HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnvironmental Review Committee February 2 & 18 1999 TOWN OF' ITHACA
PLANNING DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
TO: Conservation Board Members
FROM: Susan Ritter, Town of Ithaca Planning Department
DATE: February 12, 1999
RE: Next Meeting of the Conservation Board - February 18, 1999
This is to confirm that the next meeting of the Conservation Board is Thursday, February 18,
1999 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Room. The purpose of our meeting is to continue
our discussions of the South Hill Swamp report and the proposed conservation boundary.
Enclosed you should find the latest draft of the report. For those of you who are getting tired of
reading the whole report, I used a feature in the Word software that tracks the changes I made so
you can see exactly how things will be modified from the previous draft. Lines that contain an
edit are flagged with a vertical line in the right margin.
Please take at look at the report and see what you think. Some of the overall report format has
been disturbed, but that will be remedied after I remove the tracked changes, so you can ignore
those problems. I am still in the process of modifying the graphics, but have completed about the
first six figures. Let me know if the format for the graphics is acceptable.
Also, the ERC will be meeting at 6:30pm on February 18"'. The topic will be Phase II of the
Surnmerhill Apartments.
See you on Thursday. Please call me at 273-1747 if you have any questions,
TOWN OF ITHACA
PLANNING DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
TO: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE 2/12/99
Elizabeth deProsse
Kara Hagedorn
Jonathan Meigs
Barney Unsworth
John Yntema
FROM: Susan Ritter, Town of Ithaca Planning Dept.
SUBJECT: February 12th Environmental Review Committee Meeting
This is to confirm that the next Environmental Review Committee meeting is scheduled for
Thursday, February 18, 1999, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Town Hall Board
Room. Materials for this meeting (the proposed construction of Phase II of the Summerhill
Apartments) were distributed at our last meeting (February 4"'). If you have any questions please
give me a call.
AGENDA
1) Review ERC comments for"Chef Yeppi Presents"restaurant fill project.
2) Discuss and draft comments on the Phase II Surnmerhill Apartments project,
X'
DRAFT
South il a Protection t ate
Proposal
by the
Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
February 1 , 1999
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aqi jrqm joj oleuoijui oqi saq!j3sap oslu ijodaj oql -raxe z)ql jo sainivaj le-injeu jumiodtui iaqlo Aa/uns
of so jjam so `SHS aqi jo sati!untutuoo iuvid aqi aq!.iosap pue saioods juVid amos puu mlljo XOAlns
v ionpuoa of uz)Lqij jo umol aqi Aq pajouiluoo ;aiam oqmiCojsoAN paqo-d pue wowlso Xou-eK sis!ueloq jo
sSuipu!j aqi an papnioul -umoj, atp Xq uoiinjoid jummm sainivoj ivoigol000 anbiun asoqj Xqm suosea.]
aqi puu SHS aqi jo saamaj lvinjeu j3qlo pue 'uunoj `moll aqi aq!jz)sop of st liodai siqljo osodind .,.)qj,
'weld aoudS uado pue uotivajoa-g
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plojo sean pun Ispuellam lsaioads juvid awcos puu airi snoxawnu suiumo uaiv aql -aouuoU!u.'dis
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Figure I
harvesting and clearing for agricultural use, has also influenced the diversity on South Hill by creating a
mosaic pattern of plant type communities in various states of succession.
Perhaps the most prominent feature in the SHS is the"core" 50 acre wetland swamp basin(Fig. 2),
known as Clausen Swamp. The swamp proper is a forest of swamp white oaks (Quercus bi"olor), a
locally rare community, which is also rare at the State level. It is centered on a shallow bowl shaped
depression on a broad flat hilltop. Its formation is the result of shallow soil conditions and a layer of
impervious clay over bedrock that has allowed for the pooling of water(Ostman 1.983). Water draining
from south and west of the S S, flows into the depression, but the overland flow to the north and east is
generally inhibited by the extreme flatness of the area(Ost an 1983). This has created favorable
conditions for the formation of this seasonally wet swamp.
