-7856 General Fund Town wide 389583. 93 General Fund Part Town 4 ,605 .29 Highway Fund Part Town 24, 481 .29 Water Fund 332 , 557.31 Sewer Fund 61746.09 Hanshaw Rd Water Main Improvement Warren Road Walkway 21598. 34 Trumansburg Rd . Water Main Improvement Risk Retention Fund Fire Protection Fund 194, 218.67 Forest Home Lighting District 121 .05 Glenside Lighting District 45.55 Renwick Heights Lighting District 64.59 Eastwood Commons Lighting District 148. 63 Clover Lane Lighting District 17.71 Winner's Circle Lighting District 56. 98 Burlei h Drive Lighting District 59. 81 Westhaven Road Lighting District 183. 78 Coddin ton Road Lighting District 109. 40 Trust & Agency 1758 . 69 TOTALS 606 , 357. 11)' Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 10 of 13 MOVED : Councilman Stein SECONDED : Councilman Levine VOTE : Supervisor Engman , aye ; Councilwoman Leary, aye ; Councilman Stein , aye ; Councilman Goodman , aye ; Councilman Levine , aye ; Councilwoman Hunter, aye ; Councilman DePaolo , abstain . Motion Carried Agenda Item No. 6 : Consider changes to the Policies and Procedures Manual Mr. Stein introduced the topic and noted that the changes are a result of extensive conversations and rewrites . He provided a new document redlining the changes . Mr. Weber commented that Public Works was not notified by email of the changes being discussed , and that they would have comments . Ms . Drake noted that it was sent to Mr. Redman , who was on vacation as were many of the staff to whom it was sent . Councilman Stein moved and Councilwoman Leary seconded the motion to consider the changes to the manual . Discussion : Councilwoman Leary thinks the changes Mr. Stein made address the concerns . She disagrees that the document revisions have been rushed . The sense of urgency is because issues have arisen in the past year that they felt needed clarifying — primarily the role between the Supervisor and Town Board . It all comes back to the point that the Town Board is the administrative head of the Town . She noted that it's a process document , which would not be needed if everyone adhered to the basic understanding of the Board as the authority of the Town . This document is just a clarification . Mr. Stein commented on two issues : 1 ) The administrative authority of the Town Board is delegated to the Supervisor, but not 100% . If the Town Board disagrees , they can override the Supervisor's decision . 2) Committees need staff they can instruct to do the work of the committee , but the major part of the time , the staff work for the Town . For a certain fraction of staff's time , the committees need to be able to task them . Regarding complaints about conflicting messages : the way the document is laid out , there is no confusion . If there is confusion , it needs to be worked out . Mr. Goodman agreed with most of the changes , but given that staff have concerns , he would oppose making changes today in favor of waiting for comments . Mr. Engman noted that the Town has only had the committee system for two years , and in that time , there have been two instances where people were unhappy about the way they operated . This past year is the first year the Town has had a complete committee Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 1 Page 11 of 13 :. system . He feels it is more important to improve ; cooperation between the Supervisor . and Town , Board than, of legislating, the, minutiae : He poihted out that the document-has f a number of contradictions , which will have to i be, taken care of . He opposes a parallel system where individual Board members have , the authoritylto direct Town staff fora specific project vs normal operating procedures with regular. management . He said that this is not a workable system , and called for more research on how other towns operate . Ms . Hunter stated that the document was originally crafted to force a political regime change , and was formulated to address personal behaviors . She stated that Mr. Engman was on the other side of the issue during the negotiations , fighting for Board access to staff, and has changed position since becoming Supervisor. The Town Board needs authority to attend to their responsibilities and should not be formulating cumbersome regulations to address personal behaviors . She said that it is senseless to be codifying something that is covered by state law, and advocated scrapping the manual , saying that it was not well- intentioned . Ms Hunter stated that , as a board member, she is a member of the administrative team of the Town , and will not abdicate the responsibility shared by that body . Ms . Hunter asked the Board to consider a substitute motion to rescind the entire manual if they can 't come to an agreement and cannot allow the board to maintain their authority to carry out their state-mandated responsibilities . Mr. Levine agreed with the statements of Ms . Hunter and Mr. Goodman . He noted that a decision was made that staff input would be valuable , but it was requested during a week when many are on vacation . He stated that he was in favor a putting the it off. Mr. Kanter stated that his basic concern is the downplaying and blurring . of the role and responsibilities of department heads . He does not think that is the intent . He would like to work with the Board to improve the document or scrap the whole thing . It creates potential situations where staff does not know who they are listening to . He agrees with comments that the Board has ultimate authority and responsibility of what happens in Town , but thinks the wording is going to result in problems in day-to-day operations . Ms . Leary stated that the manual has come close to passing several times . She does not think staff needs to be heavily involved because it's not a personnel manual -- it's a manual relating to Town Board procedure and on the relationship between the Town Board and Supervisor, and how work gets done . She stated that while it's important to consult department heads , the Board does not need their permission . The Town is not a partnership , but a hierarchy , and the authority rests with the Town Board . Town Board cannot delegate responsibility away. Committees and individual Board members may need to work with a staff member, and can 't have the Supervisor coming between that relationship if the Board has authorized a project . The Town Board sets policy , and the staff implements the policy under Town Law. She believes the document clarifies it , and would like it resolved at this meeting . Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 12 of 13 The Supervisor stressed that he has always been : opposed to special projects+ where there 's an individual authorized to supervise staff . He stated that the original reason for creating the document was because there was not , a functioning committee , system . Now there is a solid committee system , marking tremendous progress . -He is in favor of Town Board members chairing committees , and the work of committees getting done in collaboration rather than in supervisory relationship between individual Board members and staff because of the confusion and duplication that causes . He stated that Town Board members are not required to have supervisory skills , but department heads are . Staff are evaluated and held accountable , but Town Board members are not . Ms . Hunter noted that some people on staff do not have a supervisor except for the Town Supervisor, and the Town Board does not have access to that staff . She also noted that the manual has not been revisited since the Town has had a union . That might relieve Mr. Weber's concerns . Mr. DePaolo observed that the discussion is really about a distribution of power, and that no change will be equally palatable to both entities . He heard Mr. Kanter say that he recognizes that the Town Board has the ultimate authority. Mr. DePaolo prefers not to be the arbiter of the day-to-day activities of staff , but he does feel shut out in terms of being kept informed on how . policies are being prioritized by department heads . He'd like a collaborative effort -- to sit down on a regular basis for an ongoing conversation , not to usurp anyone's authority, but so the position of a department head does not become a position of policy maker by virtue of the fact that they have the power to allocate staff resources to their individual tastes . He also noted that SAC meeting agendas are not distributed to Board members as the document says . Ms . Leary clarified that the Town Board makes policy, and that staff and committees recommend policy . She urged a vote on the revised manual , which is an important step forward . The Board can pass it tonight and keep talking about it and refine it later. Mr. Stein moved to cut off debate and move to a vote . There was no second , but a vote was called and all but Councilman DePaolo voted to cut off debate and move to a vote on accepting the changes to the manual . The Supervisor called for a vote on the motion on the floor to accept all changes put forward in the Policies and Procedures Manual . The motion was defeated 4-3 in a roll call vote . MOVED : Councilman Stein SECONDED : Councilwoman Leary VOTE : Supervisor Engman , nay; Councilwoman Leary, aye ; Councilman Stein , aye ; Councilman Goodman , nay ; Councilman Levine , nay ; Councilwoman Hunter, aye ; Councilman DePaolo , nay . Motion Carried Town Board Minutes : December 31 , 2009 Page 13 of 13 Agenda Item No. 7 : Consider an executive. 'session to discuss the dmployment histories of particular persons i i � I �, � ; I i On a motion by Mr. Goodman and seconded by Mr. Engrnan , the Town Board :entered i executive session to discuss the employment Nstories of particular persons . . Motion carried — unanimous On a motion by Mr. Stein and seconded by Mr. DePaolo , the Town Board returned to regular session at 12 : 19 p . m . Agenda Item No. 8 : Consider Adjournment On a motion by Mr. Stein and seconded by Ms . Leary , the Town Board adjourned the meeting at 12 : 19 p . m . Respectfully Submitted , fi LV� Debra DeAugi ine , Deputy Town Clerk I Town of Ithaca Town Board Sign-In Sheet Meeting Date: Le, 'g/{ JaJ Plea nt your information to ensure accuracy in the meeting minutes Print Name Print Address a-mail c L � 'Ole L : Lee v TOWN OF ITHACA AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING AND PUBLICATION . I . I , Debra DeAugistine , being duly sworn , say that I am the Deputy . .Town Clerk , of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York that the following notice has been ' duly posted on the sign board of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca and the notice has,!- been duly published in the official newspaper, Ithaca Journal: O ADVERTISEMENT ICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS _ �_ _. . gals „ 050 f*TOWN OF:ITHACA Proposed Amendments to the 1993 Town of Ithaca ANAM(c tg6I 1 c1. { Comprehensive Plan Relating to Certain # HEARING Rz- TAKE;P TIDE Environmental Studies of the Northeast Ithaca It the Town _Board of the'; Town 6F Ithaca. Area Conducted by . the Town Board and ,hod a publict `heanng on ©ecember ..y3,1 ,•-22009 at Conservation/Open Space Recommendations for 10.02'amat Town all 2n5.�North Tioga'Str`- t Lands in the Northeast Study Area . Ithaca, New York , to ,hea Ipiiblic� cor meni °regarding *' Rroposed Amendments to thek•�1C993'tTowny!of`Ith accaa Location of Sign Board Used for Posting : Comprehensive,(Flan,.,Re lating " to Certain .Enwrorr_ 'I mental: Studies ofthe^ 4,N eastp% )thaca sArea Town Clerks Office Cond"ucted , by , the Town , M 215 North Tioga Street Board, � �Pel . CI III- v'afio_n / O e.n Space Recommendations Ithaca , NY 14850 for duds m the Northe s�, 41 ea:'• 4 Date of Posting : December 11 , 2009 InfoYmahon regardingt}the ' publ' ear,ngiip,c is on� "� Date of Publication : December 14 2009 ffI and available tfor reap f ; S,ew'. in the Town (Clerk s ice at Town Hall during ' , no al ' busWd -. hours &DebraDeA I nda`y' throug h Fri da00am toAndhiv,duals needing as1 e to a sshould contact the f, "Town, Cledc s office wrthm Clerk 48}hourz prior to the"time R the public hearing f ; . Town of Ithaca DebraDeAugishne , s , D putt'' o 'erk p� ate eawor6s �December11 , 2009 '>,12/g1.4 2� 009 � • _ STATE OF NEW YORK) COUNTY OF TOMPKINS) SS : TOWN OF ITHACA) A rn to an subscribed before me this � day of 2009 . Notary Public 1 PAULETTE NEILSEN = = Notary Public, State of New York No. 01 NE6156809 �tG ,;, •}; _. - Qualified in Tioga County commission Expires December 4, 20 �,Q .� TOWN OF ITHACA AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING AND PUBLICATION I , Debra DeAugistine , being duly sworn , say that I am the Deputy Town Clerk , of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County, New York that the following notice has been duly posted on the sign board of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca and the notice has! been duly published in the official newspaper, Ithaca Journal: O ADVERTISEMENT / tOIICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS T OFZITW►C�► Proposed Amendments to the 1993 Town of Ithaca dricEPoF�PUscic HEARING * Comprehensive Plan Relating to Certain PLEp$E 'TAKENOTIGR. t e t_�thp To„�;x th ;T�Environmental Studies of the Northeast Ithaca `of Ithaca" wIA Area Conducted by the Town Board and hod a pghli l7"earl g on Qe 3dg IV t Conservation/Open Space Recommendations for ,o:a am atTown<HaA; 2te North nstraet Lands in the Northeast Study Area. It"Ne�Ygrk.a+•fte a: n� . Pu .c°mme�n�E ,regardtng Proposedr?*-nenEmentaa t" . tf e3TATvn ;of� Location of Sign Board Used for Posting : ComprehenatPlaRa latlo� bad ertain Errvlran w r mei�t�t $�tudfes ,af,�'the Town Clerk' s Office NO �I`h ' aairasrv. ^xx=z trs•. Bo d� Y an 215 North Tioga Street dd Co s rvegan /Open Sp eRecommendationa� Ithaca , NY 14850 forFRLantla In the No`rthe�a'9t • December 11 2009 'In On n egE it the Date of Posting . p eahngbtopc+r$ December 14 2009 °` Date of Publication . � " eMTowt+ clan Ri It Qfflce at"To�`wn`Ha I-Ou g buslnesswhQui$ M t hrough�tFnday WOO lnillvlduala�neeBing 'asals Debra DeAugis ' eiqu1d "�° 1Q Tr�� s office4withln Qwn Clerk l ���yh�.�" r Town of Ithaca R � i " Debra�DWgistlna .�ep�tyrTowa t 2/4 STATE OF NEW YORK) COUNTY OF TOMPKINS) SS : TOWN OF ITHACA) rn to anq subscribed before me this day of 2009 . Notary Public = PALILETTE NEILSEN - Notary Public, State of New York No. 01 NE6156809 Qualified in Tioga County Commission Expires December 4, 20LQ Attachment A PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO 1993 TOWN OF ITHACA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (ORIGINAL PLAN ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 21 , 1993 ) Amendment # 1 : Chapter IV Plan Synthesis — Section B "East Hill Development — Advantages and Disadvantages" (page IV-5 ) Current Wording: Disadvantages : • increased traffic may lower service levels and have a negative impact on residential areas • potential adverse impacts to the Six Mile Creek Watershed, the Cascadilla Creek and Fall Creek corridors , and other environmentally sensitive areas • limits on water and sewer capacity in some areas Proposed Amendment (Delete current wording and substitute the following) : Disadvantages : • increased traffic may lower service levels and have a negative impact on residential areas • potential adverse impacts to the Six Mile Creek Watershed, the Cascadilla Creek and Fall Creek corridors, and other environmentally sensitive areas • the Town Board contracted for several environmental studies to be prepared regarding characteristics of the Northeast Ithaca area, including "Drainage Study Evaluation — Northeast Ithaca" , prepared by Milone & MacBroom, Inc . (July 3 , 2007) ; "Final Report of an Ecological Communities Survey and Assessment of Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods" , prepared by LeCain Environmental Services, Inc . (September 30, 2008) ; and "Report of a Spring Survey of Birds and Other Faunal Resources on Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods" , prepared by LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. (September 30, 2008) . These reports indicate among other things , that there are existing drainage problems in the Northeast study area that need to be addressed; special drainage solutions would be necessary to accommodate additional development in the Northeast study area; there are important ecological resources on at least parts of the Northeast study area; the important natural areas of the Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary and the Monkey Run Unique Natural Area are close or immediately adjacent to the study area; and at least some, if not all , of the lands in the study area should be prioritized for conservation, with three options for conservation suggested by the LeCain consultant • limits on water and sewer capacity in some areas Amendment #2 : Chapter IV Plan Synthesis — Section J "Categories on the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map" — "Conservation/Open Space Use" (pages IV- 14 and IV- 15 ) Current Wording: Conservation/Open Space areas indicate natural areas that should be protected from inappropriate development. They may contain wetlands, steep slopes, mature woodlands , or other natural features . Portions of some areas shown as Conservation/Open Space may be suitable for development. Individual site evaluation will be necessary to determine suitability for development. No specific densities have been determined. Instead, the Town will consider a number of mechanisms including performance standards . Clustering of development to non-fragile portions might allow site development at overall densities similar to that on sites without environmental constraints . Currently there is no zoning specifically for Conservation/Open Space Use . Proposed Amendment (Delete current wording and substitute the following) : Conservation/Open Space areas indicate natural areas that should be protected from inappropriate development. They may contain wetlands , steep slopes, mature woodlands , woods or other wildlife habitat, natural stormwater retention and water quality functions , or other natural features . Portions of some areas shown as