HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2001-05-03Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
May 3, 2001
Final Meeting Minutes
Present: Barney Unsworth (Chairman), Clifford Blizard, Lenore Durkee,
Richard Fischer, Elissa Wolfson, John Yntema
Absent: Elizabeth deProsse, Eva Hoffmann, Jon Meigs, Donald Weir
Staff: Sue Ritter
Meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M.
Member Concerns: Clifford reported on the Black Diamond Trail (BDT) workshop
he had attended. There were presentations on adverse impacts for the SEQR
process. Many of the concerns were related to the Trumansburg/Ulysses area. Much of the BDT
will be along the old railroad easement. The Ulysses Sheriff's personnel use the railroad
easement. Adjacent landowners are concerned about BDT users going on their land. Clifford
attended the sub -committee discussion on History of Land Use and Environmental Interpretation
for the BDT. The date for the second BDT meeting is not known yet.
Comments on the BDT can be sent to <Sue.Poelvoorde@oprhp.state.ny.us>, tel:
607-387-7041X117. Elissa will write a letter to Sue Poelvoorde, expressing
Conservation Board support for the BDT.
Clifford expressed concerns about the adequacy of, and comments on, the
faunal portion of the Ithaca College's `Biological Assessment of Contiguous
Undeveloped Land," dated January 25, 2001. Clifford will attend a meeting scheduled for May
23`d between Ithaca College and Town of Ithaca representatives. The meeting will concern the
South Hill Conservation Zoning proposal.
Dick reported on placing Swallow/Bluebird nest boxes 10 feet apart. Both species will tolerate
the other at that spacing, but will not tolerate the same species nesting so closely.
Chair Report: Barney discussed:
• The "Liquid Fence" information provided at Bakers Acres; he passed around a brochure.
• A Meeting concerning Canadians selling drinking water to other parts of
the world. He circulated a paper giving the URLs for several websites with
pertinent information:
<www.canadians.org> article by Maude Barlow on water export
<www.gluorg> articles on Annex 2001 and water export
<www. transnationale. org>
<www.rochesternews.org> search articles on Great Lakes, by Kim Breen and Jamie Gemono
• Minutes of County Planning Board meeting, concerning the "Aquifer Study,"
which contained concerns: by land purchasers wanting good well water; about
leaching from septic tank drainage fields.
• Baker Institute addition: the Planning Board gave final site plan approval.
• Ongoing acid rain damage: article in recent Ithaca Journal.
• Recommended: "Cornell Plantations" and "The Conservationist" magazines.
• Possible Conservation Board (CB) members trip to the Fisher Forest, which
has old growth. He will check when to go. Clifford described the location --
Take Newfield turnoff from Route 13, go back about 1/2 mile, park on the
wide shoulder opposite a greenhouse (Feeny's). Walk downhill to Fischer
Forest.
Coordinator Report:
• The City of Ithaca sent documents to the Town, relating to the proposed
fill site near Treman Park. The Town has requested additional engineering details from the City.
• The Town Planning Department is reviewing the Ecovillage draft Environmental Impact
Statement and expansion plans.
Minutes of April meeting: The minutes of the CB meeting of April 05, 2001
were approved, with minor corrections.
Committee Reports:
• Stream Buffer Ordinance Committee: Lenore discussed the several
Stream Buffer meetings. and the progress made on upgrading/updating the
original draft "Water Resource Protection Ordinance" of December 1999. She
explained some of the problems encountered, particularly with definitions.
The Committee wants to make the ordinance wording and ideas specific and readily
understandable, but not disagreeable nor objectionable to nonprofessionals.
This is not an easy task.
• The next meeting will be a field trip on Monday, May 14th, at noon at
Lenore's home (115 Woolf Lane), to look at some nearby streams.
Town of Ithaca Natural Heritage Preservation Progra - Draft Proposal:
• George Frantz was hired to prepare the document and he chose the sites that have been
proposed for Purchase of Development Rights.
• Is the title okay?
• This will be a major item at the next CB meeting.
• CB members asked Sue to propose specific questions members to focus on and review.
• Perhaps the CB should consult the Finger Lakes Land Trust, to discuss
their possible involvement in this program.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 P.M.
Submitted by John Yntema, acting secretary