The soil on the rim of the depression is thin(1.0-20cm) hence it tends to become very dry in the mid to
late summer. Thus the rim around the wetland swamp does not feature wetland species, but actually
dryland vegetation of the heath-shrub type community that creates more open shrubby conditions
(Ostrnan 1983). "The Flora of the Cayuga Lake Basin" (1 2 ) by Weigand and Barnes describes "the
2
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punt oqj lisixo suoij!puoo dials ssol jo oxDqm'suajrj;)qjo ul 'Q -213)UMOJL Qqj Ul UOJjUja20A
L11MOIS PJOJO SP,419 QAISUaIX;D ISOM QqIJO;DMOS UILIIUO:) MOU PUU Pa19,113 laAaU QlaAt Slgalt ,tURUJ
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qlnos aql Xeau MJ 056 inoqu of dojp puu lia;)j OLZI punojc ame -lpS SuiN -g mau 'dwemS uasnLlo ju
SUOTILIA:Dlg (Z -StA)qljou ;Dql of Xumv ,Cjdoais sadols ptiul aql'dwumSoqljo wy aqj tuoij Xvmu SUIAOW
'Qj!l iuwluu puu juujdjo)4lSJ;)Alp qoij V 01 aA]:)nPUOO SUOIJ!PIIO:3
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ujaqlnoS aqi puu uirli jmsuoD aqijo swoU pos-p!op-iqSij aqi isaHns siurld asaqljo atuoS -rcTt-uumS
IM qlnoS ,,E: umoul mouj qslejN IM qjnoS 1L=jo ui slueld aleijo Auoloo Sullsololul x1julnotlied
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samug pue pu-eRpAk (q jairl u;)qi pue 4Xalpn(j -'-d iuuilj!M Xq pionpuoo s,0881 aqj ut sopus Itniuriog
laajV anb!un u se SHS jo uomuuooaZi
Iuipp wpq pue Iguilunq
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-sjoasut iaqlo snojawnu puu'satLjiaunq 'sajvus snotIvA 'japumules pal 'siodood 2upds Ilmo poons
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maJeXluOatuuu0l 'll!HtllnoSuoisixoolumouNsaioads.iaqlo
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2uowe p.-,)jpnjs pue pa)uasqo uiaq sutl (vuvo.ijauip vjj!jaM) oaq 2upsau-pos uowwooun oy 'aouvisui loa
'SHS aqj jo su;)jjeq pos p!w qn-jqS-qjUQq aLlj QZI.I!ln of pull satoods OJV.I/,JaA aWOS -4unoD supidwol
ui lsixD of umoul 'uounwoun pue uowwoo Is;)l!jdai pue suuiq!qdwu 'slewmew 'sloasul 'spl!q laqlo;)ql
jo Xuuw joj sjui!qpq airpdoiddu puu,C4!un:poddo OP!Aojd qjnos aql of suate pjw)s Xljq!?q pue luiwatli
01 U0113OU1103 Sj! PULI '1;)AOO aAIIUJQS,?A Sj! Cluaixa s,viie a)ql -juatsuej4 pue juap!soi qioq laj!lpl!m jo sad,(4
.iaqlo Xuvw Xq,pa)uanbamj st u;)ju ay juqj jqnop oII4!1 oq uu:) Piatli 'samads 13asui upejxn pue spj!qRuos
66/Z I/Z)JUJU
Draft 2/12/99
additiona totaling 45 acres, to protect the basin, which is now administered by CU
Plantations and is,known as Clausen Swamp in honor of Professor Clausen . The CU Plantations
44�k�Natural Areas Committee has collected considerable information on the plant communities of this
swamp basin.
Local government recognition of SHS was initiated in 1990 with the release of the Tompkins County
Environmental Management Council's (EMC) Unique Natural Areas inventory document. Initiated and
conducted by Tompkins County EMC, and in conjunction with Cornell Plantations, this inventory
provided a means for identifying areas within the County as having environmental qualities that merit
special attention for preservation in their natural state. According to the 1990 EMC report, these
[UNA] areas provide the community with a valuable resource, providing a sanctuary for rare plants and
animals, and helping to maintain the diversity of natural communities in our region. They contribute to
maintaining a sense of wildness in the county that many residents highly treasure."
The UNA report designated the South Hill Swamp Area as IT-8. As described in the "Significance"
section of the report,this UNA has been "Known for almost 100 years as one of the most interesting
botanical sites in the county. A rare community with numerous rare and scarce plant species, suggesting
[similar to] them rare floras of the Coastal Plains,, is found here. Rare birds and insects are also reported
for the area."