Conservation/Open Space may be suitable for development. Individual site evaluation will be necessary to determine suitability for development. No specific densities have been determined. Instead, the Town will consider a number of mechanisms including performance standards , clustering, conservation easements, or zoning. Clustering of development to non-fragile portions might allow site development at overall densities similar to that on sites without environmental constraints . The "Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan", adopted by the Town Board on December 8 , 1997 , recommended the establishment of Conservation Zones as a tool to implement the "Conservation/Open Space Use" in certain areas of the Town . Subsequently, Conservation Zones have been adopted in a number of areas , including Six Mile Creek corridor, South Hill Swamp, Indian Creek Gorge and Lake Slopes, Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, Eldridge Preserve, state parks and adjacent private lands adjacent to state parks as buffers . The Conservation Zone includes a very low development density (one house per seven acres) , utilizes clustering to preserve sensitive natural areas, and includes a number of other development restrictions and guidelines . Amendment #3 : Chapter IV Plan Synthesis — Section K "Description of Anticipated Land Use Patterns on East Hill" — "Conservation/Open Space" (page IV- 16) Current Wording: Conservation/Open Space is shown for the Six Mile Creek corridor, the Cascadilla Creek corridor, the McGowan Woods west of Game Farm Road, woodlands on Hungerford Hill , a cemetery, wetlands in Sapsucker Woods, the Briarwood wetland, the Cornell Plantations and Arboretum, and various steep slopes adjacent to Fall Creek and East of Cayuga Lake. Proposed Amendment (Delete current wording and substitute the following) : Conservation/Open Space is shown for the Six Mile Creek corridor; the Cascadilla Creek corridor; the McGowan Woods west of Game Farm Road ; woodlands on Hungerford Hill ; a cemetery; wetlands and woods in Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary and adjacent lands as buffers to the Sanctuary; wetlands , woods, and buffer areas east of Briarwood Drive and north of Birchwood Drive North ; the Cornell Plantations and Arboretum; and various steep slopes adjacent to Fall Creek and East of Cayuga Lake, The 1997 Park, Recreation & Open Space Plan , Map 8- 1 — "Potential Zoning for Open Space and Purchase of Development Rights Target Areas" and the "Anticipated Land Use Patterns" map in Chapter IV of the 1993 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan are both hereby amended to reflect the above clarifications and changes . Indicates substantive wording changes DRAFT — November 16, 2009 Town of Ithaca Planning Department Y _ i ► � . DEC "71009 DEP 1VY' Ii11TNING TOWN OF ITHACA �1 1 East Street PLANNING. / ENGINEERING Edward C: Marx AICP ' ;th a,4 . fk 48 , 0 Commissioner of Planning Telephone (607) 274-5560 and Public Works * * ` ' Fax (607) 274-5578 December 4, 2009 Mr. Jonathan Kanter, AICP, Director of Planning Town of Ithaca 215 N. Tioga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Re: Review Pursuant to §239 -1 , -m and -n of the New York State General Municipal Law Action: Northeast zoning/planning proposals Dear Mr. Kanter: This* letter acknowledges your referral of the proposal identified above for review and comment by the Tompkins County Planning Department pursuant to §239 -1 and -m of the New York State General Municipal Law. The Department has reviewed the proposal, as submitted, and has determined that it has no negative inter- community, or county-wide impacts. The Department offers the following comments regarding the proposed project, which are not'formal recommendations under General Municipal Law §239 -1 and —m: • Although the Tompkins County Conservation Plan (hq://www.tmpkins-co.orglplanning/nri/nri .htm) recognizes the importance of maintaining an open space connection within this section of the Fall Creek Natural Features Focus Area, the plan specifically recommends the protection of a corridor from the area east of Sapsucker Woods toward Fall Creek in the Town of Dryden. Please inform us of your decision so that we can make it a part of the record. Sincerely, lot Edward C. Marx, AICP Commissioner of Planning and Public Works Cc : Joseph Lalley, Chair, Town of Dryden Planning Board Dan Kwasnowski, Environmental Planner, Town of Dryden Inclusion through (Diversity TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: TOWN BOARD FROM: JONATHAN KANTER, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING RE: MATERIALS FOR PROPOSED NORTHEAST CONSERVATION ZONE DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2009 Attached are materials relating to the proposed rezoning to Conservation Zone in the Northeast area of the Town, including ( 1 ) a local law to rezone certain lands in the northeast corner of the Town from Medium Density Residential to Conservation Zone; and (2) a map of the "Proposed Conservation Zone". These are based on the Town Board' s actions at the November 9, 2009 meeting to set a public hearing to be held on December 7, 2009 to consider public comments regarding the proposed rezoning to Conservation Zone. Additional public hearings will need to be set to consider ( 1 ) proposed amendments of the 1993 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan to update descriptions and recommendations regarding certain areas in the northeast corner of the Town and to add references to certain studies that have been recently completed by the Town regarding drainage and ecology of lands in the northeast corner of the Town; and (2) adoption of a proposed local law amending the Zoning Chapter of the Town of Ithaca Code to add preservation of certain drainage and stormwater retention features to Conservation Zone purposes. Separate draft resolutions setting those two public hearings, along with the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and a draft local law amending the purpose section of the Conservation Zone, are included for the Board' s consideration. Although a public hearing regarding the Comprehensive Plan amendments was set at the November 9`h Town Board meeting for the December 7 meeting, the notice of public hearing apparently did not make it to the Ithaca Journal in sufficient time to allow publication at least 10 days prior to the public hearing, as required in NYS Town Law, Section 272-a. Therefore, the Town Board should re-schedule the public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan amendments. According to Susan Brock, at least two public hearings are required under NYS Town Law, Section 272-a, in regard to proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, one for citizen input on the development of the amendment, and the other to consider adoption of the amendment. So it appears that the Town Board will not be able to hold a public hearing or take action on the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan at the December 7`h meeting. Upon setting and then holding the first public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan amendments, the Town Board will have to subsequently set a second public hearing to consider adoption of the proposed amendments. In addition, the setting of the public hearing on the proposed local law regarding the rezoning of lands to Conservation Zone (set on November 9`h for the December 7`h meeting) did not provide the required 30 day notification period for the General Municipal Law referral to the County Planning Department, so the Board would not be able to take any action on the proposed rezoning until after receiving the County' s advisory comments and until after holding at least two public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan amendments. It is suggested that the Town Board consider keeping the public hearing on the proposed rezoning open to continue on whatever dates are set for the required first and second Comprehensive Plan public hearings. Meanwhile, staff will prepare the necessary SEQR review of the above actions for the Town Board' s consideration at the time that the Town Board is able to consider acting on the above matters. Please let us know if there are any questions regarding the above. Att. 2 . . ... ... . _ . . Adopted Planning Board Resolution Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Elan Manning Board Meeting, September 21; 1993 WHEREAS, the Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca on December 5, 1989 made recommendation to the grown Board that, among other item, a Comprehensive Planning : Committee be estabfished to prepare a Comprehensive elan for the Town, and . WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca established the Comprehensive Planning Committee on February 12, 1990 to perform various special planning tasks for the Town and to prepare a draft comprehensive plan, and ITWER AS, the Comprehensive Planning Committee, assisted by Town Staff and Stuart L Brown Associates (planning consultants), has: surveyed residents of the Town of Ithaca; conducted .inventories of the Town; prepared statements of goals, objectives, and recommended actions; discussed and deliberated various Town planning issues; considered various alternatives; conducted public information meetings on various draft documents; sought comment from Town Boards and Committees, interested residents, and other agencies, and IWEREAS, the Comprehensive Manning Committee, assisted by Town Staff and Stuart L Brown Associates, has submitted a draft comprehensive plan, and ,;WEREAS;�Section 272-a of Vw .york, Town Law present(v s eci . ie that the Planninq Board is responsible ,for the adoytion and maintenance of a Town 's Comprehensive Plan, and l Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan Resolution Page 2 Town Board Meeting, Vvember 4, 1993 VCS, the Planning Board has solicited public comment on. the draft Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan both during and after these neighborhood meetings, and considered all comments .received, and `YVNEREAS, ' the Planning Board on August 31, 1993 held a Pub& Hearing on the draft Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan to consider father public comment, and WHEREAS, the Planning Board at its September 21, 1993 Meeting considered that comment and believes the draft Comprehensive Plan is now ready for adoption, and %BR,EAS, the Planning Board by resolution adopted on September 21, 1993, determined that the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan would not have any significant adverse environmental impacts, and %AREAS, on September 21, 1993, the Planning Board adopted the draft Comprehensive Plan, dated,uly 30., 1993., as the Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan; NOW, Z}CMETFORE BE I2 '1Z£SOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca ?own Board horPh -rr•vtits the TTQ itn of rt aca Cownehensiye Plan, as adopted -- 4 t o ozim t nrn ar� tririrr Boar o JeWmber 21, 1993, a.S the 04W,rza.rTn,,ft o f rthaca Comprehensive plan. J_ MOVED, Councilman Mein Carried Unanimously SECONDED: Supervisor Raffensperger DATED: V vember 4, 1993 Yoan Lent NPteboom, Town Clerk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Town of Ithaca Planning Board oard James Ainslie Virginia C. Langhans Candace E. Cornell Willian H. Lesser C. Herbert Finch Stephen D. Smith Carolyn J. Gngorov, Chairperson Robert L. Kenerson, Vice-Chairperson Comprehensive Planning Committee Edward Austen Jane Schafrik Bruce Brittain Ronald Simpson Kings Gergely Stephen D. Smith Carolyn J. Grigorov Gerald Weisburd Karl J. Niklas John G. Whitcomb David L. Klein, Chairperson Town of Ithaca Town Board i David L. Klein Karl J. Niklas Patricia A. Leary Catherine Valentino Frank R. Liguori Shirley A. Raffensperger, Town Supervisor John G. Whitcomb, Deputy Town Supervisor Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Celia Bowers Cheryl Smith Richard B. Fischer John G. Whitcomb Eva B. Hoffmann Candace E. Cornell, Chairperson Phillip Zarriello, Vice-Chairperson - i Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page iii Table of Contents Adopted Planning Board Resolution . . .. .. .. . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . . .. . . . . .. . ..... . . .. .. ... . . .. . . . .. .. .. . i Acknowledgments . . .. .. .. . . .. . . .. Of " .. .. .:.. . . 4444. . . .. .4100. . . . . .. . . . .:.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... .. .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . : . Table of Contents .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... v Executive Summary. :..:.:.. :. .. .. .. .::.:.:: .. : . :..... :.., .:.. .:.. .: .. .... .. .Ex. Summ - 1 Chapter I - Introduction A. ` Reasons for Preparing the Comprehensive Plan.... .. ..::....:. .:.:::...:.. .:.. .. .. : I - 1 Be A Brief iDescription of the Town of Ithaca... ......;. ...:..::........:......;.:.. . .. ...:. I - 1 C. The Comprehensive Planning Process .... ....,.:..... ..:....: ...:...:... . .. ..... . ...: .. .. . I - 3 D. 1990 Town of Ithaca Residents Survey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . : . . :. .. . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . : .. . . . . 0060. I - 4 E . Environmental Review of the Comprehensive Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I - 4 F. Dynamic Comprehensive Planning - Chapter II we Inventory A. Natural Resources . .. . 04 6 0 00 a 9 0 9 a a 9 a a 04 0* w 9 0 4 0 1 11 0 10 1 0 0 6 1 1 a a 0 0 9 0 a 0 a a 0 a 0 0 0 9 9 9 a a 0 11 1 II - 1 Be Land Use, Planning, and Zoning . . . . . . .... 0000400* 04 as II we 4 Co Demographics .. ..... .. .. .. .... .. .. .... . 4444. - . .. .. .. . . ......... . 4444 . .. .. .... . II D. Housing .. ... . .. .. .. .. ...... . . .... .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. . .... . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .... . . .. .. .. ... ... .. ..:.. . .. . ... . ... .. .. . II - 12 E. The Economy . ... . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... . . . .. sees .. .. .. .. ... . .... .. .. . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . 11 - 15 F. Transportation ... ...... ..... . .. .... . . .. .... .... . .. . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .... .. . ..... .. ...: .... ... . . ..: .... .. .. . II we 20 G . Public Utilities . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. . . .. . . .. .:. . ... . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . II - 25 H. Community Facilities and Services . . .. .. . . .. . . :. . . .. .. .. :. .. . . .. .... .. .. . .. . . .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. . II - 36 I. Town Government And Administration . . .. . . .. .. . . .. . . . . .. . ... . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . II - 41 Chapter III we Goals, Objectives, and Recommended Actions A. Housing and Residential Land Use . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. .... . . .. ... . . ... . . .. . . .. .. .. . III - 2 Be Managing the Built Environment . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . . ... . .. . . .. .. . . .. . ... . . . . .. . . . ... . . .: .. .. .. . . 0 III - 4 C. Conservation, Open Space and Environmental Protection .. . ... . . .. .. .. . . . . . III - 10 D. Institutions and Institutional Land Use .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .: . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. 00 . . 60 .. . III - 12 E. The Economy and Associated Land Uses . .. sees . . .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. ... . . . .. .. .. .. .. . III - 14 F. Transportation . " 009941*0 ** *"oes 09 9900 *040 0 # 00 40 as 9* 9090 ova ease ease as ** *sole III - 19 G . Public Utilities Facilities and Services .... . .. .... . . .. . . .. .. .. .... .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . III - 23 Chapter IV - Plan Synthesis A. Striking a Balance .. .. .. .... ...... .. .. .... . . .. .. .. . . .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .... . .... . . . .. . . .. .. .. .. . ... . IV - 1 Be East Hill Development - Advantages and Disadvantages .. .. .. .. .. .. 990. 6 . .. . IV ­, 5 C. South Hill Development Advantages and Disadvantages . .. .. . . .. IV - 5 D. West Hill Development to Advantages and Disadvantages .. . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . IV - 6 i E. Inlet Valley Development - Advantages and Disadvantages . . . . .. .. .. . . .. . IV - 6 F. No Growth Rejected . .. . .::.. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . IV - 7 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page v Chapter I INTRODUCTIOIlT A. Reasons for Preparing the Comprehensive Plan. This comprehensive Pi anning effort ism large. part a response to the substantial changes in the Town of Ithaca's physical environment in recent years, to perceptions that more development is imminent, and to growth generally, especially during the 1980s . As a result of such change and in the face of pressures from growth, there has been a movement to protect and improve that .which. local people cherish: the natural environment, ruralness, openness, scenic beauty, neighborhoods, and the right of Townspeople to choose their own future. . .All of these elements contribute to the perceived quality of life in the Town. It is presumed that the quality of life in the Town of Ithaca can be enhanced if a well-considered Comprehensive Plan is implemented. This enhancement would resTilt from following a philosop=o balance in rowth and development A central idea-is at development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive TIMe a ance is also inherent in many other aspects of Comprehensive Plan.Plan. It is felt that this desire to achieve a reasonable balance necessitates action by Town government, which has an obligation to protect the safety and welfare of the Town and its people. This Plan is intended to serve as a guide for achieving the goals and objectives of the Town of Ithaca, which can be implemented through policies, projects, and programs. The primary focus is the Town's physical environment. By providing a window onto the Town's vision of the future, the Plan will guide the various decisions of officials, staff, and boards, as well as private decision makers. The Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan, like other general plans, has four essential characteristics. It is: • a Physical Plan (a guide to physical development) * Lon Range (from now to 20 or 30 years hence) • Comprehensive (encompassing the Town and its many functions) • a Statement of Policy (indicating a course of action) B. A Brief Description of the Town of Ithaca. The Town of Ithaca is located on the hills and along the Inlet Valley at the southern end of Cayuga Lake in the eastern Finger Lakes Region of central New York State (see the Regional Location Map and Town of Ithaca Map). . Prominent features of the region's natural environment, its lakes, gorges, hills, and soils, are mainly the result of Ice Age glaciation. The Town of Ithaca was established in 1821 and includes the Village of Cayuga Heights, which incorporated in 1915. The Town surrounds the City of Ithaca and is itself surrounded by the eight other towns of Tompkins County. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page I - 1 Village from Lansing at Triphammer Road . A tank at Sheldon Road provides 0.5 '°, MG of storage capacity. Northeast. The Northeast Service Area includes everything north of Forest Home. This area is supplied by water from a SCLIWC main via a pressure regulating valve (PRV) on Spruce Lane which provides water .to a 0.5 MG tank on Christopher Circle. Water is pumped from this tank to another 0.5 MG tank located near Sapsucker Woods Road, which provides water to a higher- pressure zone in the eastern portion of the service area. Transmission and storage facilities for the Northeast Were sized for an average demand of 0.40 MGD. Present demand is about ..25 MGD. Facilities are suffi cient to support futurp demand from the small amount of remaining g developable area. Most of the water distribution system in the Northeast area was constructed around 1959. Extensions have been made as subdivisions and housing were developed. Original water mains were constructed with cement-lined cast iron,.- pipe,e which is generally in gd`hy oodraulic condition. Cast iron pipe is somewhat weaker than the ductile iron pipe used today, and water main breaks have become the most common problem related to freeze-thaw cycles in the area 's fine-grained soils. Water facilities in the Northeast also supply portions of the Town of Dryden via the Sapsucker Woods Road distribution main. Houses on the Dryden side of Sapsucker Woods Road tap into this main, which also serves as the main supply to Dryden's Varna service area (via a Freese Road water main). In turn, a pump in the Varna area provides water to Dryden Is NYSEG service area, which includes two storage tanks. Demand from Dryden has been increasing, putting a significant load on the Christopher Circle pump station and the Sapsucker Woods Road tank. A recently constructed 12" water main along Route 366 (Dryden Road) provides a more direct connection to the SCLIWC transmission main near the Cornell Orchards. The new main creates a loop in the system and will eventually provide water to Dryden and much of the northeast area of the Town. It will be placed in service after an agreement is signed with Cornell. Eastern Ithaca. The Eastern Ithaca Service Area extends from Forest Home to just south of Ellis Hollow Road. Major water users include the businesses in the East Hill commercial area, Ellis Hollow Apartments, and Cornell's Maplewood housing complex. There are no storage facilities in this area at present. The need for storage is being evaluated in conjunction with area development planning. Historically, utilities have been built and owned by Cornell, which owns much of the land in the Eastern area. (Cornell supplies water to some of the Forest Home area, including Cornell's student housing on Pleasant Grove Road.) _y Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page II - 28 Village of Cayuga heights. The Village of Cayuga Heights service area is served by the Cayuga Heights Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Village sewage collection system is the oldest in the Town and is owned and maintained by the Village. Northeast Ithaca: The Northeast Ithaca sewage collection system is served by the Cayuga Heights Wastewater Treatment Plant. The oldest sanitary sewers in this area were constructed for fhe Northeast Sewer District in. 1965, Extensions were made as the area developed. The collector sewers in this area generally are in_ good condition as shown by the results of an infiltration and inflow evaluation conducted in 1989, which included video inspection of many sewer lines. s--An inventory and .maintenance program. has been initiated; with maintenance of sewers and manholes being performed as needed. Sewer system capacity in this area was desiETA.and constructed to handle the area' s remaining development potential. Eastern Ithaca. The capacity of the Town sewer system in Eastern Ithaca is designed for the full development potential of the area . The only limitation currently is the transportation capacity in the City sewer system. The Town and City are evaluating and preparing plans to alleviate this limitation. The southern part of this service area includes the East Hill commercial area and the Ellis Hollow Road area. This area drains to the City sewer system at the Mitchell Street monitoring station. Sewage from Forest Home and the Dryden Road (Route 366) area is transported to the City sewer system via lines owned by Cornell University. The Forest Home portion of the sewer system was constructed in 1979 and includes 8" gravity sewers, five pump stations, and five force mains. The system is in good condition and the pump stations operate effectively. Sewage is pumped into the Cornell gravity sewer system on North Campus, flowing through a monitoring station on Thurston Avenue as it enters the City sewer system. Cornell-owned sewers also transport Dryden's sewage to the City sewer system via a Varna pump station. Southeast Ithaca. The initial sewer system in this area was installed in 1970 (old Slaterville Road Sewer District) and has been expanded as individual developments have been constructed. The principal nonresidential sewage flows in this area are generated by Cornell's Baker Institute. These facilities will require monitoring under the Federal and State industrial pretreatment regulations . Capacity of the Snyder Hill Road portion of the system is adequate for the development potential in that area. Capacity of the Slaterville Road sewer is adequate for current loadings, but a proposed major increase in sewage flow would necessitate a capacity analysis and a determination regarding improvements. The possible creation of a sewer district in the Town of Dryden will require an analysis of transportation capacities and determination regarding the allocation of capacity. 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N F• I T ACAS ewsmn to UT' 9 J 1 a fo fKVgl \vim ` Z'z °p O �'o TOWN OF THACA a mammal ' , 0 � i pOo am ni o J ° aIo r iI a 6 jo : � n� ' ' • � I }1< r ° • i °°p �k i ° f i CP 00 0 4L Isom 00 s . • _—.— o--- ; Lga r . .J tTHAC. . _ . . _ , T N OF T OF DRYDEN .: -� '9 -f aKr Km o 0=1 90 00 m m — � .sts� ° . m_y_M $ z " „ 70 e�6 .5imovm y -nmvm � cn vvmoa ma mC. vmm * MMax waq No NE Jim IOM m M " F= � Nm �-° 3 Mamam an xrxnr xm x0 axxz 171 < 3woo = 9 �0; : mz � - nnc3 ox VZO1 N y N z ° oC3am 171 _ o o » M -Dim .. rmav � a oZ1my .� v � n Z1 y AN N = sg v � Dm � 149 . < D mvooy GG) A o � v � � _ x we d< mOm n ° O n -i 00 10 v r ® > > �x C � *° D CL 0 o. a O r ma M ® � o n 11 n ro h Z •� mamma Y b. • �. • 1 I • Y l 1 ' 1 ill I I �l•�I ll 1 �I�IIIIIIL�111 = � �� III I_ ' �'�+it i �'`i�,�l�i�l (�II ���� • I�I� I�I�I�� ���� II �� II ���';1= .. - _ III Iill� '�". � ; I���il�llllill►�[� :<< 11 � � �� �� �� �l►__ . _�- - - ::::. I:IsIIIII iI I I 1 �' "PH III Jill I �� _I m pr - �I �+" ° I€ �::�� ,'�� 1�j• III I� ! .I •I ���Illlllll�l�l�lll /J,��i° �a��,`� �all�llllllll (` IIIIII Wu������ III�i�III�III ". VIII n Bill - `�� environment section apply to all kinds of development, even though there are sections devoted specifically to housing and commerce. Unless otherwise noted, these statements apply only to the Town of Ithaca outside the incorporated area of the Village of Cayuga Heights . A. `dousing and Residential Land Use GOAL: To promote the availability of diverse, high-quality, affordable, and attractive places for people to live: The objectives are to have 1 . A variety of housing stsles and patterns of development to meet the diverse needs of the community_,. 2. Neighborhoods that are quiet, clean, and safe and that have low traffic, low vehicle speeds, and attractive landscaping 30 Opportunities for affordable housing. 49 -Provision for limited home occupations while guarding against the _ creation of nuisances. Recommended Actions for Each Objective: f 10 A variety of housing styles and patterns of development to meet the diverse needs of the community. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Prepare a Housing Plan (this Plan will include the number and general location of dwelling units in the Town, with attention to future housing needs, including affordable housing units) . b) Ensure that adequate amounts of suitable land are zoned to meet housing needs i3entified FV the Housing Plan. c) Require clustering as necessary for efficient use of land and other resources. d) ,, : Encourage the construction of a range of housing types, styles, and prices to satisfy the diverse needs and desires of the community, including Housing accessible to the handicapped. 2. Neighborhoods that are quiet, clean, and safe and that have low traffic, low vehicle speeds, and attractive landscaping. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Establish performance standards to provide for desirable residential attributes. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page 111 - 2 1. b) Seek residential designs in which built elements relate to one another, to internal streets, and to topography to create interesting and harmonious spaces and a sense of neighborhood. c) Allow for some flexibility in residential density to complement estab- lished neighborhoods; without necessari_ly .duplicating lot .sizes and . layouts. d) . Ensure that inappropriate nonresidential uses are not located close to or . .: . . within established neighborhoods. e) Stress the importance of amenities such as sidewalks, arks lan& al2ing, streets, an commurut centers in establishing and maintaining. neighborhoo c aracter. f) Encourage private initiatives to maintain or improve neighborhoods; for examp e, neig borhood cleanups, planting of trees, supervision and -maintenance of play areas, or adopt-a-park programs. g) , Establish zoning standards (e.g., occupancy and usage limits) to minimize the negative effects of dwelling its occupied by students. h) Discourage strip-type residential frontage development along major arterial and collector roads to ensure safer residential areas. Prepare reasonable and flexible guidelines for the design, lantin , and maintenance of street trees as part of major new residential develo ments 10 lots or more). j) Discourage the conversion of local residential roads into through roads. 3. Opportunities for affordable housing. To accomplish this objective the Town should. .. a) Use incentive zoning mechanisms to provide for affordable housing. (See Conservation 1 (b) for a brief description of incentive zoning.) b) Explore requiring that a small percentage of large developments be devoted to affordable housing. c) Ensure that a portion of the Town's undeveloped, residenti-ky zoned areas have of-size requirements that do not preclude affordable housing. d) Provide for some flexibility in creating and applying design criteria to promote affordable housing (See Managing the Built Environment #3. ) e) Consider pursuing legal or other mechanisms which would ensure that affordable housing remains affordable over the long term. f) Work with Tompkins County, theCity of Ithaca, and other .agencies ..to plan and create affordable housing. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page III - 3 g) Explore making provisions in the Zoning Ordinance for creative housing concepts, such as co-housing and elderhouses. h) Examine development review processes to determine how they affect the construction of affordable housing; work to eliminate unnecessary hindrances. 4: . Provision for customary and reasonable. home occupations while guarding against the creation of nuisances. To accomplish this objective the Town should Review and revise the criteria used to regulate home occupations in residential zones and establish standards of operation for off-street parking, signage, buffering, hours of operation, noise, traffic, etc. Regulate home occupations based on impacts, not activities . B. Managing the Built Environment GOAL: To shape and improve the quality of the built environment by focusing growth so as to provide for the needs of Townspeople, maintain the character of the Town, and ensure a healthy environment for future generations. The objectives are to have 10 Land use, development, and environmental regulations which are in accordance-with Me -CompreFiensive Plan. ^ 29 Criteria and guidelines for the various land use decisions made by Town boards and o icia s. 3. Performance standards for new development. 4. Focus development to avoid sprawl. _ 5. .Retention or creation of park, and/ or public open s ace in conjunction with eve opment. 6. Minimization of adverse environmental impacts resulting from development. T Efficient use of public infrastructure and facilities. 8. Creative, efficient, and attractive plans and designs for all development, which are also compatible with or enhance their surroundings. 9. Well-designed physical and visual transitions between different land uses to minimize conflicts . 109 Maintenance and improvement of the built environment, including protection of historic structures and sites and adaptive reuse of structures where appropriate. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21 , 1993 Page III - 4 2. Criteria and guidelines for the various land use decisions nude by Town boards and officials. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Streamline regulations and the development review process. Modify regulations for brevity, clarity, and ease of use, using graphics where PPropriate. . . b) Review and improve the criteria and /or. guidelines for special permit uses, rezonings, site plans, and subdivisions. c) Continue to require approval of site plans for certain specially permitted uses and evaluate extending the requirement to other specially permitted uses . d) Evaluate the two-tiered system currently used for special approvals . Consider transferring full special approval authority to the Planning Board. (In the present two-tiered system the Zoning Board of Appeals may not grant special approvals unless the Planning Board has made a positive recommendation on the proposal.) e) Consider developing criteria to allow and set the bounds for certain Town staff members to make decisions on minor matters which at present are dealt with by Town boards . For example, a recent amendment of the Zoning Ordinance authorizes the Building Inspector to allow minor changes to approved site plans based on specified criteria. %. 3. Performance standards for new development. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Consider design criteria and construction specifications for the Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Ordinance. b) Foster the use of designs that seek to balance the competing interests or needs of engineering, community planning, safety, aesthetics, economics, and the environment. c) Develop innovative Town engineering standards to provide for effective engineering solutions that also enhance aesthetics and protect the environment. 4. Focus development to avoid sprawl. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) _Update and maintain on a regular basis the anticipated land use plan map and narrative. b) Evaluate the establishment of innovative land use programs such as transfer of deve opment rights (TDiZ). Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page III - 6 c) Evaluate the need to revise local thresholds under the Town's a Environmental Quality Review Law. (Thresholds have been set under SEAR beyond which heightened environmental review is required. The Town has already used its authority to adopt lower thresholds in some instances; these need evaluation.) d) Give higher priority to 'identifying and weighing alternatives to proposed development than to examining measures to mitigate negative impacts. e) Continue the Town policy of minimizing adverse impacts to the environment from public works projects. 7. Efficient use of public infrastructure and facilities. (Also see Section G of this Chapter: Public Utilities, Facilities, and Services. ) To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Focus major developments in areas where adequate public infrastructure and facilities exist. b) Require the phasing of large-scale developments as infrastructure and facilities permit. c) Work to improve the Town's rating under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood insurance Community Rating System if it is determined that this would be cost effective. 89 Creative, efficient, and attractive plans and designs for all development, which are also compatible with or enhance their surroundings. To accomplish this objective the Town should Evaluate the desirability of creating an Architectural Review Board. 90 Well-designed physical and visual transitions between different land uses to minimize conflicts. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Require buffers (landscaping, distance, topography, vegetation) to minimize conflicts but allow sufficient design flexibility. b) Explore providing zoning incentives that would enhance the physical and . visual transitions between different land uses. For example, building height restrictions could be relaxed (within proscribed limits) in return for increased setbacks or other improved buffering. (See C-1 (b) for a brief explanation of incentive zoning.) 