HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG Minutes 2012-11-27
Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee Meeting
November 27, 2012
Final Minutes
Present:
Claire Forest (Forest Family Farm),
Bill Goodman (Ithaca Town Board),
Dean Koyanagi (Tree Gate Farm),
Mike Smith (Town Planning Department),
Lisa Ferguson (Laughing Goat Fiber Farm),
Gary Ferguson (Laughing Goat Fiber Farm),
Devon Van Noble (Groundswell),
Paula Wedemeyer, (Ithaca Equestrian Center),
Russ Wedemeyer, (Ithaca Equestrian Center),
Christianne McMillan White (Steep Hollow Farm),
Monika Roth (Cooperative Extension),
Jon Negley (Tompkins County Soil & Water Conservation District)
Call to Order 7:00 p.m.
Welcome/Introductions
1. There were no persons to be heard.
2. John Negley, Tompkins County Soil & Water Conservation District, presented
information on the programs and assistance available to farmers and Town of Ithaca.
Programs and services discussed included:
- A.E.M. – five tiers of service
- Soil testing (use Dairy One labs - $16 or Cornell Soil Health Labs)
- Mapping & GIS services (LIDAR now has contour maps with smaller gradations)
- Waterway design and permits
- Agricultural tax exemption assistance
- Soil group worksheets
- Barnyard/pasture design (Talk to Craig or Gene)
- Deer fencing assistance for vegetable and fruit growers
- Aquifer reports for towns (in conjunction with USGS, County, and towns; requires
30% match from participating town)
- Well reports
- Flood mapping (updating FEMA maps from 1983)
- Stream intervention (bridges and protection of fish habitat)
3. Member Announcements / Concerns
a. Groundswell course applications are available for (1) farm business planning class
and (2) 2013 incubator class.
b. Monika Roth reported that the East Hill Plaza Farmers’ Market (Wed. 4-7) had 16-20
vendors between August and October. Priority was given to farmers new to the
farmers’ market program. In 2013, the East Hill market will be held between May and
October.
c. Lisa Ferguson asked about the availability of hay. Her farm was unable to produce
enough due to the drought and local farmers have not been able to backstop her.
Several ideas were offered.
4. Chair and Coordinator Reports
a. The Spring 2013 Town newsletter may have a feature on the Baker farm. Ideas for
the newsletter are welcome.
b. Michael Smith has been working on and researching farm/property trespass
notification. “Tread Lightly” is one program/web site that provide help and signage.
Links to resources can be found on the Town web site as well as the DEC web site.
c. Indian Creek Farm is working with the Town on a purchase of development rights
easement. Once approved they will need to await availability of State funds, which
may take 2-4 years. Applications for PDR for farms may be solicited by CCE for the
County in the coming year.
d. The lack of a local slaughterhouse was raised. Michael Smith reported that a new
USDA approved operation exists in Romulus and that he can provide contact
information.
e. Farmers were reminded to visit the Town web site to check their farm listings and
provide changes/comments.
5. Ithaca Town Board Report
a. The Town’s Codes and Ordinances Committee is continuing work on revising the
existing sprinkler ordinance, to ease its burden on farm structures. A Codes
Committee working meeting on the topic is likely to be held in January or February
rd
2013 (3 Wed).
b. The Sign ordinance is also being reworked. One part of the review involves easing
the burden on farms by granting exemptions. More work needs to be done by the
Committee.
c. The Town draft comprehensive plan has been released/circulated for public
comment. The Comp Plan committee did not make changes proposed by the Agric.
Committee. The Plan now will be reviewed and approved by the Town Board. The
Ag. District density has been recommended to be changed from 1 unit per 7 acres to
1 unit per 15 acres. The draft Plan can be found on the Town web site.
6. Approval of Minutes from the July 31, 2012 meeting
nd
(Paula – motion; Claire- 2; approved unanimous vote)
7. EcoVillage Pond Discussion
Devon Van Noble (Groundswell) presented a report on problems encountered with their
effort to create an enlarged pond to service the incubator project.
Ten acres at EcoVillage have been designated for the incubator project. Due to weak wells,
a larger pond was proposed to provide needed water. Because the pond was located near
to wetlands, the project checked with DEC and the Army Corp. DEC did provide a letter of
exemption.
Because the project involved moving more than 250 cubic yards of dirt, permission was also
required from the Town Planning Board. A downstream neighbor protested the project, citing
decreased stream flow already occurring over the past 20 years that is changing flora and
fauna. The neighbor has threatened to sue EcoVillage.
Groundswell has invested about $7,000 in engineering studies for the pond. They are
investigating “Right to Farm” provisions that would exempt the project from the need for a
permit. The Town can apparently require site plan review but cannot make the process
expensive or restrictive. The project is in a County Agric. District, but not the Town Agric.
Zone, further complicating the process.
The committee entered into extensive discussion about the rights and protection of farmers
in the Town and in the State. Monika Roth noted that right to farm generally refers to
nuisance related issues and not zoning/land use. The issue of riparian rights in the Town
was also raised. One idea surfaced was the extension of cut and fill exemptions to the State
agric. zone, not just the Town zone. Groundswell may approach the committee again for a
letter of support.
8. The Town has had an intern studying how GPS and Google Maps may be used to boost
commerce/tourism for farm business. More information to come at the next meeting.
9. Nominations for Committee Leadership
- Sharon was nominated as chair
- Christianne was nominated as vice-chair
nd
(motion – Russ/2-Gary; approved unanimously)
10. Devon was nominated as an associate member of the committee
nd
(motion- Russ/2-Gary; approved unanimously)
thth
11. The November 2013 meeting date was changed from the 26 to November 19.
nd
(motion-Christianne/2-Lisa; approved unanimously)
12. Motion to Adjourn
nd
(motion-Gary/2-Russ; passed)
Meeting notes by Lisa Ferguson