The UNA designation does not grant protection to the SHS or the other designated unique natural areas, it
only provides recognition of the areas natural resource value for planning purposes. According to the
report "It is a concern ....... that the publication of this report will not only improve the ability of the
community to plan for and protect these sites, but will also increase the amount of visitation [these] areas
may receive. any of these sites cannot stand much visitation. However, it is much more likely that
without planning many of these sites will be destroyed because of careless development."
Excerpts of the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council's, 1990 Unique Natural Areas
report, describing the South Hill Swamp,can be found in Appendix B of this report.
Results of the SHS Area Botanical Study
..................
While the SHS's ecological importance is well known and documented in the Tompkins County EMC
UNA report and elsewhere, the Town realized that a more complete inventory of its ecological features
6
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arag2 uo paspq slupld aql of pouBtssu aru sapoa kitap-[ -satltunwwoo luuld uowwoo aaow pug alga aql
gloq ut inaoo pug uaju,Cpnls aql lnogSnoagl paaalleos ale sluuld osagj -(I algp.L)molaq paistl an goigm
`sluuld ooaeos pug aaea jo satoads gZ Sutpnlaut `eaae Xpnis aql ut pagtivapt wam satoads weld snoaawnx
-spuulpoom polsaaoj agi pug suaaaeq undo aaow oql uaaA% ag aietpawaaiut A[[eanionzls se pagposap
aau spuelpoom gigaq aqi `sataads weld jo swam ul •sdozoino !loon snoaawnu utpiuoo ipgi Nooapaq
aaho slios mollegs gltm`spueldn uo sin000 gotgm puplpoom gluaq luo-outd goltd Q pug tsgnigs mol
,Cuuw gltm Cdougo undo aaow p utuma puu silos A31ooa `altlaajut `pautrip-llom uo fttunoao se poquosap
`suaaauq glgaq-outd q:)pd(Z `.sataads sail luuutuaop agl se s�leo altgm uZ tems suteiuoo pug ` utpooU
luuosuas saouauadxa It `.algel aaium pagotad ,C[Irool a st aaagi aragm `saptslllq paisaaoj uo suoxssaadap
mollegs ut Sutaan000 se pagtaosap st gotgm`dwgms �luo aitgm paq:)iad (I :Sutmolloj aqi apnlout
Pug `[I!H glnoS uo sistxa 1pgl/Citsaantp agl aie.tisnl[t oslp pagtluapt aaam iugi satltunwwoo luotoolooa
aaea aq L 'SHS oqi jo sAanans tiagi ut sataads iuuld aivi snoaawnu pug sop!unwwoo weld leoiSol000
am aaagl paUpuapt upwiso pug,CalsaM `ainspaai luotueloq u se uotluindai s,SHS gltm lualstsuOD
•uaap,Cpnis SHS aqi utgltm jawpaq pasodxa pug Isisaaoj gimoa2 plo`spuupom jo uotluool aql paUtluapt
oslg upwlso pug 4;)Is;DM (y xtpuaddd ut laodai uuwiso/,CalsaAA, ogi aas Iloo gouo lnoge uotleuuojut
oUtoads wow ao,g) '(6-9 '213) doll inoqu pauaaostp/Cagl uotlumiojut ,Cltunwwoo lueld pug satoads
iueld otp pug `(S 'Btd) s[[ao„fotunwwoo lueld j,Caolstq asnpuul luaaajjtp auo-,Ciatgl aql Sut,Cjguapt sdew
alp laodaa stgi ut papnloul `«Ilan„eaae-qns gaga of anbtun sainipaj 1panipu aqi Wutztaalouaego antle.ueu
g paptnoid XalsoAN pun upwiso pug paaagwnu sum eaau gaug •ga.tu oqi jo Zolsiq asn-puel-lte�!:fexsntl
pug uotipia2an oqi uo pasuq sualu poluoapwap pug pagpuopt ,CalsoM,, pug uewlso ,Canans itagi uI
•molaq portluwwns sgutpug Xietutid magi ql! m `d xtpuoddb ut pagoellu aag
slaodai asogj 'L66I ngoloo ut iaodal luluawalddns u Puu`9661 aagtuo3o(l ut umoj_,aqi of satltunwwoa
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66/Z I/Z WIC
Draft 2/12/99
.r—s Goww�f E;MG-aad444o-Cornell Plantations, and the codes are now used by Tompkins County
Department of Planning.
.........................................