100 Maintenance and improvement of the built environment, including protection of historic structures and sites and adaptive reuse of structures where appropriate. To accomplish this objective the Town should Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21 , 1993 Page III - 8 140 '1 lie City of Ithaca remain a strong core for the community. Where appropriate, continue to purchase services such as fire and youth recreational services from the City. (This process strengthens the vitality of both municipalities). C. Conservation, Open Space, and Environmental . Protection GOAL. To improve the environment and- to preserve and protect it from degradation. The objectives are to have 11 Protection of natural resources, selected p_pen space; environmentally . arree sens tivee areas, and unique natural _ ... as . 2 . Protection of water and air quality and to keep impacts from erosion, sedimentation, and drainage -to a minimum. 3. Identification and remediation of hazardous waste sites. 44 Fair distribution of the costs and benefits of open space. 50 Increased conservation of water and energy, Recommended Actions for Each Objective. 1. Protection for natural resources, selected open space, environmentally R sensitive areas and unique natural areas. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Support private sector efforts to protect significant environmental areas and coordinate these activities with the Town's comprehensive planning__.. ,program where applicable. b) Consider the use of incentive zoning mechanisms to provide for increased Protection of open space . (Incentive zoning is allowed y Section 261 - o New York Town Law as of July 1 , 1992. This legislation allows a community to offer a developer "incentives or bonuses" with respect to, for example, density, area, height, open space, or use, in exchange for some "community benefits or amenities" such as - open space, housing for.. . persons of low or moderate income, parks, elder care, day care, or other specific physical, social, or cultural amenities, or cash in lieu thereof, of benefit to the residents of the community.) c) Prepare an Open Space Plan for the protection or preservation of the most important open sharps. d) Compile and maintain an Environmental Atlas . e) Consider establishing and maintaining a Conservation Easements Program. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21 ,, 1993 Page 111 - 10 3 . Appropriate accident prevention strategies. "'4) 40 Minimal negative impacts on people and the environment from traffic,,` road maintenance, road construction; noise, exhaust, and the like. 50 Future development designed so as to minimize adverse impacts on . roadway efficiency and safety, as well as future road corridor locations . 6. Promotion; protection; and enhancement of agricultural and scenic resources along rural roads in the Town. Recommended Actions for Each Objective: 1. A reduced need for cars in the greater Ithaca area through development of a diversified transportation system which emphasizes more fuel= efficient forms of transportation such as public transit, bicycling, and walking. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Work with other municipalities, major employers, and institutions to develop park-and-ride lots and to encourage commuter carpools and vanpools, bicycle and pedestrian travel, and the use of public transit. b) Prepare a Pedestrian Circulation Plan. Seek the cooperation of institutions, usmesses, an others in its implementation. Require new development to conform to the pedestrian plan, for example, providing sidewalks and crosswalks where planned. (May be prepared as part of the Transportation Plan recommended in 2(a).) c) iPrepare a Bicycle Circulation Plan, complementing bikeways established by other municipalities and local institutions. Cooperate with the existing ad hoc Tompkins Coalition for Bicycle Transportation (TCBT) . Encourage new development to conform to the Bicycle Plan, (e.g., by providing pathways linked to existing routes). (May be prepared as part of the Transportation Plan recommended in 2(a).) d) Provide a planning framework for new development and redevelo p ment o simplify provision o u c transit. This could include increasing the num er o pu c transit amenities (e.g., bus stops), channeling_ development to areas easily served by bus routes, increasing the number of bus routes, increasing the frequency of service, and developing a ark- an -ri a system. e) To the extent possible, integrate the elements of the trans ortation network which serve to reduce automobile use, such as pedestrian 12aths or U eways, par -and-ride lots, and public transit. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page III - 20 To accomplish this objective the Town should F a) Explore joint development possibilities early in the capital improvements planning process. b) Continue to work on joint projects with the City of Ithaca and Town of Dryden concerning the Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment System and With the members of the Southern Ca u a Lake Intermunici al Water omnussion C on the Bolton Point Water System _ c) Explore opportunities-for consolidation of services and sharing equipment and possibly personnel, for example, sharing road construction equipment or sharing a technically-skilled code enforcement person to inspect special buildings at Cornell University or Ithaca College. Gm2. Water and Waste Water Collection and Treatment Systems GOAL: To provide high-quality public water and sewage utilities at reasonable cost and to protect public health and safety in regard to private water and septic systems. The objectives are to have 1 . Public water and sewer utilities located, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the goals and objectives of this Plan. 29 An assessment of the quality and cost of water and waste water collection and treatment systems, both public and private. Recommended Actions for Each Objective: 10 Public water and sewer utilities located, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the goals and objectives of this Plan. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Make an overall assessment of water and sewer systems in the Town. Prepare and adopt a flexible long-range (ten-year) plan for guiding major maintenance, upgrading, and extension projects. More detailed water and sewer capital improvement planning with a shorter planning horizon (three to five years) should flow from the long-range plan. Regularly review and revise the long-range and short-range plans. b) Limit extension of water and sewer services into areas not designated for -intensive development except when required for public health and safety. c) Give higher priority in the Capital Improvements Program to maintenance_ of public utilities than to construction extension of new utilities. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21 , 1993 Page III - 25 d) Follow State and 'Town Environmental Quality Review Regulations when considering the construction of new or expanded public utilities, = M ' especially the thorough examination of the potential for future . development and its possible impact on existing land uses. e) Review and revise existing contingency plans- for water and sewer . gences. to. plan for nclude .complete . failure of. any one of services. i the three public water systems in the Town, extreme drought, or an immediate and major public health problem outside of water and sewer service areas: f) Explore alternatives to extending water and sewer services in response to public health .and.safety concerns. 2. An assessment of the quality and cost of water and waste water collection and treatment systems, both public and private. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Gather and analyze baseline data on the quality and cost of drinking water and waste water collection and treatment throughout the Town, for both public and private systems. (Work with the County regarding private systems.) b) Determine where problems exist with quality or cost, where there may be . problems in the future, and what approaches should be used to address 1; them. G-3. Public Safety GOAL: The protection of people and their property. The objectives are to have 10 High-quality and coordinated fire, police, and other public safety services and facilities. 26 Precautionary measures that minimize the need for or improve the coordination or delivery of emergency services . Recommended Actions for Each Objective: 10 high-quality and coordinated fire, police, and other public safety services and facilities. To accomplish this objective the Town should a) Prepare an assessment of existing public safety services and facilities, examining quality, cost, and known problems or needs. Examine future needs and develop strategies for addressing them. wY Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page III - 26 Chapter IV PLAN SYNTHESIS The preceding chapter presented over two hundred statements related to a future course of action for the Town, and Chapter II presented a summary of important factual information ° The focus of this chapter is synthesis: how these i different elements may be related logically into a coherent whole and the implications for future land uses. This chapter begins by identifying and discussing the key concepts related to seeking a balance between the goals, objectives, and recommended actions. This is followed by a list of the advantages and disadvantages of development iri various parts of the Town, .rejection of a no-growth .scenario, examination of potential buildout based on . current zoning, and the presentation of an anticipated land use patterns map . A. Striking a Balance There are numerous issues to consider when thinking about the Town's future. Many deal with the use of land: How much development should there be, what kind, where, and how fast? How much open space should the Town protect and how should it be protected? How should the Town handle institutional development? There are many more questions. For each question or issue there are many answers which span a wide range. For example, some people feel that the Town should severely restrict developmenanic preserve most natural areas and farrri ar' nn .. Others ee t at government should make it possi bTe to evelo teen a own, or at east make no restrictions. Ultimately, a balanced approach should a taken; the Town can respect different viewpoints and work to accomplish many objectives at the same time. As stated in the introduction to Chapter III, the goals, objectives, and recommended actions constitute the heart of the Comprehensive Plan. They are arranged by topic and-are accompanied by few extra words. Much effort and time was devoted to wording the statements to reflect available information and the various views and aspirations of the public and of the Town's boards and committees. The goals, objectives, and recommended actions reflect responses to the 1990 Residents Survey, but they deal with more issues and in greater depth. The discussions during the process were sometimes far-ranging, bringing various topics to bear on the issues at hand. The statements as they appear in Chapter III cannot, unfortunately, reflect all the discussions from which -they result, nor do they indicate all the interrelationships. The goals, objectives, and recommended actions have varying degrees of dependence on each other. Some virtually stand alone, others are modified by one or more other statements. For example, the recommendation, "Continue to pursue joint projects among the Town, college students, and faculty," is an example of the former; no other objectives or recommendations modify it. This is not the case with the recommendation to "support the continued vitality of Town Of Ithaca -Comprehensive Plan September 21;1-993--- Page IV - 1 existing employers and ensure that there is adequate and suitable space available." It is implied that this would be done in balance with other goals, objectives, and recommended actions, such as having appropriate . performance and design standards. In some instances; statements directly indicate the need for balance.. Take; for exampT, t e goa o managing the built environment: "To shape and improve the quality of the built environment by managing growth so as to provide for the needs of Townspeople, maintain the character of the Town, and ensure a healthy environment for future generations." This goal could be stated in other ways, but its essence is clear and it is one of the central messages of the Comprehensive . Plan. The Town wants to allow. for .development and protect the .environment. _ 1 Iavinas an objective the Rrotection of natural resources, open space, environmentally sensitive areas, and unique natural areas does not mean that all open areas sFiou The preserve, or that trade-offs cannot be made between these uses and other land uses. The same rationale applies tot the goal of enhancing , agricultural viability and preserving agricultural land resources. In the end, though the supply of land is ample, it is nonetheless finite and it must provide for a variety of needs for its residents, businesses, and institutions. The challenge for the Town is to assess its resources and prepare a balanced land use plan that respects constraints, takes advantage of opportunities, and honors desired policies. The desire for affordable housing provides another example of the importance of striking a balance. The To wn'is aware of e need to keep do5wn or even reduce the costs of ousing, both new and existing, especially as it examines new or reyised plans and regulations. This need does not have to conflict-with other goads,-objectives,s, o je ves, an recommended actions. For example, the costs of new residential development generally can be contained by focusing development )t ard areas w ere in rastructure exists aFa away from areas difficult to build on. W eh n cm ine with allowancesor s ficient densities, reasonable incentives, innovative design, and other measures, affordable new housing can be more feasible than at present. Affordable housing can be realized without compromising other goals and objectives. In fact, as indicated above, they can assist in making it more feasible. Regarding transportation, many issues and desires need to be balanced, both within the arena of transportation itself and between it and other land uses. For example, one objective is to reduce the need for cars through the development of a more diversified transportation system that balances cars with bicycling, walking, and public transit. Other objectives touch on the idea that the transportation system itself should be balanced with other land uses . Roads (which are part of a balanced network) should not unduly impact on residential neighborhoods, for example. Town Of-Ithaca Comprehensive Plan - , September 21,-1-993----- - Page IV - 2 of .80) . The accessory apartment factor accounts for the fact that most Town .f residential zones allow accessory apartments, with some restrictions. This increases the nominal density of a zone. Taking the above example further, if 20 % of the lots had accessory apartments (an accessory apartment factor of 1 .2), it would result in about. 4.6 units per acre: Given the preceding assumptions and, calculations, almost 21 ,000 additional housing units could be constructed in the Town outside Cayuga Heights (see Table IV-1 ) . For perspective, there were 4,772 housing units in 1990 according to the United States Census. . Buildout would occur well into the future, assuming _ population growth at present rates. Given a 5 % vacancy rate and a 2.3 person average Household size, that would work out to about 46,000 additional people.. It also assumes no reductions in the numbers or occupancy of present housing units or redevelopment resulting in increased units or occupancy. Table IV-1 Potential New Housing Units by Zoning District Based m Current Zoning Town of Ithaca (Excluding Cayuga Heights Village) (A) (B) (C) (D) Zone Land Land Percent Density Buildable Accessory Potential (Resid. Only) in Zone in Zone Zone Lots/Acre Area Apartment New Units (Total) (Undev.) Undev. (Allowed) Factor Factor =AxBxCxD R-5 19 0 0% 8.7 0180 1600 0 R-9 338 57% 498 030 120 892 R-15 4,116 1,997 49% 19 0.80 1 .20 51568 R-30 91443 7, 6 77% 15 0.80 1 .10 91297 MR 232 98 42% 17A 0.80 1 .00 _ 11367 AG 3,462 1 3,005 87% 1 .5 0.80 1 1 .05 1 31665 SLUD-6 66 66 100% 2.1 n/a n/a 140 TOTAL 17,675 12,634 71 % n/a n/a n/a 20,928 Notes: Area data derived from comparison of Zoning Map to 1990 Land Use Map. Density in MR zones is Units/Acre not Lots/Acre. Buildable Area Factor accounts for 10% open space dedication and 10% for roads. One accessory apartment per lot is allowed in R9, R15, R30, and AG zones. Accessory Apartment Factors have been estimated by the Planning Department. Actual densities are lower in areas without water and sewer. Zoning of SLUD-6 allows a maximum of 140 units. Source: Town of Ithaca Planning Department, 5/92 Clearly, there is no immediate threat of the Town being saturated by development. Even so, being aware of development experiences in other areas of the country, it has not been difficult for people to imagine. Those who can Town Of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21 ;- 1993 Page IV - 8 The Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map envisions Future housing development focused into areas currently served or anticipated to be served by publicsewer and water systems ® Protection of prime agricultural land for farming (mostly on West Hill) Protection of significant open spaces and sensitive natural areas Respect for State Park lands ® Future neighborhood-scale commercial development.