HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG Minutes 2013-11-19
Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee
November 19, 2013
7:00 PM
Final Notes
Members Present: Devon Van Noble, Christianne White (Steep Hollow Farm), Sharon Tregaskis and
Dean Koyanagi (Tree Gate Farm)
Others Present: Rod Howe (Town Board), Mike Smith (Town Planning Department), Sarah (guest, Cornell
student working with CCE), Bruce Bates (Town Code Enforcement Director)
1. Persons to be heard: none
2. Member Announcements / Concerns: Devon reported that they had two farmers with the incubator
project this year, and will hopefully expand next year. CCE Landlink meeting had approximately 20
landowners attend.
3. Chair and Coordinator Reports / Updates: Mike mentioned that all of the paperwork for the Indian
Creek Farm PDR grant has been provided to NYS Ag & Markets.
4. Ithaca Town Board Report / Update: Rod provided an update on the status of the draft
Comprehensive Plan. The Town Board decided to change the proposed density requirement for the
Agricultural Zone to 12 acres (is 7 acres in current zoning). An updated draft will be on the Town’s
website soon. Rod mentioned that the Town budget was passed last night and soon there will be a new
ad hock committee on economic development in the Town.
5. Approval of Minutes: no action (no quorum)
6. Review of the use of local rough-cut lumber in the Town of Ithaca: Mike passed around a couple
documents (characteristics, current status, treatment, forestry plans, etc.) on the Hemlock Woolly
Adelgid, since that is the reason this topic was originally raised in July. Mike briefly explained his
research and conversation with Bruce Bates (Town of Ithaca Director of Code Enforcement). Mike had
emailed Bruce to make sure he understood everything, and read from that email to the Committee. The
email (November 13, 2013) stated:
I just want to make sure I understand the various options and requirements for someone to
either take trees from their property, have them cut into lumber, and then use it to build
something on their property, or purchase rough-cut lumber to be used in construction. It seems
like there are a couple different options, depending on what is being built.
If someone is building an agricultural building (as defined in the NYS building code as “A
structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or
other horticultural products, excluding any structure designed, constructed or used, in whole or
part, for human habitation, as a place of employment where agricultural products are processed,
treated or packaged, or as a place used by the public.”), rough-cut lumber can be used for any
part of the structure. In this situation you would fill out the Town’s “Building Permit Exemption
for Agricultural Buildings” form and provide that to the Town’s Code Enforcement Office. They
do not require any building plans nor do they complete any inspections where they would be
looking at the lumber being used. (However a permit may be needed for zoning issues)
If someone is building any other type of building (residential, commercial/retail, etc.), then any
load-supporting lumber must have either a lumber grading stamp (grade mark) or a certificate of
inspection issued by a lumber grading or inspection agency. If the lumber does not have either of
these, it still can be used with an exception outlined in both the 2010 Building Code of NYS
(Section 2303.1.1 – Sawn lumber) and in the 2010 Residential Code of NYS (Section 502.1 – Wood
Floor Framing, Section 602.1 – Wood Wall Framing, Section 802.1 – Wood Roof Framing). The
exception allows the mill or sawyer to provide a written certification that the lumber is Grade 2
or better, for a load-supporting purpose. This certification would be provided to the Town as
part of the building permit process. NYS provides a standard form that can be used by the
sawyer (the Town requires this form to be notarized). This is only for load-supporting lumber
used in these types of structures, nothing has to be provided for rough-cut lumber to be used for
all the non-structural parts of the structure (interior walls, finish work, etc.).
I copied out one of the exceptions from the Residential Code as an example, but all the
exceptions referenced above are basically worded the same:
SECTION R802 WOOD ROOF FRAMING
R802.1 Identification. Load-bearing dimension lumber for rafters, trusses and ceiling
joists shall be identified by a grade mark of a lumber grading or inspection agency that
has been approved by an accreditation body that complies with DOC PS 20. In lieu of a
grade mark, a certificate of inspection issued by a lumber grading or inspection agency
meeting the requirements of this section shall be accepted.
Exception: Dimension lumber which is neither identified by a grade mark nor issued a
certificate of inspection by a lumber grading or inspection agency may be used for load
bearing purposes under the following conditions when authorized by the authority having
jurisdiction:
1. The producing mill shall sell or provide the lumber directly to the ultimate consumer
or the consumer’s contract builder for use in an approved structure.
2. The producing mill shall certify in writing to the consumer or contract builder on a
form to be provided by the authority having jurisdiction that the quality and safe working
stresses of such lumber are equal to or exceed No. 2 grade of the species in accordance
with the conditions set forth in American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20-99)
published by the United States Department of Commerce. Such certification shall be filed
as part of the building permit application.
Along with the details in this email, I was also going to provide the Ag Committee with a copy of
the form that the State has on their website (which I believe you said the Town would accept if it
was notarized – Bruce confirmed) and a “Local Lumber Fact Sheet” that I found on Cooperative
Extensions website that might be helpful to some.
Questions were raised regarding if electric or utilities were in the building and does that change the
classification, and what is the code definition of public (daily in building, seasonal, special events).
Bruce Bates joined the group for a few minutes (was already in another meeting at Town Hall) to discuss
rough cut lumber and to answer questions. Bruce mentioned his personal experience with using rough
cut lumber at his house. A building can still be an ag building if electric is present. Having electric does
not impact the classification. In terms of public, there isn’t a clear guideline from the State Code
Division. Things Code Enforcement staff would look at might include – are you profiting from the public,
is it more of a business / agribusiness, is it a special event only a few times a year, is processing,
cleaning, packaging taking place, employees, etc. He also talked about acceptable ways to prove an ag
operation, such as a Schedule F.
7. Overview of Agricultural Conservation Easements: (postponed to future meeting)
8. Other Business: No quorum present to vote on any actions. Members present agreed the next
meeting would be on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 7pm (following same schedule from 2013). Sharon
(Chair) and Christianne (Vice-Chair) agreed to continue in their positions for 2014, but can be discussed
at January meeting.
9. Adjourn: at approximately 8:30 pm.
Notes prepared by Mike Smith