Table 1
Rare and Scarce Plant Species in the SHS Study Area
Plant Species Found On SHS Common Name Rarity Codes
Aroma arbutifolia red chokeberry L3, rarity Codes Defined
Antennariaplantaginifolia var. L2 Local Rank- rarity of the species
parlinii Lh r
oughoai Cayuga Lake 8asina
Aronia melanociarpa back chokecherry W Li
Asterpaternus white-topped aster L3 Species found on only one site in the
Cayuga Lake Basin(CLB),
Carex annectens sedge U L2
Species found on 2 to 5 sites in CLB,
Care x complanata var. hirsuia sedge L3, G5, S I Lj
Care.yflaccosperma var. glaucous sedge U, G5, S I species found an 6-15 sites in CLB,
LA
glatecodea Species that are locally abundant
Carexfolliculata sedge U
Goodyera tesselata Loddiges' rattlesnake L3 StaleRank. rarity of the species
plantain throughout New York State:
Hedyolis caerulea bluets U si
Habenariaflava tuberculed orchid L3 Critically imperiled inNYS because of
Linum virginianum yellow wild flax L3 extreme rarity,found on 5 or fewer
sites,
S2
Lyonia ligustrina maleberry L3 Imperiled inNYS because of rarity,
Malus coronaria American crabapple L3 found on 6-20 slim
Nyssa sylvatica tupelo or black um L3 S3
Rare in NYS,found on 21-100 sites,
Ophioglossum vulgaturn adder's tongue fern L2 S4
Pinus rigida pitch pine U Apparently secure in N YS.
Porteranthus trifolialus Bowman's root or L3 Global Rank-rarity nr the�sp
Indian physic
Prunus pumila var. cuneala dwarf cherry L1, G5, S1 GI
Critically imperiled,found on 5 or
fewer sites globally,
Pyenanthemum lenuifiblium narrow-leaf U G2
mountain mint Imperiled throughout its range due to
uet-cus bicolor swamp L3 G3
rarity,found on 6-20 sites globally,
Q
white oak Either very rare and local throughout
its range,found on 21-100 sites,
Quercus coccinea scarlet oak L3 its
Apparently secure throughout its
Scirpus vei-ecundus woodland club rush L2 range,but possible rare In parts.
G5
Demonstrably secure throughout its
Sphagnum compactum L1, L2 range,however it may be rare in
certain areas.
Violafimbriatula ovate-leaved violet L3
Viola pahnota palmate violet U ..........................
Viburnum rafinesquianuni downy arrow wood L3
zilia aptera heart-leaved L3
alexanders
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been blazed through some of the rare ecological communities. These trail cuts are conducive to the
introduction of invasive plant species, which could then rapidly spread throughout the area. Their report
also suggested the potential impacts this could have on surface water movements. Ostman and Wesley
expressed concern about the location of the proposed Town park site (Fig. 10) situated adjacent to the
study area, along its western border, and north of East King Road. Scattered along the hedgerow which.
crosses east-west throug this proposed park site they discovered two varieties
of rare sedge species(Carex complanata var. hirswa, and Care.rflaccospernia var. glaucodea). Because
of these discoveries they suggested setting aside part of the park site as a natural area for species
protection, or perferabl shifting the park sit to avoid locations where rare plants have
been identified.
Wesley and Ostman support the designation of a protective buffer around the SHS. Within this buffer
they recommended allowing no structures or excavation , and implementing management practices that
would U;nU-_RLohibit herbicide and pesticide use,4w planting-Qf invasive exotic plants, and free
roaming pets.
Town of Ithaca Conservation Board's Proposal for SHS Area
Figure 9 presents the Conservation Board's proposal for a protectiorkve4444"43L--Zoneon South Hill.
The boundary encompasses approximately 317 acres of area lying south of the Ithaca College campus
and north of E. King Road. This area was identified after a review of the survey work completed by
Wesley and Ostman,as well as a review of other pertinent information, such as topography, and site
visits by CB
12
Draft 2/12/99
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Draft 2/12/99
members. In general, the CB's proposal seeks to protect the ecologically significant plants and plant
communities on SHS, as well as the wetlands,and areas of steep slopes and erodible soils. Where
practicable, the CB's proposal incorporates a buffer between these sensitive lands and important plant
species,and areas that have experienced, or will likely experience future development.