-.occurring within the suburban and urban residential areas shown. . [New commercial areas are not indicated on the map. Decisions about the siting of new neighborhood- commercial areas will be made in the context of existing and planned residential development, based on certain guidelines (see Chapter IIIM ® Continuation of existing large institutional and industrial land uses Land use classifications on the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map indicate the predominant uses -- they are not exclusive. For example,_the residential categories should be viewed as including other uses that are expected in or may b�sui a6Ie For areas sued as schools, parks, trails, open s aces laces of worship, nursing homes, health centers, and neighborhood-scale commercial cen ers. Agricultural areas shown on the map already include housing and nonagricultural activities; it is expected that limited residential and other uses will occur in the future, in keeping with the goals and objectives of this Plan. Similarly, there already is some development in conservation/ open space areas, and it is expected that more may be allowed, if it does not damage fragile natural features. It must be stressed that the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map is not a zoning map. It has no legal effect on the rights of landowners, even when adopted by the Town. Any changes in land use regulations will come only after deliberate action by the Town Board to amend the Zoning Ordinance and other local laws and regulations. This process would include the collection and analysis of more detailed information related to the drawing of legal zoning boundaries. It might also include the preparation of functional or neighborhood-level plans, which would assist in making decisions about land use. The Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map is only a general guide. In implementing the Plan through zoning and other mechanisms, the Town must also respect the goals, objectives, and recommended actions. The Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map does not at present show new roads or road corridors. These can be added once a transportation plan is completed. Town Of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21; 1993 Page IV - 10 J. Categories on the Anticipated hand Use Patterns Map The land use categories shown on the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map are described below. Residential densities, where indicated, do not 'represent precise zoning densities. They do not directly specify housing types, setbacks,, or other specific regulations, which is the function of a zoning ordinance. Densities are compared to current Town zoning densities for information purposes only. Agricultural Use. Farming and farm-related businesses would remain the dominant land uses and activities, . although housing exists throughout these . areas, mostly along road frontages. Most areas shown as Agricultural are not served by public water and sewer. New housing developed in agricultural areas would be at locations and densities that would keep large areas open for farming. No specific housing densities have been determined. Rural Residential Use. Housing densities would be a maximum of about 1 housing unit per acre. In current zoning terms, this area would equate to R-45 (the largest minimum lot size at present is 30,000 square feet (2/3's acre) or R-30) . Most areas shown as Rural Residential are not served by public water and sewer. (In these areas, unless extensions were made, the effective density would probably be lower because of increasingly stringent Health Department septic system requirements.) Suburban Residential Use. Housing densities would be in the range of 1 to 5 housing units per acre. In current zoning terms, this area would range from R-9 to K45. Subu r an Residential areas shown are served or are anticipated to be served by public water and sewer. Urban Residential Use. Urban housing densities would be in the range of 5 to 15 units per acre. For perspective, the present R-5 zone allows a density of about 9 units per acre and the Multiple Residence zone allows a maximum density of about 17 units per acre. Areas shown as Urban Residential are served by public water and sewer. Within Rural, Suburban, and Urban Residential areas (as in all areas designated for development) the development would be focused and designed so as to minimize impacts on the environment. Conservation/Open Space Use. Conservation/Open Space areas indicate natural areas that should be protected from inappropriate development. They may . contain wetlands, steep slopes, mature woodlands, or other natural features. Portions of some areas shown as Conservation/Open Space may be suitable for development. Individual site evaluation will be necessary to determine suitability for development. No specific densities have been determined. Town Of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page IV - 14 Instead, the Town will consider a number of mechanisms including performance standards. Clustering of development to non-fragile portions might allow site development at overall densities similar to that on sites without environmental constraints. Currently there is no zoning specifically for Conservation/Open Space Use: Recreational Use. Recreation areas include state or local parks or other _large recreation areas. These include facilities and improvements that enhance their use and safety. Currently there is no zoning district. specifically for these activities. Commercial/General Business Use.. Commercial areas include retail stores; services and offices. Only existing commercial uses are shown on the Anticipated Land Use Patterns Map (and a small amount of undeveloped commercially zoned land along Route 13) . As noted above, new neighborhood- commercial areas are not indicated on the map. Siting decisions should be made in the context of existing and planned residential development, based on certain guidelines (see Chapter III). The Town presently has five commercial zones. Limited Industrial Use . Limited Industrial areas indicate only existing industrial activities. Part of the Comprehensive Plan is a recommendation that the Town examine where new light-industrial and office park activities should be located (see Chapter III). The Town presently has Industrial and Light- .' Industrial zoning districts. Public/Institutional Use. Public/ Institutional areas include government offices and private institutions such as Cornell University and Ithaca College. The deciding factor was not necessarily land ownership. For example, Cornell owns substantial areas used for field crops, woodland, barns, and pasture; much of these areas are shown as agricultural rather than public/institutional. At present, the Town does not have such a zone. (Cornell University has applied to the Town for a rezoning of the Cornell Orchards area to a Special Land Use District. A large part of this process involves the preparation and review of a generic environmental impact statement (GEIS)). K. Description of Anticipated Land Use Patterns on East Hill Agricultural use is indicated for existing agricultural fields and facilities which are owned primarily by Cornell. No Rural Residential is indicated for East Hill. Suburban Residential is shown for exis' presidential areas and those areas where smaller developments could be built. Urban Residential is shown for several existing multifamily housing complexes. =Town Of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September -21; 1993 Page IV - 15 Conservation/ .O oen St�ace is shown for the Six Mile Creek corridor, the :~~ Cascadilla Creek corridor, the McGowan Woods west of Game Farm Road, -' woodlands on Hungerford Hill, a cemetery, wetlands in Sapsucker Woods, the priarwood wetland, the Cornell Plantations- and Arboretum, and various steep slo es adjacent to Fall Creek and east of Cayuga Lake. Recreational lands include the two go .courses. The East Hill Plaza /Judd Falls Plaza area is shown as Commercial/General Business use. No Limited Industrialland use is indicated on East Hill. Public / Institutional use is indicated for Cornell's main campus area, the Orchards area, student housing on Cornell-owned land off-campus (Maplewood Park, Hasbrouck Apartments), and the Baker Institute. L. Description of Anticipated Land Use Patterns on South Hill Agricultural land use is shown for a few large and some small areas to the east and west of West King Road, as well as for a small area in the Town's southeast corner. Rural Residential is shown for areas generally not served by sewer and water k along Danby Road, south of East King Road, and one area on the south side of West King Road. Suburban Residential is shown for many areas within a large triangle bounded by Danby Road, East King Road, and Coddington Road, as well as for areas on the western slopes of South Hill. All these areas can be served by public sewer and water. Urban Residential Use shows existing multifamily housing and mixed urban/ suburban-density neighborhoods. One new Urban Residential area is indicated, presently in industrial use. Conservation/ Open Space is indicated for the following areas: the City watershed corridor, Eldridge Wilderness, woodland areas on South Hill, the South Hill Swamp, and various steep slopes and wetlands . Buttermilk Falls State Park is shown as Recreational land use. Commercial /General Business is shown for areas which are presently in use commercially. Limited Industrial is shown for NCR, Therm, and Emerson Electric. (Some existing parking lots at NCR and Emerson are shown as urban residential.) The Public /Institutional area is the Ithaca College campus. Town Of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan October 23, 1993 Page IV -16 M 1 Chapter VI ADOPTION AND MAINTENANCE iThis chapter describes in greater detail the stepsnecessary for adopting-and : maintaining the Comprehensive Plan, A. Reasons for Adopting and -Maintaining the Plan Over the years, the Town will make numerous decisions that -will incrementally . affect development, transportation, and other matters. It iT-important that these decisions be consistent. One reason is to provide the public, developers, and others witha degree of predictability about the Town's actions : Another reason is that policy achieves much of its effectiveness if it is applied consistently over time. If Town boards do not apply policy consistently, intended cumulative effects may not result. An adopted Comprehensive Plan can provide this consis- tency and accountability. Although the consistency of policy is important, the Comprehensive Plan must not be rigid. The Plan must be reviewed regularly to reflect new information, changing conditions, and the evolving needs of the community. If the Plan or parts of it prove to be unworkable because of new conditions, values,' or ideas, it should be revised, not ignored. However, changes to the Comprehensive Plan should be made only after thoughtful consideration of solid information. Careful attention will be required to maintain the Plan's integrity during the periodic process of review and revision. B . Adopting the Comprehensive Plan Even though the CPC has spent three years preparing this Plan, the Planning Board is responsible under New York State Town Law (§ 272-a) for adopting and maintaining it. After receiving the Plan from the Comprehensive Planning Committee, the Planning Board held three neighborhood meetings and considered written and oral comments. They reviewed comments presented, then made revisions to the Plan. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing, make a determination of environmental significance and take action to adopt the Plan. 'Following adoption of the Plan, the Town Board would be asked to recognize it. Town Board recognition would inform the public and all Town boards, committees, and staff of its existence as the official Town Plan. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21, 1993 Page VI - 1 site plan review, Information on applications for variances, rezoning, subdivision review, and any related legal challenges. This should include -_ . analysis ...of.-any <patterns <that-seemaAb,e-emerging. Status - of Comprehensive .Plan implementation- and-other items -such- as . : neighborhood or master planning efforts, capital improvement programming; special projects; and progress on work plans. Recommendations for the upcoming year, including the work plan, financing mechanisms; and any recommendations for modification or revision of the Comprehensive Plan. E. Revising the Comprehensive Plan There are two sources of impetus for revising the Plan. Regular review of the Plan by the Town as described above is one 2otential source. It is also expected at revisions-will a ro osed by other groups or individuals. The Planning Bear s o d have established procedures for reviewing an d revising the Plan. In cases of suggested revisions that originate outside the regular review process, the Planning Board may decide to defer consideration until its regular plan review. No matter the source, proposed revisions may require funding for study, design, or other analysis and planning. If funding were necessary, the Planning Board would make a preliminary decision on the merit of the proposal, estimate costs, and request funding from the Town Board. Circumstances that may warrant the consideration of revising the Plan include • A finding of significant change within the community (e.g., demography, traffic, building activity, the economy, the environment, institutional. activity, residents' opinions) or substantial unforeseen circumstances . • A finding of significant public benefit associated with the proposed revision or a need to maintain and protect public investments and resources . • The need to maintain compliance with new laws, regulations, court actions, . . or other mandates. There should be criteria for Plan revisions, including • Consistency with the goals, objectives, and recommended actions and the Future Land Use Patterns Map. If changes to these are proposed, the Planning Board must justify the need for change. Consistency with neighborhood character, community needs, and existing or emerging State or Federal regulations. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21 , 1993 Page VI - 3 In the course of drafting revisions;.the Planning- Boardmust also adequately evaluate environmental effects, alternatives, and other possible-,impacts -as identified by SEQR. Opportunities for public review and -comment�should include = • Public availability of the :proposed revision and related documents;. . including evaluations of the proposal by staff or applicant. . • A requestufor -commentsfrom•the-- County Planning Department regarding the impact on county-plans or those of adjacent communities. A public hearing by the Planning Board in which public comments, both oral and written, are accepted and considered. • A report by the Planning Board to the Town Board indicating actions that may be required by the revision, cost estimates, and other relevant information. In transmitting the report, the Planning Board should request an opinion on the change from the Town Board. • A report by the Planning Board to the Town Board on actions taken to revise the Plan, along with a request that the Town Board officially recognize such changes. The Planning Board shall determine and authorize all changes to be made in the compre ensive Plan in3U ng anges to text, maps, figures, and so on. New pages will be distributed to those persons and agencies listed in Appendix B, along with instructions for replacing superseded pages. Appendix G, the Record of Comprehensive Plan Revisions, will be updated each time a change is made to show the pages affected and the date of the revision. In addition, revision dates should be noted on affected pages and on map legends. F. Minor Modifications After a Public Hearing, the Planning Board shall make minor changes it deems necessary to correct or modify the Comprehensive Plan. Minor changes are those the Planning Board determines shall not affect the overall direction of the Plan. The Town Board will be informed of all changes. G. Responding to Dissent in the Plan Revision Process Disagreement with proposed-Plan revisions maybe expressed -in various ways: • Expressing opinions to the Planning Board, verbally and / or in writing. This should be the first avenue for dissent. Proposed Plan revisions will be the subject of at least one public hearing. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan September 21 , 1993 Page VI - 4 Ecological Communties Survey Pg 7 of 100 Lands adjacent to Sapsucker woods Results Ecological communities �;��r�t"SO 'cbia AS r t.. � Y<S, 5,�� r.Yn 4 "Te'n S .E� f� -u' t f b •t � ri Jc t u�� l F f •f ui 4bgP� 4a�" 1 . 1 x,'�F .t ,yr�',/ � , �` a^ / !++x e� ,i s1a f .�., ¢ -At. of �r a Yi' h.n �, - Va r. •r� ? ^4.w 31N r � / . � - •Y��#�:` u ��H�y � .t� ��. , „ � 1YT , 3r 4 v 1 . 'f t "a`�. J � s f . //�_ /(�/ �/ M "? y.Yv k Y�k rrr•.�n :7ri"ta :.w5 rru v i w ud " r+ss��}u"5+t;ibh r t': r��j{� r r xi�r < h+Af# 41� .. .ri. f y�E� f 5 � � z f� i r-. t � J . �,/J�\ +, ". cs a x r 2 {. l.• rt �rcL �jis v�s� south'em hardwood,$ 2 Shallow emergent 0 .2 low to moderate no marsh � 5 190 2n linceri+t ." f�J" "rd3.tj Y_ ry4."N'4 .i 41 „u'ini ,`. . >t zCt,x'7dFFflt�tJ� '° {Y',y t 'L ;-.J��r 3`trt'x."Wtrx .� : �/J�•��� m LLz L 3 L�[� Fk• „tx [ y y`k L L ti Jr S'ihnr'92N{��' a3 v� i Y4' -v . 't 'T Fc � a't)� �7 A t o5:- : i;..�dj` r+� ' n tL i � 7�':-1� '''t vM`t✓ .. i .. Y . .. .k T LC.N W Y 1 � i_�F i'�S IJI `J Y �' S y .Y� j e/ X .µF"e y. C'4 .�r' ftO.i`H £,�{{t 5 ti;. . .•, ..Y<7..M .� ,E ., :'o 'T./ A .\ii .. .�'�d 9 ...Yf1 , 1. o . .. ...5 .. n '.. YC . n.N ..: ..w ' 4 Disturbed 0 2 n/a no G 54 6 ) 5 Red maple ,ha d'wood 5 7'" , . . high jes �lsA s ' LoCC� 1 swamp • 6 Ditch 0 .07 n/a no Il ( � i� < �0 �� 9 Devel op.etl/disturbed 119 12 Developed 0 .2 n/a no 13 ^ 3 �� Successional northern 6 5 j " � low to rnoderat '' iaa ��' , ; , t of : G �SiP4TfA . . . .e5. , ::.,`:.^i4., . t.. •n_ . n ... / �.. , <{tv �. __4i t°. "3�i•Y.a a�',1 .,° , i��U 4:t . . � . . s,�.'vu-'.. _ .4°.e `�.n �°£.., `-.E. _.:n.��,, 5 � . �� a- :3.r , p A5F00, 54S5 14 Shrub swamp/red 2 .2 low to moderate no is0** maple hardwood swamp All µ .� .' u t ,aa 'r ., .y ,a c A�.{ a15>U *.1a T� ax l :" r ix`rs -po�r�t > �' r Try. { .n C raar '.CT's .r•r 1 �...k ..tx:tc �///��� ,I Y � Jai ' 7 � =S6r-ufl�u� p/red x 'S c 'y { '`c <�� } . a ��V�irlilt� e � � R �F.<I { ���ry y� 1. _'`•�4r +.^:r�Tr •`\�S / V �� � L 16917 , Successionalnorthem 2 .6 moderate no �S 18 hardwoods G b n4 9 . P,.19 21 � ti Be 1 � • '�V ���M{ N f� 4 �� �-:~�' � qtr 7�tiMV�Ste tVx ��gi • � i� r b�e� kYH t � �e :,Ax.