HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2001-06-07Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
June 7, 2001 ,
Final Meeting Minutes
Present: Jon Meigs, Eva Hoffmann, Lenore Durkee, Libby deProsse, Barney Unsworth, Chairman.
Elissa Wolfson
Absent: Don Weir, Richard Fischer, Clifford Blizzard
Staff: Sue Ritter
Persons to be heard: None.
Members concerns: Lenore expressed concern for nesting birds which may have been endangered by
the mowing and tree trimming that she observed taking place in the NYSEG right-of-way of her
neighborhood. She will write a letter to NYSEG and copy it to Fred Noteboom and Cathy Valentino
suggesting a more appropriate season for this activity.
Chair report: Barney handed out a letter from Marilyn Ray which detailed plans for oil and gas drilling
in the Finger Lakes National Forest. Members wishing to express their opinions on this issue are urged
to do so by July 3 (comments will be accepted up to August 2nd), as well as to attend one of the
upcoming meetings. Letter should go to Finger Lakes National Forest, ATT: Oil and Gas, 5218 State
Rte. 14, Hector, NY 14841. Of the five alternatives being considered, the recommended alternative is
Alternative 4 — no action.
Barney gave us a clipping from the Ithaca Journal with an update on plans for a proposed City
landfill in the Town adjacent to Treman State Park. The City filed for a fill permit on April 13 from the
Town, but the Town has requested that the City submit more details about the proposal.
We also took note of Census 2000 housing statistics for Tompkins County.
Coordinator Report: At the June 19th Planning Board meeting, Fernando deAragon of Ithaca -Tompkins
County Transportation Council will present the recommendations of the North Campus Gateway
Committee which calls for, amongst other thing, re -directing traffic around the north Cornell campus
area via a new connector road off Pleasant Grove Rd.. The proposal should especially help to reduce
traffic volumes in the Forest Home area.
Minutes: In the absence of a quorum, we could not approve minutes.
Committee Reports: Elissa drafted a letter of support for the Black Diamond Trail to Sue Poelvoorde of
Finger Lakes State Parks. She distributed it at the meeting and members offered editing suggestions.
Elissa will revise accordingly and re -distribute via email for all members to review. Once the letter
meets everyone's approval Elissa will sign and mail the letter on behalf of the Board.
The Water Resource Protection Committee, following their May 4th field trip, has recommended
that the creek buffer width be reduced down to 30 feet, except for the major named streams. The current
proposal for buffer width is 50 feet.
A meeting was held with Ithaca College concerning the Conservation Zone. A follow-up field
trip is scheduled for June 8th. The committee meeting with Ithaca College, including staff from the
Town Planning Dept., the Town Supervisor, 2 members from the Town Board, Eva and Clifford, met
with Tom Salm, Peter Towbridge, and Bob O'Brien. IC has completed their biological area survey and
seems less adverse to the idea of establishing a conservation zone. They do, however, want to develop
the northeast portion of the proposed conservation zone for athletic fields. The committee's field trip
will focus on this area.
The Environmental Review Committee (ERC) reviewed the draft EIS for EcoVillage's expansion
plans, as well as written comments that were submitted and read at the Planning Board meeting on June
5`h. The ERC found the dEIS to have addressed all of the environmental concerns satisfactorily.
The Town of Ithaca draft Natural Heritage Program will be revised, including corrections to the property
rankings sheet. It was requested that Sue identify the parcels on a big map with a number or a letter.
Sue will be away June 17 — July 1. Lenore will be gone in June. We adjourned at 8:55.
Libby deProsse, secretary
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