The southern-most section of the proposed boundary, beginning along*a4-"East King Road and
extending some xx feet to the north, contains the well-known Clausen Swamp. As described earlier, this
bowl shaped wetland area (Fig. 2),44n&i&tg- includes of several rare ecological communities(Fig, 5), and
is unquestionably an important component of the SHS Unique Natural Area designation. The boundary
drawn along E. King Road, and along the east and west sides of the Claussen Swamp, including the
border with the Deer Run Subdivision, serves to provide protection to this wetland ecosystem and its
associated upland vegetation. Moving further along to the east,the boundary ends at the property
boundary of Frank Hornbrook, and moves in a northeastern direction to protect a stand of mature
woodlands and an area of small wetlands that exist along the toe of the slope break. This area also
encompasses a swath of erodible soil. The boundary continues to follow along, approximately, the 1030
foot contour, then moves northwesterly to continue to include the toe of the slope break, areas of erodible
soil, and small pockets of wetlands. This is followed along the northwest to the southern boundary of
the IC campus development, to a stand of Appalachian oak-hickory forest(about the mid-point of cell
No. 6 on Figure 5). From there the boundary proceeds in a southwesterly direction, still skirting the
southern boundary of the IC campus and the IC athletic fields,to include several very important areas,
including forest stands of the rare pitch pine-heath community, a second area of the rare perched swamp
white oak swamp community, and areas of successional northern hardwoods that include numerous rare
and scarce species. The boundary then moves toward the southeast,to include and provide some buffer
protection to the southern extent of these same rare communities. From there the boundary moves
southerly to East King Rd. to encompass the eastern edge of those communities described at the
beginning.
This protection proposal for SS, while including well over half of the area designated as a Unique
Natural Area by Tompkins County, does exclude some land that is currently designated,as a UNA(Fig.
10). The reason for this difference is due either to the fact that the lands excluded from consideration are
in various states of development and were no longer perceived as warranting protection,or are too
disconnected by development activities, from the core region that protection is being sought after, to be
14
Draft 2/121'99
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included. One such area, not included as part of the current protection proposal but designated as a UNA,
is now part of the Deer Run subdivision. Another area, in the western most part of the SHS UNA, is part
of College Circle development, and Ithaca College's athletic facilities. A large section of land in the
southwest portion of the UNA was also excluded from the current proposal. According to the Ostrnan
and Wesley report,the DNA's boundary is more expansive in this area because of the interest in
including outlying pockets of interesting vegetation and rare plants scattered across the hill. For
instance, spockets of rare plants are reported to occur in an open area near the College Circle
development and in the proposed town park. However, much of this portion of the UNA is ,,,,,4co4r„ 44
^„ *„ w has re-ontly been used for agricultural purposes,and consists largely off meadow and
shrub thickets fit, with the exception of a pocket of planted pine trees. For this reason,-tmuch of
this former agricultural land was omitted from consideration
fields The CB is seeking to include a contiguous
area where protective measures can be applied more easily.
The CB proposal also includes some important ecological areas that had not previously been identified in
the UNA survey,along the proposal's northeastern boundary. The north**;*,qd-eastern edgos section of
the protection 1aoopda*y proposal are not currently UNA areas,yet these areas have been identified as
containing either, rare and scarce plants, wetlands, old growth trees, highly erodible soils, and/or steep
15
Draft 2/12/99
slopes. 'The reason for this discrepancy is that LYNA surveys were quite broad in scope and did not entail
the detail 4hat of the subsequent inventory44g work that Ostman and Wesley performed for the Town's
survey. Ostman and Wesley made numerous field visits and surveyed the sites during more than one
season and thus had more opportunity to identify these important sites,
Land Ownership of the SHS Area
The majority of the land in the SHS area, under consideration for protection, is owned by Cornell
University and Ithaca College; however,eight other landowners could be affected. The following,table
provides a list of property owners, by tax parcel,whose land is either partially or entirely within the
proposed conservation boundary.