� ., g .. . �' ' _. .... ... t .. S. r.: . . � , ..e "ff 2� of x . •.z ..F 1i:..iR� S{s°�'� r� rs ,_. r,. fy � . i :� nw _. ,<,�5 Ff.�. . it. � >.S ..v..: . u�� �. _. � < �" 20 , 23 Red maple-hardwood 23 high no /� �f 5' swamp C'� '/ 25 Conifer plantation 3 ,6 low no yit �. 1 , >Sr zT. aE k �£ t `'b>• k { "iFi ^' `C tX * rt t ?, �➢}x M f��i' '' Z,4 _4! Y iy v - ... 27 , 30 Successional northern 17 .5 low no .-+/. hardwoods 11 51 28 Ar iat ll 1 Ma 5 � t � a�Li 1 it x1111 +k, l 4r '_b 1 1 'ti i 29 Ditch 10 low no � 1 w Shrub swamp F ° { , _; , '0 8 flour`fo moderate no G� r 32 Shallow emergent 0. 1 low to moderate no G,�✓S� marsh JJ 3 Develo . d :, ! 2 4 " v no uF P4 . . _ Veto k Table In Summary of sections LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management David Werier Botanical and Ecological Consulting CID CL co. CID 0 1 A„ i -{ CD r, °10 m Q 3 a? - N cA O c CID 1 � r CID e� } ILL . ,� . 0 CID 1 s w , °o CID ' to C) MID 1 +, ' MID 1 iY "4 Div � -CT tiff v 0 0 9 s [I LLL it y Q /�\ BiRMSy l ' ! ✓ y x F Y,,.. yid \V ( i . f.'C,i'�� .�. ' ' ,r.. '' i fn � �� ~., l� I { �'• # �!-� 1 a• " `i. ' , 2: . s � x ? 3'Yam ' . O. , 7'.,7�r .rl c ?. 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IV fi,f.f d On IL ttd n Y Y A ^y.. ,s4e. �� a,� r _ I •"r{rR�( t� MI � �i�'� ;I /� �1 _'rW S'� " � i a :it $... r p .• •. ^ p,_ nv R a ( y f .� � IL If „r4 .ate t :' • : " • A , ter.'' spa* �, ni .:V� l If 4`s J A. {"4''V': I. v : , 2 A . . 1 a . I J 77 !„3 sr y ItIff iiif p s y id I%': ♦ jrr • ' tiy�r fA' -�. 'Yr . I 3 r r , i i`4tK �. .s t r 4 Vj. \�< *.Vr, � �. •_� � +" : ..°Y lie; Map' k r „�, r•»g PI F 'b a � .• a gyp„ x it 1,�F yYy' te Avifauna Survey 22 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Appendix A. Counted birds at each listening station, for each date surveyed on the Lucente property, (Data arranged by habitat type) Lucente Property Disturbed successional southern hardwoods Al 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 C n Capalikel, N@Fthem Ca Blackbird, Red-winged Species 6 ed Vteo;Red-eyed S d . 7 TIt ease, %ftL4 We lian n Ulted . 85rMTV C,M3ertg Woodpecker, Pileated , n Ta+riAleed d 10 Wren, Carolina Wren, Carolina il. Wrerr;Man a W reR;iImse Total 12 Vellunduact, eommen Counts Total 5 4 7 8 24 Lucente Property Disturbed successional southern hardwoods B1 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 CaFOIR81, NeFthem , _ GaFdinall Narkhem Blackbird, Red-Winged Species 2 ET9W -A EFI@3R Camekade,, eappea G09w, Amer'Ga 21 Green va ne ge6n *"V4 "e rh' rLa oo nl L_r�Pp d I e �I IAri .r A �n P _ __.. ;gin 5'RO'1111I,,'Ai I IMiLan GnncP rnnarla Qpbll+r emend an a inlet Balto 0i Rnh' n.Amariran Spa R gn I r q W -en;FFeese TtMcuselTu€ked 5pffpew;-re aste'I 8 Yellmd , eat, Ge v4m Woodpecker, Pileated mree,-Re6��yed 9 10.WCear Wow se Wren, Carolina Wren, Carolina 10 Wrap, Wous ->WFrel.kledse Total n Counts Total 8 10 10 11 39 Lucente Property Oak, beech, hickory, pine type A2 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 CeI eF;#ertL__M Certimme' Na them GardiRal, PleFthem Species 2 Cmb ffed C-etbH4, dray sapped EetbirE;Gray 24 3 Crew;Amer iearr �e sapped �ew,,Araerican Dove, Mourning Cr can y e 54twWWrl Graa&Cmwted Dove, Mourning fi 3 B ' Kinglet, Ruby-crowned smelelp, Geomen Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Wlql��edlkobhq, Amerie an -3ajy, Bl&e fAythat;chl ` ;e, � %d Sperlew-EreR9 - PmamI Fasteg UQad- $ , white klm d Th�ud ahia Ate.4"n 10 Tit / , Red ey lJ 11 Wren, +lense --Wreml Ileuse Wren, Carolina 12 Y e ii 0101 eat, ee MW iMrem, 1leu6e 13 YslimlwthivaLl Gemazon Total Counts Total 12 12 13 12 49 Lucente Property Oak, beech, hickory, pine type A4 5/7/2008 5/17/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 Gapped y-Amel saa Blackbird, Red-winged Species 2 C ow?JL +ecieacl Goldfinek, Amefiean Cron, All lean rbopL nriga, 131x6 ._,..,. pep 24 Hawk, Red-tailed Flicker, Northern rrow, AmaNeara 4RCbia,.AMarican gay, HIM FlyeiAshArl Giwak rmwsked d 5 Y 13@11* d ]rmeerD@Flo eyed - Inkc 6-6powew,SeR Robiwr, mAwiean Kinglet, Ruby-crowned A** rDawwaw UQ 7 $ ipg D= Faetom wn m. RObiA�.AR79i3Gan 8 4;PaGPpw,.s0ag CZpnm„—r---=r=Fhi.ppin9 Gpialw1aw, Chipping 9 x4te �t T Seal;l 10 Vires, Red eyed �d Thnich. Wnnd 11 Warbler:, 8L-wkpol I seI .WAO 12 n Total Counts Total 7 11 10 12 40 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management Avifauna Survey 23 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Lucente Property Oak, beech, hickory, pine type B4 5/7/2008 ' 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/ 11/2008 Total 1 ArdiRal, o Species 2 CCWlilyd, G,��=n_hpariarl EF ���fp'e� �� "�evetr2�eeQ 21 o Grow, wR.._t....., .°'°r ]eTT �.CoIMI .OICOR' n 1 4 Flicker, Northern - RsbiwrAFRwW n Pewee, &stem W .J_ In 5 Flyeateliem , 6 eat GFeste Th"wbrWeed min . Pewee, Eias4__.. \ll/es &4@y, Blue d -;Fawager7 Scai4st onhI Apa@:::: T4"M9 +slted T/ mnll� r1liFeel . n bellied - Wseer Red eled me Ni- --r--- - - - .. _ _..: _dY n llmWeedpeelw, 09 12 Woodpecker, Pileated Red Will@ Total Counts Total . 13 9 8 8 38 . Lucente Property Red maple-hardwood Swamp A3 5/7/2008 5/ 12/2008 6/4/2008 6/ 11/2008 Total 1 Carwaa� Ne a ( vw AlII can CaFdi^ �' NGAHeF Species d Dove, Mourning C ' 27 C-nev i An+erien -3ey; Blue -Iknerif:an n "'Frtrrraase;�rifhed Pewee, Ease . •,__d- d -6-Gasser5emadaRe��y}�e1�rye�d�[�y� ie�an�(J �9venbed / — '- -" T - "' �POng Pe tern Wee Valet e Y Yartatjer, °scaltetbnretieen n bellied -ihreQ,-iced-eye+i , 1 n lb/ofTE_'Ci Emote,ti 11 Total Counts Total 10 10 10 it 41 Lucente Property Red maple-hardwood swam B2 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 C C 2 GcwArAmmidcan 22 8 GraMi, AaaealQam Dove, Mourning Gee 1 4 to learn Dove, Mourning Flicker, Northern Flicker, Northern Rabe A e leam A@6WqwAw&44e&n Onhin w....,.a...,n Ck3j -mo� ee --, = T*me"aewWvfted .Wsed W ei it Reese VWeerRed+e"d e Wren, Carolina Wren, Carolina 1 1 14 wpeml I lemse Total Counts Total 12 9 9 10 40 Lucente Property Red maple-hardwood swam B3 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 GaWiRalr 11164heFR C8FdiRa',-Ple417eFn it inw Nnrthem Species 2 Grow, Appwirw G46aloadee, Week eappe GNeleadee, Bleel0eapped Gapp 20 3 Flicker, Northern Ccglai Awa;iGnn Coewi-Awawiean GF6wrAabQFww ed F lwatrhary Graat Gmsted Dove, Mourning T*"mmer*mted 5 Rnh-n AMegIrm GiBSPROW, Sel1w FlyGatrshsr7 Great Qaste T r� -J�i^ Red"eyed gay, glue d ;Z ViFee, Red eyed mew 3wee,.BaFk-eyed Wren, Carolina u cw/ T Lnr i d Pewee, Eastern Wood- WFewr Wows e W n -iioase R@bWT*w;eAean 10 y 11 1Akaa,.Elaaee Total Counts Total 9 10 11 8 38 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management Avifauna Survey 24 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Lucente Property Red maple-hardwood swam C2 5/7/2008 5/ 12/2008 6/4/2008 6/ 11/2008 Total i 6 'e Rr" irr , wr:rw w:rrw . C Species 2 GmwrAwa WQ" -- - d Grew;%ft ►erieap El ieleadee, Bleele eappe 21 3.3er-Bhme lemewr Amemiles fl Fl;eatel em Ei -at -rested 4 e Rmeriean „Pnli rrl . n i. fn r^i rd 96yrw" 6AZQbia4wAueRean I=* RhIp Ovenbird '3umeepReAre'y'ed . 8-�ia�erT.zraa;iet -.AueaL�kd ` �tebin;IerterFcan —we�lr� ;PH I *Rffww6em+afted P d .. . 10 Wnn-�1:rIePG Nai= . .. 1:-wa e, Red epe Red Wed T ed 11 Weedpeekiap•BO7vny Tt+wi<±_ny � n 12 d . AgsedpaGkorj Pawqy Total Counts Total 10 30 12 12 44 Lucente Property Red ma le-hardwood swam DS 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 C kieltedee, Week eapp d C,rewmOmmerieen Dove, Mourning Species 2 Goldfimek, 4marlEan Frew ,4reer an la* 21ue joy,BFne 19 3 3h'r e d QmaebiFd QVeRiiifd ®veribird - - s,,.Q::ma:::d RewRrAR►erieefl Sapsweloep, Vellevo l9allied {yS�.�.. led 1oonLo .+y g ny r d Al rin.- e n 9 Total Counts Total 8 8 7 9 32 Lucente Property Shrub swam /red maple-hardwood swam E-3 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 apdIR211 14104hom CaFd; m* ll@Fkk@FR Fn Species 2 Catbird, GFe 24 3 Qkiekeel@el Sleele eapped CwowrApu446aa C'rowr 4mer Meal i ere" Anrrerieeri Dove, Mourning F n 5 G! ever 4rnerieen n is . , n men '2 7=4. We h�i Qllle mmn w: Qnn n 9 Sparrow, Field Thrasher, Brown d- Warbler R^°ti^aged 16 sparrew; song wed za4uw -mew 11 lltmn: lie T: a fted Wrap, Wows 12 Warbler, Pine Y e igowthpast, Gammen 5=. % emi 1 let;s 14 Vella Ahmeat, n Total Counts Total 14 12 10 it 47 Lucente Property Successional northern hardwood C1 5/7/2008 5/ 12/2008 6/4/2008 6/ 11/2008 Total 1 CeH90 Grey Species 2 hirIgntion QI L, pfLe.+ Ctewm+4merleerr 23 340o" ,A meriean Creeper, Brown ed Flicker, Northern 4 GoWARe1q, Amerieen rwwrAaw +eon � e GeldfiRelq, Armerlean 5_lavT$tue FI ted 6vembW gay-'fie d n d- 4)veR4ifd 7��i jay, Rine LQbu °*� &Awn d- 8 Re§iRr W@140 Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Sp>��rLbwpi:g PI ieeber ^ 9 sveRbifd Titnreeer, v ROWRr4w spiean 10 Rubin, Alnermcan wed Spa;re@W,Seag 11 dAtmewse, w4ated 4iraRl Wow Ti�ri+eaeri ed 12 1 y Vi ea, Red eled 13 14 Total Counts Total 8 14 11 13 46 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management Avifauna Survey 25 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Lucente Property Successional northern hardwood D3 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total Grow America QWQka4maer scan Species n Grow, AaaeRCaa 22 3 38y, ..1. . _ Flyeakehemo, Greab Erested r-_... A ......_:ee 4-iwmay Bask eyed n `_h __ . G -- - -- - _ dflM,.e_c�__y,.,,.�_. , _ _ T+�n+ee5�e,-y�n�f�e�d S T,enl�i r.1 _ - nbiFd �v7—orvc Red eye on AolaiarAfweryeen -Bv�ntrtTd .. , Col eabitita.4eled _ _ a . . W d Red bellied RsIqW, AFRe0ea d SWfeR. Hesse 10 YellgvAhr6atl GaFAwwR J35 Co Total 9 10 9 7 Lucente Property Successional northem hardwood D4 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 .6/11/2008 ' Total 1 Gardiaal, P'GFtierfi d . Species 2 GWeloadee, Reek meapped CFew, Ariae+ie n Cfew,.Auze�n C-rewr -A neFiean 19 d Same, ft neda Dove, Mourning � n J uacaF 9a d eye �n s, u Pleltigskehr luneftmml� e ed gay, 131 d Andy, 89ki here d- Nwmw, reasteFig 10 d- ;Pikma se, ;Fwfked 14919' m 1 Ran Titn±nar;-T,+f1 d .. o ,A,,....,_ _ • Red bellied T4rwArW"d TRi1f0e5Lf TO iWFsar Wall se 9 Vi ea, Red eu«d_ W e it eieerse 10 d Total Counts Total 8 10 9 8 35 Lucente Property Successional northern hardwood ES 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 ,-__alRal NeFthem Ghir_leadc- - °'__=._ --___e. Jnweer sole eyed Species Fly rr ed mQ%reaHiF GwwrA wwIm an 23 p41t �h l Iwi---"ed P - Gnmkfe;Em»nx n T_. -.L - Owsalxrd Eastern gamealowd Vife@, Re - WiFes, Red-eyed --61enb0rd n mew P d- 7 Sap6wsker, 4allaw l3ellmied .Wraar.laswse armed 8nn' one_uT�1 9 Warbler, Pine 10 Waterthrush, Louisiana 11 Waterthrush, Northern ' 17 1A/nnrl cr Sri Rnri-Ftolliarl 13„WraR, Worse Total Counts Total 13 6 7 8 34 Lucente Property Successional northern hardwood E2 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/11/2008 Total 1 C&W#R6-Ne4heM GaFtlimal ,-Mert+mfn Chickadee, CarxiaaL UoctbQm Species m3 Ghieleadee, m .,,.,,_, n, d Cl4irakadsaj Work rapW Dove, Mourning 23 -9-38g,9kle d 5 n aayr8i 3ayr$itie 6 Warbler, Pine 3"Rear Berk 4ilmd JuRes, Park-eysd Llueobiml .Mopnhir,i gtof iWVVJI��APkt9 8 d RoW+rAfer4ean P - -5peFrewr4eng 9-WiQRr Wail se Golaippi 9 -�Htmeasc Tafted 10 VxsorRad-eyed Saar w"&Opg JXreR. 14 surge 11 Woodpeelee. , Red bcllied Vice p Rsdsyod 12 =Wpap.�Ae War Her F No@ wing d 13 fe Total Counts Total 10 13 13 10 46 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management Avifauna Survey 26 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Lucente Property Successional northern hardwood E4 5/7/2008 5/12/2008 6/4/2008 6/ 11/2008 Total 1 Gapdiaal , NoA iar riR1Y� er• �^ �n 2 Qlask eapped CUWUadeep Oleek eappe FlyG@46h@6 GFeak Gpeste GFewrAfoeAcian 25 -6pgwl Ameacaa Junco, Dark-eyed Dove, Mourning 4 Dove, Mourning Kinglet, Golden-crowned ed 5 Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray ofe;Bafthrtore P - Grosbeak, Rose-breasted Rebnr,*merieen Sparrawp"" Qvenbi d [ 1 8 Warble, Pine S Woodpecker, Pileated - Sp .So 10 UwAskj Alesd SperrehiMg 11 T TuRe T"Onage Sea Re 12 VWeorRedwems F aedSe ed 13 'A eat RIM cy i Total Counts Total 9 12 8 13 42 Lucente Property Beech-maple mesic forest D2 5/7/2008 5/ 12/2008 6/4/2008 6/ 11/2008 Total 1 C2PdmW ;a' , Nogtherp rhirLil'1oa RIor4_capped Flyratrfhar. Crpnf rw4tad Species 2 c.-ow, AFR@P'Gap Creeper, Brown u I r'r !at f_{(l , 22 3 riG�.AmiW ir3n 3eyI Bitl NtOl l ite b e64ed 4-3ay, Blue 9PRGh, Wswr9e -3deemy IMPk.ayed Gvewbir9 Fi nd veR w _ — _ 3er, Me C n Easterm Wee Ufma o waged 7 Stapil+wgrFieriep4sn @M113*rd Vil eat'Red'eye d T*M"11;tllreod Taff wwsg y t Y Gamme H! Weedipeekei , Red bellied 13 ,.,_- - ! - --- Total Counts Total 13 11 8 6 38 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management Avifauna Survey 28 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Cornell Property Successional northern hardwood G3 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Cardinal, Northern Chickadee, Black-capped Crow, American Chickadee, Black-capped Species 2 Chickadee, Black-capped Crow, American Goldfinch, American Crow, American 17 3 Crow, American Goldfinch, American Ovenbird Ovenbird 4 Ovenbird Ovenbird Thrush, Wood Robin, American 5 Redstart, American Robin, American Towhee, Eastern Thrush, Wood 6 Robin, American Titmouse, Tufted Wren, House Towhee, Eastern 7 Thrush, Wood Towhee, Eastern Veery 8 Towhee, Eastern Vireo,. Red-eyed Vireo, Red-;eyed 9 Vireo, Red-eyed Warbler, Chestnut-sided . Wren, House 10 Warbler, Yellow Wren, House Yellowthroat, Common 11 Warbler, Yellow-rumped Yellowthroat, Common Total 12 Wren, House Counts 12 11 6 10 39 Cornell Property Successional northern hardwood G4 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6113/2008 Total 1 Cardinal, Northern Catbird, Gray Cowbird, Brown-headed . Cardinal, Northern Species 2 Catbird, Gray Chickadee, Black-capped Goldfinch-, American Crow, American 21 3 Chickadee, Black-capped Crow, American Jay, Blue Jay, Blue 4 Crow, American Goldfinch, American Ovenbird Ovenbird 5 Jay, Blue Jay, Blue Robin , American Sparrow, Song 6 Ovenbird Robin, American Thrush, Wood Thrush, Wood 7 Tanager, Scarlet Thrush, Wood Towhee, Eastern Towhee, Eastern 8 Thrush " Hermit Titmouse, Tufted Veery Warbler, Chestnut-sided 9 Thrush, Wood Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Waxwing, Cedar 10 Towhee, Eastern Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided 11 Vireo, Red-eyed Warbler, Yellow 12 Warbler, Blue-winged 13 Warbler, Chestnut-sided Total 14 Warbler, Yellow Counts 14 10 11 9 44 Comell Property Successional northern hardwood H1 . 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Chickadee, Black-capped Blackbird, Red-winged Chickadee, Black-capped Cardinal, Northern Species 2 Crow, American Cardinal, Northern Crow, American Catbird, Gray 25 3 Goldfinch, American Catbird, Gray Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Chickadee, Black-capped 4 Grackle, Common Chickadee, Black-capped Jay, Blue Crow, American 5 Jay, Blue Grackle, Common Robin, American Hummingbird, Ruby-throated 6 Sparrow, Song Grosbeak, Rose-breasted Sparrow, Song Jay, Blue 7 Sparrow, White-throated Jay, Blue Thrush, Wood Redstart, American 8 Towhee, Eastern Mockingbird, Northern Towhee, Eastern Tanager, Scarlet 9 Vireo, Red-eyed Nuthatch, White-breasted Wren, House Thrush, Wood 10 Yellowthroat, Common Redstart, American Warbler, Yellow 11 Robin, American Wren, House 12 Thrush, Wood Yellowthroat, Common 13 Warbler, Chestnut-sided 14 Warbler, Yellow Total 15 Woodpecker, Red-bellied Counts 10 15 9 12 46 Cornell Property Successional northern hardwood H2 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Chickadee, Black-capped Catbird, Gray Cardinal, Northern Cardinal, Northern Species 2 Finch, House Crow, American Catbird, Gray Catbird, Gray 21 3 Redstart, American Goldfinch, American Crow, American Cowbird, Brown-headed 4 Starling, European Jay, Blue Jay, Blue Crow, American 5 Tanager, Scarlet Starling, European Robin, American Flycatcher, Great Crested 6 Thrush, Wood Tanager, Scarlet Thrush, Wood Robin, American 7 Titmouse, Tufted Towhee, Eastern Warbler, Yellow Thrush, Wood 8 Towhee, Eastern Vireo, Red-eyed Wren, House Towhee, Eastern 9 Vireo, Red-eyed Warbler, Blue-winged Yellowthroat, Common Warbler, Yellow Total 10 Warbler, Yellow Yellowthroat, Common Counts 10 10 9 9 38 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management Avifauna Survey 27 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Appendix B. Counted birds at each listening station, for each date surveyed on the Cornell property, (data arranged by habitat type) Cornell Property Conifer plantation F1 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Cardinal, Northern Chickadee, Black-capped Cardinal, Northern Crow, American Species 2 Chickadee, Black-capped Crow, American Crow, American Jay, Blue 21 ' 3 Finch, House Jay, Blue Jay, Blue Ovenbird 4 Flycatcher, Great Crested Ovenbird Pewee, Eastern Wood- ' Redstart Am' erican 5 Junco, Dark-eyed Robin, American . Robin, American Robin, American 6 Ovenbird .. Sparrow, Chipping. Wren; House Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied 7 Thrush, Wood Titmouse, Tufted Wren, House Total 8 Vireo, Red-eyed Counts Total 7 8 6 7 28 Cornell Property Conifer plantation . F2 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Crow, American Crow, American Cardinal, Northern Chickadee, Black-capped Species 2 Goose, Canada . Jay, Blue Chickadee, .Black-capped Crow; American 23 . 