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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2001-01-04TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD FINAL MINUTES OF MEETING 4 JANUARY 2001 Present: Chairman Unsworth; Vice Chair Weir; Hoffman, Yntema, Blizard, Durkee; Meigs; Coordinator Ritter Guest: Sue Poelvoorde 1. Finger Lakes State Parks - Discussion of Projects and Issues Chairman Unsworth introduced Sue Poelvoorde, Planner for the Finger Lakes Region, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, who was present to discuss the status of work on the Black Diamond Trail. Ms. Poelvoorde distributed the first Black Diamond Trail newsletter produced by FLSP. She stated that progress is being made on acquisition of the necessary rights-of-way (r.o.w.), including the former Lehigh Valley railroad (r.r.) r.o.w. between Ithaca and Trumansburg, transferred from NYSEG, and some portions of the r.o.w. leg from Ithaca to Robert Treman State Park. The City is responsible for arranging r.o.w. acquisition for the stretch in the city. Ms. Poelvoorde stated that Parks has a consultant beginning work on the trail master plan, which will undergo SEQR review when ready, perhaps within a year. The Town of Ithaca and other municipalities and parties with interests in the trail will participate in this process. She explained that conditions in environmentally - sensitive portions of the r.o.w. (in the Inlet Valley between Buttermilk and Robert Treman parks, for example) would require more extensive investigation and evaluation than in other less - problematic areas; assets and challenges will be weighed against negative impacts throughout the planning and review. Details such as trail width and surface will depend on user types and numbers. A series of public input meetings will begin soon. Ms. Poelvoorde noted that there are several possibilities for branch trails connecting the Black Diamond to existing and proposed trails such as the Town's system and the State-sponsored Scenic Byway. These connections will be chiefly provided by other entities. (The Town and City have agreed to work together to implement a connection between Buttermilk and South Aurora St., on the r.r. r.o.w. that forms the municipal boundary. The section of this r.o.w. between Buttermilk and Stone Quarry Rd. is owned by State Parks. This link would be easily connected to the city end of the Town's South Hill Recreationway.) Chairman Unsworth asked how the Town might assist and work with Parks on the trail; possibilities include advertising in the Town newsletter for volunteer assistance with such tasks as preliminary r.o.w. clearing, as has already been done in Ulysses, or publicizing the public workshops. Ms. Poelvoorde then referred to the State's Open Space Plan, which is up for renewal, as another matter on which the Town will have opportunity for comment. She has proposed that it include a State Parks Greenbelt Project authorization, which would facilitate state acquisition of parcels to provide buffers for state parks. Local examples of need for such general authority are the Wiggins subdivision adjoining Upper Buttermilk, and the Auble property (zoned Commercial, Multiple Residence, and R-15 Residential) Danby Rd./King Rd. intersection, where the state is already working to acquire some buffer areas. Other problem areas in the Ithaca area, such as the City's proposed dump adjoining Robert Treman Park, were also commented on. Chairman Unsworth thanked Ms. Poelvoorde for a very informative and useful presentation. 2. Chairman Unsworth then distributed copies of the first Cayuga Lake Watershed newsletter, for information. CB members commented on the excellence of the newsletter. Unsworth reminded members that a tour of the Lake Source Cooling facility had been scheduled for Jan. 6. 1 3. Member Concerns: Jon Meigs reported that the parking area for the Wilson Laboratory had been made larger than he remembered the plan showing. Ms. Ritter added that the area south of Cascadilla Creek, where Oxley Polo Rink was, is under consideration for a permanent parking lot development by Cornell; she will be attend a meeting with Cornell about this. 4. Chair & Coordinator Report: Ms. Ritter reported that she is now Acting Director of Planning, which will restrict the time she can devote to CB work until a new director is found; this will take several months. She distributed the roster of CB members for 2001; Ms. Durkee volunteered to join the Environmental Review Committee. Ms. Ritter reported that Town Board member Bill Lesser has volunteered to be Town liaison to the EMC. The Town is considering acquisition of the Hallberg property adjoining the Deer Run Town Park, for addition to the park. The Town Board is still considering the matter of a pavilion for the 'park' provided by Cornell in conjunction with the LSC; CB members felt that any structure there should be small, not what 'pavilion' suggests. Vice Chair Weir strongly urged that the Town determine what Cornell intends for the adjacent marina/sailing club property, before making final decisions on the 'park.' The area's long-term development should be coordinated. Chairman's Report: Mr. Unsworth distributed copies of articles on the local census, noting that the Town's growth had been the highest in the county during the period 1990-99, making the CB's role in helping monitor, evaluate and control the effects of growth all the more important. He distributed other articles reporting architect Bob Leathers' offer to assist in the development of'lacovelli Park;'the problems the Town's consultant has had getting information from Cornell about the LSC project; and City Mayor Cohen's Ithaca Journal Guest Column about intermunicipal planning. 5. Minutes: Mr. Yntema, seconded by Mr. Weir, MOVED approval of the Dec. 7 Minutes, with editorial corrections; motion PASSED. Mr. Unsworth noted that he had not yet gotten additional information concerning the proposed gas drilling in the Finger Lakes National Forest. Mr. Meigs noted that he is still working on the draft communique from the CB to the Town Planning Board concerning the Unique Natural Areas Inventory. 