3 Junco, Dark-eyed Ovenbird' Crow, American Junco, Dark-eyed 4 Ovenbird Robin, American Ovenbird 'Ovenbird 5 Robin, American Sparrow, Song Pewee, Eastern Wood- Redstart, American 6 Thrush , Wood Starling, European Thrush , Wood Robin, American 7 Wren, House Titmouse, Tufted Woodpecker, Downy Sparrow, Chipping 8 Vireo, Red-eyed Woodpecker, Hairy Veery 9 Warbler, Yellow Vireo, Red-eyed 10 Wren, House Wren, House Total it Yellowthroat, Common Counts 7 11 8 10 36 Cornell Property Successional northern hardwood F3 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Cardinal, Northern Chickadee, Black-capped Cardinal, Northern Cardinal, Northern Species 2 Chickadee, Black-capped Jay, Blue Crow, American Chickadee, Black-capped 17 3 Crow, American Ovenbird Flycatcher, Great Crested Crow, American 4 Jay, Blue Titmouse, Tufted Jay, Blue Jay, Blue 5 Ovenbird Vireo, Red-eyed Ovenbird Ovenbird ��I 6 Thrush, Wood Woodpecker, Red-bellied Robin, American Titmouse, Tufted 7 Towhee, Eastern Yellowthroat, Common Thrush, Wood Towhee, Eastern 8 Vireo, Red-eyed Towhee, Eastern Veery 9 Veery Woodpecker, Downy 10 Vireo, Red-eyed Wren, House Total 11 Warbler, Chestnut-sided Counts 8 7 11 10 36 Cornell Property Successional northern hardwood F4 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/2008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Chickadee, Black-capped Cardinal, Northern Catbird, Gray Catbird , Gray Species 2 Goose, Canada Crow, American Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Black-capped 23 3 Jay, Blue Goldfinch, American Cowbird, Brown-headed Crow, American 4 Ovenbird Junco, Dark-eyed Crow, American Jay, Blue 5 Redstart, American Ovenbird Robin, American Starling, European 6 Sparrow, White-crowned . Redstart, American Starling, European Tanager, Scarlet 7 Sparrow, White-throated Robin, American Thrush, Wood Thrush, Wood 8 Vireo, Red-eyed Thrush, Wood Vireo, Red-eyed Towhee, Eastern 9 Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Chestnut-sided Vireo, Red-eyed 10 Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow 11 Wren, House Total 12 Yellowthroat, Common Counts 10 10 10 12 42 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc. Professional Natural Resource Management Avifauna Survey 29 of 29 Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods Comell Property Successional northern hardwood I1 5/8/2008 5/14/2008 6/6/7008 6/13/2008 Total 1 Chickadee, Black-capped Cardinal, Northern Cardinal, Northern Cardinal, Northern Counts 2 Finch, House Chickadee, Black-capped Catbird, Gray Catbird , Gray 30 3 Flycatcher, Great Crested Crow, American Cowbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Brown-headed 4 Jay, Blue Goldfinch, American Crow, American Crow, American 5 Oriole, Baltimore Jay, Blue Pheasant, Ring-necked Oriole, Baltimore 6 Robin, American Nuthatch Red-breasted Redstart, American Pewee, Eastern Wood- 7 . Sparrow, Song Robin, American Robin, American Robin, American 8 Starling, European Tanager, Scarlet Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wood 9 Towhee, Eastem Vireo,. Red-eyed Towhee, Eastern Titmouse, Tufted 10 Woodpecker, Downy Warbler, Black-throated B Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed it Woodpecker, Hairy Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow 12 Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker,. Total 13 Wren, House Counts ' 12 . 12 11 . 13 . . 48 LeCain Environmental Services, Inc_ Professional Natural Resource Management UNa � Real Estate Department 15 Thornwood Drive ; ® Q Darnell University , Ithaca, NY 14850 k t. 607.266.7866 f. 607.266.7876 ED 0 www.re.comeH.edu December 30, 2009 Hon. Herbert Engman, Town Supervisor Town of Ithaca Town Hall 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York, 14850 Re: Proposed change to Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan Dear Supervisor Engman, Respectfully, Cornell hereby comments on the proposed change to the Town of Ithaca' s Comprehensive Plan, the subject of a public hearing scheduled for December 31 , 2009 . The proposed change in the Comprehensive Plan is apparently geared to supporting theL proposed rezoning of several parcels from Medium Density Residential (MDR) to Conservation Zone, some fifty (50) acres in all, including specifically a large portion of Cornell ' s tax parcel 73 - 1 - 2 .2 . As expressed at the Town Board' s hearing on the rezoning, held on December 7, 2009, Cornell has long identified its parcel for residential purposes, most likely median income-range workforce housing, and believes strongly that it is in the best interests of the Town of Ithaca to have the entire parcel continue to be zoned MDR and to drop this proposed change in the Comprehensive Plan that purports to support such zoning change. We are opposed to the proposed change in the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed change is one-dimensional and was not based on a comprehensive study. As pointed out by the Final Report of an Ecological Communities Survey and Assessment of Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods dated September 30, 2008 , there are many planning priorities and needs besides a conservation priority. The Final Report was commissioned by the Town, but its assigned task and its recommendations were not intended to be comprehensive in the way that a Comprehensive Plan should be. The Final Report merely made recommendations within the narrow band of ecological/conservation considerations . Cornell believes. the need for housing and responsible infill development are vitally important to the Town, to Cornell University, and to the region, and to the environment, yet they are not weighed and discussed or even mentioned by the Final Report or by this proposed change to the Comprehensive Plan_ . There has been no planning analysis to show why the residential value - the use for which it has been earmarked for decades - should suddenly have become any less of a priority than its ecological value or why its value for housing does not serve an important environmental purpose as well . Wouldn 't it be better if the need . for housing and responsible infill development was weighed and discussed as part of an appropriate study and reflected in the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan ? The proposed change is hasty and has not been reached by a deliberative process so desirable to assure that a change to a Comprehensive Plan considers the entire planning context. The proposed change is a one-dimensional change motivated apparently by a single concern. We believe this is inappropriate and flies in the face of what a Comprehensive Plan is all about. The Town Board of the Town of Ithaca has been working on an overall revision of its Comprehensive Plan since early 2007. This process has included regular meetings by the Comprehensive Plan Committee, a public information meeting, a resident survey, and a series of focus group meetings, together with extensive updating of existing conditions, discussions, and research. It has been led by a committee that is charged with considering the entire planning context and conducting an appropriately broad inquiry into all the considerations . Shouldn 't this proposed change be presented, weighed, discussed as part of the overall revision to the Comprehensive Plan that is already well underway ? The proposed change in the Comprehensive Plan is designed to support a change that is at odds with the Town Board's own position on housing and with regional and national trends for housing development. The Town Board endorsed and supported the Housing Strategy for Tompkins County by a resolution dated July 9, 2007 . The Housing Strategies recommended strategies for locating and promoting affordable housing and was based on the findings of the Affordable Housing Needs Assessment completed in 2006 . Among other things, the latter identified a housing shortage of some 4,000 units in the coming decade. These two documents are consistent with the principles of the County' s Comprehensive Plan and emerging national and international trends for sustainable, smart growth and mixed-use communities that are well-connected to transit and employment, and that employ infill where there is existing infrastructure instead of leap-frogging over urban and suburban land to sprawl into sparsely developed rural areas. Yet this proposed change to the Town ' s Comprehensive Plan would foster a zoning change that is at odds with all these. Wouldn 't it be better to find a more precise tool and more thoughtful way to protect the environment and have smart, sustainable growth ? The proposed change in the Comprehensive Plan is at odds with remaining sections of the Comprehensive Plan itself. Among the existing Comprehensive Plan' s goals, objectives, and actions, "focus development to avoid sprawl" is listed. Among the Plan' s actions, "ensure that adequate amounts of suitable land are zoned to meet future housing needs, " and "ensure that a portion of the Town' s undeveloped, residentially zoned area have lot size requirements that do not preclude affordable housing" are listed. Wouldn 't it be better to examine all the remaining land that is suitable for housing and all the land that potentially has high ecological value, and then discuss how to strike a discriminating and responsible balance between the areas of highest ecological value and the existing plan 's goals, objectives, and actions to avoid sprawl and provide adequate housing? 2 The proposed change is designed to support a change in land use to 'one that is less sustainable and does not enhance utilization of existing infrastructure and employment centers. The proposed change is designed to support a rezoning of parcels that are in close proximity to existing and future employment centers, as well as to infrastructure, community services and amenities such as schools, childcare, medical offices, recreation, shopping, transit, pedestrian trails, and the airport. Infill development within this area would enable transit connections to be strengthened, including those to the Cornell campus, thereby reducing sprawl, loss of habitat in other areas that comes with sprawl, future traffic congestion, and dependence on single occupancy vehicles. The Final Report of an Ecological Communities Survey and Assessment of Lands Adjacent to Sapsucker Woods did not find extensive, high quality ecological values across the fifty acres it studied. Significantly, it made no study of the ecological value elsewhere that would be lost from the consequences of pushing development further away from employment centers and existing infrastructure. Wouldn 't it be better first to study the impacts from pushing development further out into less sustainable patterns of growth and responsibly balance them against only the most significant and unmitigatable of the potential impacts to this large area ? My comments are necessarily limited here. However, our consultants have studied this proposed change in the Comprehensive Plan, the existing Comprehensive Plan, and the proposed rezoning that the change in the Comprehensive Plan purports to support. Our comments were given in detail in oral testimony and written statements on December 7, 2009 . Therefore, I incorporate by reference all comments and reports into this letter and into the hearing on December 31 st, as fully as if stated here at length. Thank you very much for your consideration. Respectfull , Thomas P . LiVigne cc. : Jonathan Kanter Sue Ritter Susan Brock At Cornell : Mina Amundsen, University Planner Shirley Egan, Associate Counsel John Fitzpatrick, Professor & Director Laboratory of Ornithology John Gutenberger, Director Community Relations Stephen P . Johnson, Vice President Government/Community Relations Kyu Whang, Vice President Facilities Services 3 , k of 1 93 Bast Main Street 215 N dioga Street f l Dryden; NY 13053 Ithaca, NY 14850 b r Q (� , 1 k ; F ' N T 607 844 8888 T 607273 '1721 wwwAryden.ny.us www t . owm.ithaca.n v.us 1821 I Supervisor a drvden.ny.us HEnQman a,town.ithaca.nv.us Mr. Jon Jensen December 31 , 2009 Park Foundation , Inc. PO Box 550 Ithaca, NY 14851 Dear Jon, We are pleased to submit the enclosed proposal, "Sustainability Planner for the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca," to the Park Foundation . We propose to support a three-year, full-time Sustainability Planner who would work with both municipalities to study the policy, planning and operational needs to incorporate sustainability in the towns. As we discussed with and as our earlier letter of interest stated , the towns are working to update their compre- hensive plans and realize that there is a need to incorporate sustainability components into those documents, as well as other policies and operations throughout the towns. However, we would benefit from having a staff per- son dedicated to this effort, and much could be learned by sharing ideas across the municipal boundary. We also propose to have the Sustainability Planner generate guidance materials that will be shared with other small municipalities who similarly do not have the staff to develop programs of their own . We appreciate the time that you and Diane Traina have taken to meet with us as we developed our proposal . Thank you for your consideration of our application . Sincerely, Mary Ann Sumner, Town Supervisor Herb Engman , Town Supervisor 1 " : PARK FOUNDATION , INC . ! �. GRANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION : 1 . Please complete the Grant Application form in full and attach an required documents see below). p PP Y 4 ( ) 2 . PART ONE of the Application may be printed out and completed on a typewriter of filled out by hand . If you have a full suite of Adobe applications, you may find that you can fill it out on your computer (but not if you only have Adobe reader). Feel free to attach additional sheets as needed . Note : We are currently working on making the form more user-friendly, but it will likely be a little longer before you can fill it in on-line. In the interim , please feel free to call our office if you are having difficulty with the form , and we will send you an application in Word by e-mail . 3 . Complete PART TWO by hand or typewriter (do not recreate it). Please see special instructions on the form . NOTE: Part Two must be signed . 4 . Please mail the completed application to: Jon M . Jensen , Executive Director, Park Foundation , PO Box 550, Ithaca, NY 14851 , 5 . If your organization is a current grantee, please note that future grants are contingent upon Park Foundation 's receipt of final grant reports. Please submit a final or interim report as a separate document with the new proposal . 6 . If more information is needed , we will contact you . Conversely, if you have questions , please call us at (607) 272-9124 . PLEASE INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WITH THE COMPLETED APPLICATION : ❑ Current fiscal year organization budget AND proposed program/project budget for which funding is being sought. ❑ A copy of the most recent IRS determination letter advising that your organization is exempt from taxes under section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS code , and that the organization is not a private foundation as defined in section 509(a ). ❑ General organization and/or program brochures. ❑ A copy of the organization's annual report and/or the most recent audited financial statements. ❑ Detailed project proposal . ❑ If you can provide a copy of your most recent Form 990 and/or a copy of your most recent audited financial statements , this would be very helpful . Thank you . PARK FOUNDATION , INC : . GRANT APPLICATION PART ONE (Please refer to Grant Application Instructions on previous page . ) ' Legal Name of Applicant Organization : Town of Dryden and Town of Ithaca Organization Mailing Address: 93 East Main Street 215 N . Tioga Street City/State/Zip : Dryden , NY 13053 Ithaca , NY 14850 Dryden - Phone: 607-844-8888 Fax: 607-844-8008 Website : www. drvden . nv. us . Ithaca - Phone: 607-273- 1721 Fax: 607-273- 1704 Website : www.town . ithaca . nv. us Director's Name/Title : Mary Ann Sumner/Dryden Supervisor; Herb Engman/Ithaca Supervisor Program Contact Name/Title (if different): Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning , Town of Ithaca Program Contact e-mail Address (if available): ' kanterAtown . ithaca . ny. us General Description of the Organization and its Mission : The Towns of Dryden and Ithaca are municipal corporations of New York State, the mission of both are to uphold the laws of NYS and the United States of America . If your organization does not have tax exempt status from the IRS, and you are using another organization as a fiscal sponsor, please complete this section: Fiscal Sponsor Legal Name as it Appears on IRS Letter- Director's/CEO 's Name: Organization Mailing Address: City/State/Zip: Phone Number: Fax Number: General Description of the Organization and its Mission: Total Organization Budget: $ For Year: Org . Fiscal Year: (mo./day) to Organizational Sources of Support: Total Endowment: $ As of: ALL APPLICANTS CONTINUE WITH PAGES 2 AND 3 OF APPLICATION . 2 Project Name: Sustainaliility Planner for the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca Description of the Pro ect for which Funding is Being Sought: You may ex and to several pages . In addition , a : brief P 1 9 � 9 9 ( Y P P 9 executive summary, is 'welcome . ) 'SEE ATTACHED FOR MORE DETAIL. The Towns of Dryden and 'Ithaca have similar populations, road miles , and staff structure , and already work collaboratively for providing drinking and waste water treatment for residents. The Towns share a similar interest in proactively addressing sustainability issues , and therefore seek to hire a sustainability planner who will determine a carbon footprint baseline for each town and recommend and implement sustainability projects and programs . Amount Requested : $225, 000 Total Project Cost: $225 , 000+ Project Funds Raised or to be Raised from Other Sources (please specify sources and amounts): Already Secured : Pending : Total Organization Budget: Dryden : $8 ,206, 116 ; Ithaca : $ 16 ,229 ,284 For Year: 2010 Ogg . Fiscal Year: (mo./day) 1 /1 to 12/31 Organizational Sources of Support: Sales Tax Revenue , Property Tax Revenue , Fund Balance Appropriation Total Endowment: $ As of: Beginning and Ending Dates of the Project: June 2010 through June 2013 Plans for Continuing Support of the Project: Programs and educational materials developed by the sustainability Planner will be used by Towns of Dryden and Ithaca , in addition to being a model for our neighbors and similar sized municipalities. After the grant period the Towns will continue funding the position or determine how the job responsibilities will be distributed amongst existing staff to assure the sustainability initiatives. Please Identify the Three Top Measurable Outcomes You Expect to Accomplish : The sustainability planner will : ( 1 ) evaluate and assess baseline conditions for the towns (what is the carbon footprint? ): (2 ) develop sustainability goals and policies for the Comprehensive Plans in Dryden and Ithaca with specific timelines and action items on how to accomplish the tasks : (3) develop guidance materials to be used by other small municipalities looking to implement sustainability programs . Describe Your Evaluation Plan . How will You Measure Results? : Results will be measured by documentation : a baseline report that includes existing conditions and quantifies each town's carbon footprint; the Comprehensive Plan includes clear and achievable goals and action items that are tied to specific dates and responsible parties ; a guidance "manual" to be shared with other municipalities . Results will also be measured by a reduction in municipal carbon footprint and a reduction in wasted resources . 3 PART TWO (Do not recreate on a computer. Please print out, complete : form ; ;sign and idate. ) All applicants must complete this form. If your organization does not have tax: exempt status from the IRS, and you are using another organization as a Fiscal sponsor, this page must be completed and signed by a representative of the fiscal s onsor. To complete this section , you may wish to refer to your IRS tax exemption letter. In submitting this grant application, the Applicant certifies as follows : Either Question 1 or 1A Must be Applicable to the (Tax Exempt) Applicant Organization 1 . The Applicant was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by letter dated (add date of most recent letter) as an organization described in section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and in the following category (check the appropriate box): ❑Sections 509 (a)( 1 ) and 170 (b)( 1 )(A)(vi) ❑Section 509 (a)( 1 ), other than Section 170 (b)( 1 )(A)(vi)" ❑Section 509 (a)(2) ❑Section 509 (a)(3) If you checked the first or third box above, does the amount of the grant or grants you are requesting from the Foundation for the current year exceed twenty (20) percent of the Applicant's aggregate financial support from all sources other than the Foundation in each of the four years preceding the current year?" Yes No If this question is answered ""Yes,"" please contact the Foundation at (607)272-9124 . 1A. (Alternate to paragraph 1 -- Check here X ) The Applicant is a governmental body or agency of the State, County, or City of Towns of Drvden and Ithaca (insert name) that is described in section 170 (c)( 1 ) of the Internal Revenue Code, and attached is a statement from the appropriate legal officer, such as the Attorney General or County] 'Attorney, confirming that status`. 2 . If paragraph 1 above applies, a copy of the most recent letter referred to in paragraph 1 , addressed to the applicant from the IRS , is attached to this certification . In addition , the Applicant has not received from the IRS a revocation of, or change in , the determination or ruling contained in that letter. 3. If paragraph 1 above applies, there has been , to the best knowledge of the officers and director or trustees of the Applicant, no proposal , threat or suggestion by the IRS to the Applicant that the determination or ruling referred to in paragraph 1 should be revoked or modified , and they know of no reason why that determination or ruling from the IRS might be revoked or modified . 4. The Applicant is (check correct description): a governmental subdivision X or a nonprofit corporation charitable trust organized under the laws of (insert state) 5 . is a listing of the Applicant's officers, directors, trustees or other managers . This listing has remained substantially unchanged for the past two years. (If this is not accurate, please strike through the above sentence and include a current listing in a separate attachment to this application .) 6. None of the requested funds will be used by the Applicant to support or oppose legislation, or otherwise engage in grass roots or direct lobbying activities, to conduct any voter registration drive or activities, or to support or oppose any candidate for elective public office. ( If this is not accurate, please strike through this paragraph 6 and describe the details of any such anticipated expenditure in an attachment to this application . ) 7. The Applicant does not discriminate in conducting its affairs against any person on account of race, color, national origin, sex, religion or age. 8. The Applicant's governing body has authorized the undersigned person to submit this application and certification . 9. The Applicant commits to the Foundation that it will advise the Foundation of any change in the certifications contained in any of paragraphs 1 through 8 above which occur while this grant application is pending or, if a grant is made, during the grant term . Name and title of person providing certification : Signature: Date: Application & Certification 4/09 4 1 Part Two Number 5 — List of officers Town of Dryden Mary Ann Sumner, Supervisor David Makar, Deputy Supervisor Stephen Stelick, Jr. Joseph Solomon Jason Leifer Town of Ithaca Herb Engman , Supervisor Pat Leary, Deputy Supervisor Rich DePaolo Bill Goodman Tee-Ann Hunter Eric Levine Peter Stein Project name : Sustainability Planner for the Towns of Dryden and :Ithaca I I f Park Foundation , Inc . Grant Application Detailed project proposal Sustainability in Towns Introduction The Towns of Dryden and Ithaca share a mutual desire to become more energy efficient , support a green economy and develop a long-term commitment to climate protection . Unlike larger municipalities such as the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County , we do not have the resources to gather data , establish baselines , develop carbon reduction goals , and create resulting long-range plans . We would benefit tremendously from the availability of a sustainability planner shared between the two towns . We can also document and share our results so that other smaller municipalities can join the movement to sustainability . With a jump start from the Park Foundation , we can establish the foundation for progress that will continue for decades . Town of Dryden The Town of Dryden in relatively recent years has begun many new initiatives with respect to planning and land use regulation . It started with a combination of the creation of a Comprehensive Plan which was adopted in 2005 and the requirement and desire internally for better watershed management as promulgated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 's ( DEC ) Stormwater Management Program . These two events shifted policy from traditional building permits and zoning to a much more progressive pursuit of planning within the Town of Dryden . It necessitated the creation of an Environmental Planner position to both administer the stormwater program and implement the Comprehensive Plan . This led to the actual implementation of many of the Comprehensive Plan 's recommendations such as farmland protection , zoning regulation overhauls , and the creation of design guidelines . The Town has adopted one of the state 's most progressive stormwater local laws , and has been awarded three state grants for farmland protection . Most towns in upstate New York are described as agricultural with some residential and industrial . Dryden is best described as agriculture and education . The Town is located in a region of the country with abundant farmland , fresh water, and decent transportation and energy systems . Dryden is situated in such a way that it bridges the divide between very rural and urbanized . The western edge of the town is barely within what the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) and DEC describe as the Ithaca Urbanized Area , and the eastern side of the town is dominated by farmland , state forest, residential areas , and the educational facilities of Tompkins-Cortland Community College (TC3 ) , Cornell Agricultural Research , and the William George Agency. Although there are certainly many people who commute across the eastern portion of Dryden to reach Ithaca , the eastern portion does have an economy of its own beyond 1 the typical "bedroom community . " TC3 and William George Agency are the major employers for the Villages of Dryden and Freeville . The western portion of the town is dominated by residential development, some industry , some agriculture , and relatively large expanses of institutional lands owned by Cornell University. Most of the residential development revolves around Cornell and Ithaca College as employment centers and generators of commerce . There is also an immense amount of commuter traffic that passes through the hamlets of Varna and Etna in this area that generates some small business activities . Town of Ithaca The Town of Ithaca includes a mix of urban , suburban , and rural characteristics . Often described as the three hills that surround the City of Ithaca , each of the hills is home to one of the community' s major employers . On the West Hill , Cayuga Medical Center is surrounded by farmland and lake views , as well as an innovative community — EcoVillage . South Hill is home to Ithaca College , and Cornell University is found on the East Hill , which also includes a large proportion of the town 's population. The 1993 Comprehensive Plan initiated many innovative planning programs , including the Park , Recreation , and Open Space Plan ( 1997 ) and the Transportation Plan (2007 ) . The Town worked with Cornell on their transportation-focused Generic Environmental Impact Statement (t-GEIS ) , which evaluated transportation-related impacts on the local communities and proposed mitigation strategies for those impacts with the intent of reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicle trips by commuters to the Cornell campus . The Town of Ithaca is currently working to update its Comprehensive Plan . This effort is focused on topics that were not sufficiently covered in the 1993 Plan or that need updating , including sustainable growth and development and energy and greenhouse gas reduction among other issues . The Comprehensive Plan will continue the town 's innovative work in open space preservation and farmland protection and strengthen sustainable growth efforts with such approaches as nodal development and policies and programs such as housing affordable to all income levels . The Proposal The Towns of Dryden and Ithaca are interested in organizing current programs and policies within the context of sustainability , implementing specific measures to increase efficiency, as well as using these to build a vision of future programs , projects and policies relative to the greater goal of climate protection . The core concept of sustainable development that we hope to accomplish is to meet the needs of the present community without compromising the ability of future generations . 2 To implement this proposal , the towns propose to hire 'a full-time Sustainability Planner h for three years . This Planner. would work in the Ithreo basic areasi outlined as follows : 1 . Relate current policies to sustainability benchmarks The Sustainability Planner will gather data , inventory Green House Gases (GHG ) , establish baselines for local government operations , develop quantifiable GHG emission targets , establish a method for reporting emission inventories , and identify tools to track and measure progress . 2 . Implement efficiency and other projects that move the Towns toward a more sustainable future The Sustainability Planner will create plans for decreased energy use focusing on town hall and public works facilities , infrastructure (lighting , water and wastewater treatment facilities ) , vehicle use , recycling , and land use planning , and will make recommendations for implementation of strategies to each respective Town Board . 3 . Create a Model of and Plan for Sustainability The Sustainability Planner will create a model of and plan for sustainability , and assist the towns in incorporating goals of sustainability into their comprehensive plans . This model will be the structure within which decisions are measured . The model will describe energy coming into , _ circulating through and exiting the town , in addition to evaluating the impacts or imbalances of such systems . For example , the model may define where a town 's food comes from , what is grown here , what waste is created , and where it is recycled or disposed of. The model may also present strategies for sustainable land use and transportation systems , some of which are already being considered by both towns . Ultimately , the model will show the imbalances in these systems , and their effect on each other, and other systems outside of the town . From this new policies and strategies will be formulated to address such imbalances . Current Programs By defining the model of sustainability, existing policies will be. highlighted that could be modified or implemented within a new light. The model will also show limitations of local policies . Having a Sustainability Planner on staff will allow the towns to go beyond the written word of policy and analyze actual decisions made , and measure the impact relative to current written policies as well as the model of sustainability . Direct Implementation Currently there are several opportunities for improving efficiency in the towns . In 2007 the Town of Dryden built and opened a new town hall . This building utilized essentially 20th century technologies to create a building that is very efficient. It has a geothermal heating system , efficient lighting and windows and a green site plan that 3 s . strives to mitigate the impacts of building . The Town Highway Department is currently switching the fuel in its trucks to biodiesel as practical . These measures are certainly worthwhile , but again they are implemented in a vacuum of perspective that is filled mostly with conjecture about what the town should or shouldn 't be doing . However, each of these measures , whether for money saving efficiency or for the lofty goals of sustainability , teach a lesson about the real issues and opportunities of implementing better systems now . The Town of Ithaca 's Town Hall is the old Ithaca Post Office retro- fitted for Town use about 10 years ago . The Public Works facility is only 5 years old . Small-scale energy audits were conducted on both buildings in 2008 . Nonetheless there is great potential for energy savings or green energy generation in both facilities as well as in the wastewater and drinking water plants , which the Towns co-own with other partners . It will be important for the Sustainability Planner to assist in creating ideas for implementation , as well as funding mechanisms and possibly managing the implementation of projects . In addition to municipal buildings , the towns own or are responsible for the land management that varies from floodplain to hillside forest to state wetlands to urbanized areas . Implementation projects vary from energy efficiency at the town garage to education programs at local natural areas . Based on our observations of successful sustainability programs in other communities , keys to the success of such programs are strong support from municipal leaders , committed community members , buy-in from municipal employees , and training and education to keep the initiative in the forefront. These will be important components of the Town of Dryden/Town of Ithaca proposal to initiate and establish our sustainability programs . Another means of institutionalizing sustainability in town policy is to incorporate the principles into adopted town policy . The Town of Dryden intends to update its comprehensive plan starting in 2010 . The Town of Ithaca is currently updating its comprehensive plan , and plans to incorporate a sustainability component. It is anticipated that the updated plans will strive to use the basic tenets of sustainability to organize and guide the document structure as well as purpose . Other town policies that can further incorporate sustainable principles involve smaller plans for recreational facilities (e . g . pesticide and fertilizer use ) and open space protection ( riparian areas and floodplains ) , as well as operational policies such as human resources (work from home , reduced work week) and Department of Public Works (water supply and sewer facilities ) and Highway Department ( biodiesel , route efficiency) . The towns will work to incorporate consistency requirements across town policies based upon the findings of this proposal . The Town of Ithaca ' s experience with looking at specific planning approaches will inform Dryden 's efforts at creating a similar type of component in the -Comprehensive Plan , and this project will further be enhanced by the sharing of information and ideas from staff and board members of both towns . The intent will be to create a clear path for other small municipalities to follow to accomplish similar sustainability goals . 4 This position is proposed as a three year contractual , position , Two years was considered , but because of the added complexity of two towns , and the detailed nature of the overall goals of the proposal , it is felt that three years will be necessary to fully achieve the goals for both towns . Budget The following budget is based upon a constant salary over three years . Any increases in, salary will be covered by the towns and that process articulated in the Memorandum of Understanding between the towns . Full Time Annual Salary $45 , 000 > . Benefits $ 18 , 000 (40 % ) Expenses $7 , 000 Equipment $5 , 000 Total per year $75 , 000 Total for three years $225 , 000 Administration . The towns will provide supervision and administrative support as in-kind match . The Town of Dryden and Ithaca will formulate and sign an intermunicipal agreement to formalize the contractual relationship between the towns and the mechanism for providing and/or reimbursing match . Timeline Starting in June 2010 and continuing through June 2013 . 5 r ° OD 2 & 1 \ t m 9 2 $ ^ 0 0 0 % 7. . 0 0 0 � 0 2 ci c 69. C; O r TOM W .& O ce & N / Ic . �■` . O v o o � N ® \ \ § . Tom O � ■ . � ■ ■ . (D ui v U v v v U , 2 § \ § � k $ p § 2 S $ O 2 k \ � 0 LO CD 0 7 $ $ $ $ E = � � m 2 $ k � Lm ca q : o I � �/ mu Co 7\ \ ` . 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