6. Other Business: Coordinator/Acting Director of Planning Ritter reported that she has gotten several videos on stream bank protection; she will review them and bring the best to show the CB. Mr. Meigs noted that there is a vacancy on the CB; members are urged to be on the alert for potential new members. We could add several Associate Members in addition to the one voting position. NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 1. Respectfully submitted Jon Meigs, Acting Interim Secretary Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Final Minutes February 1, 2001 Present: Barney Unsworth, Don Weir, Eva Hoffmann, Clifford Blizard, Lenore Durkee, Richard Fischer, John Yntema, Elissa Wolfson, Libby deProsse Staff: Susan Ritter Persons to be heard: none Members Concerns: Clifford asked about the Ithaca College Committee having to do with the conservation zoning? Sue will schedule a meeting. Coordinator report: We have a new Town clerk, her name is Tee Ann Hunter. We also have a new part time planner, Chris Balestra, who has previously worked for the Town. Chair report: It was noted that the Town of Danby was having a meeting at the same time as the CB meeting, their meeting was regarding sensible land use. Barney has written a letter to Bill Lesser of the Town Board, who has been appointed as the Town's EMC representative, reminding him that we would like to be kept "posted" on the EMC goings on. There was been much public reaction to the proposed oil and gas drilling in the Finger Lake National Forest. Seven alternatives have been proposed. It is possible that the drilling will occur on private land which is interspersed amid the Forest. There will need to be issued a DEC Permit. The City is planning to build a pedestrian bridge over Route 13 in the Southwest area which would link portions of the Black Diamond trail and the City's Southwest Natural Area. We have received a copy of the EIS scoping document from the Cornell Vet. School Waste Management Facility. There will be a neighborhood meeting at the North East School to discuss the issue of the Town's sewer easement and the need for clearing trees that are clogging the sewer lines and obstructing access. Ideas for the Town Newsletter were suggested: discussion of invasive species in a "do you know format". Minutes: Minutes from the 1-4-01 meeting were approved as amended. Stream Buffers: Ms Ritter had three videos on stream buffers, which were very informative. We learned the value of trees in holding water, the denitrification from leaf litter, the three zone buffer system. These were also described in the written material distributed to us in the mail. Proper management of the buffer provides removal of excess nitrogen, trapping of sediment, and protection from pesticides in runoff. A copy of the DRAFT Water Resources Protection Ordinance was distributed so members could review and comment on the ordinance before the next meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 9:35. Submitted by E. deProsse, Secretary 1 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board March 1, 2001 Final Minutes Present: Donald Weir -Acting Chairperson, Clifford Blizard, Lenore Durkee, Jon Meigs, John Yntema, Elizabeth deProsse, Elissa Wolfson Guest: Joe Francis Staff: Sue Ritter There were no persons to be heard. Chair Report: EcoVillage is preparing a draft General Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for their building expansion plans and re -zoning request. Site plans for the second phase of Eco Village, know as SONG, along with the DGEIS are tentatively scheduled to be submitted to the Town in March. Cell towers: A cell tower company is exploring the possibility of co -locating a tower on the WVBR radio tower on Hungerford Hill. The tower would be completely rebuilt, and the cell tower would possibly be 20 feet higher than the present one. They are also exploring the possibility of locating an additional tower in the western part of Town, on Mecklenburg Rd. They have been in contact with the Eddy's concerning this possibility. Planning Department staff have advised representatives of the cell tower company to contact the Tompkins County Planning Department, and consider co -locating with the towers proposed for the new upgraded "911" system. Cornell is considering a +270 space parking lot in the location of the former Oxley Polo Barn, and immediately adjacent to Cascadilla Creek. We will wait to see what they propose. Chair Report: Don distributed several newpaper articles that Barney had wanted CB members to have. Minutes: Meeting minutes for the February 1 meeting, under Chair Report; correct to read "It was noted that the Town of Danby was having a meeting regarding sensible land use at the same time as the CB Meeting. "Minutes were accepted as corrected. Discussion of Water Resource Protection Ordinance: Various comments were expressed about the ordinance, some of these comments include: the ordinance is poorly organized and needs a better introduction and more definitions; incorporating a map into the ordinance would be preferable to trying to define what a watercourse is, though some sort of flexibility would be needed if we discover new creeks. [ the GIS coverage developed by Tompkins County, using NYSEG info, appeared too detailed for this purpose because it also shows road side ditches and the like.] Discussion and Questions: Is the creek spring fed or a watershed creek? Is it ephemeral? Are there any other groups doing this in our watershed? Could hydrology students be sent out to identify or create a parameter? There should be a better definition for the removal of trees in the buffer- clear cutting/vs selection tree cutting, perhaps a percentage? Can we protect rights to a view shed? Why do we want this ordinance? In a new development we may want to ask for a Riparian Buffer. Lenore volunteered to re -organize this material and send it out promptly for our comments. Don will ask Professor Rebecca Schneider if she has any students interested in this topic. Meeting was adjourned at 8:50. Submitted by Elizabeth deProsse, Secretary 2