Map Tax Parcel Owner Total Approximate Acreage
Number Acreage within the boundary
1 41,-1-30.2 Ithaca College 154.36 19
2 42.-1-9.2 Ithaca College 80.70 15
3 42.-1-13.2 Ithaca College 26.09 3
4 42.-1-13.1 Ithaca College 71.91 68
5 50.-1-5.83 Ithaca College 40 21
6 43.-1-3.4 Lenora Ann Monkerneyer 49.8 23
7 50.-1-6.3 Ithaca College 69.88 66
8 50.-1-5.82 Ithaca College 47,51 24
9 S0.-I-4,6 Christopher& Camila Faraday 11.33 3
10 50.-1-6.4 Cornell University .66 .66
11 43.-1-3.32 Evan Monkemeyer 24.12 7
12 43.-1-4 Ithaca College 24.0 7
13 44.-1-122.1 Cornell University 39.4 39.4
14 44.-1-123 Town of Ithaca L5 1.5
15 44.-I-5.2 Frank W. Ho brook X x
16 44.-1-3 Cornell University 6.15 6.15
17 44.-1-1 Ruth E. Poole 2.13 1
18 44.-1-2 Joseph A. el low 3A 2
19 44.4-4313 Cornell University 4.82 4.82
20 44.2-1-2 Hospicare Foundation Inc. 10.86 4
16
Draft 2/12/99
[optional Land Ownership Table different format than above, clearer???�
Property fawner Tax Parcel Total Acreage Approximate Acreage Map Number
Number of Property within the Boundary (Figure 11)
Cornell University 44.-1-122.1 39.4 39.4 13
Comell University 44.4-3 6.15 6.15 16
Comell University 44.-1-4.313 4.82 4.82 19
Cornell University 50.-1-6.4 .66 .66 10
Faraday, C. and C. 50.-1-4.6 11.33 3 9
Hornbrook, F. W. 44.-1-5.2 xxx xxxx 15
Hospicare Foundation Inc. 44.2-1-2 10.86 4 20
Ithaca College 41.-1-30.2 154.36 19 1
Ithaca College 42.-1-9.2 80.70 15 2
Ithaca College 42.-1-13.2 26.09 3 3
Ithaca College 42.-1-13.1 71.91 68 4
Ithaca College 50.-1-5.83 40 21 5
Ithaca College 50.-1-6.3 69.88 66 7
Ithaca College 50.-1-5.82 47.51 24 8
Ithaca College 43.-1-4 24.0 7 12
Monkemeyer, L. A. 43.-1-3.4 49.8 23 6
Monkemeyer, E. 43.-1-3.32 24.12 7 11
Poole,R. E. 44.-1-1 2.13 1 17
Smellow,J.A. 44.-1-2 3.4 2 18
Town of Ithaca 44.-1-123 1.5 1.5 14
17
Draft 2/12/99
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Mechanisms for Protecting SHS
4*4&Entil the mid-1980's, residential development on South Hill was relatively limited and scattered. Q
After 1985, however, several large-scale developments, including Deer Run,Chase Farm, and College
Circle„brought significant changes to this area. With the current zoning on South Hill, these
development trends are anticipated to continue. Well over half of the area proposed for protection is
currently zoned R15 (allowing.approximately 3 houses per acre), and the remaining land to the west is
zoned R-3 0 (allowing approximately 1 house per acre) (see Figure 124). -4mw wWithout adequate
measures of protection, concentrated development is likely to encroachmew into the SHS_
Though SHS is designated as a Unique Natural Area,the UNA designation offers no legal protection for
tho-S", As described earlier, the UNA designation serves only to inforrn the community of an
environmentally significant area that merits protection. The only protection currently afforded the SHS,
occurs on the land owned by Cornell University. Managed by Cornell Plantations, the University
currently holds 51 acres for the specific purpose of protecting the Clausen Sway-op.
The Conservation Board's recommended strategy for protecting the SHS is to establish a Conservation
District. This is also consistent with the Town of Ithaca's Park, Recreation, and.Open Space Plan, The
18
Draft 2/12/99
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purpose of the Conservation District is to reduce residential densities and to limit land uses in such a way
that development can occur with minimal environmental impacts. Currently, the only other Conservation
District in the Town is the Six Mile Creek Conservation District. Specifics for a South Hill Swamp
Conservation District Zone wouldneed to be worked out, and the specific provisions and restrictions may
need to be tailored to meet the needs of the South Hill area. For instance, some areas-ems inSHS may be
more sensitive to development than other areas, and may warrant a greater level of protection. A strategy
that includes different zones of protection on SHS could be considered. Bw; call, Given the large
size of the parcels, and the fact that most of the land is in the hands of a few large land holders, a
Conservation District is considered to be a workable approach.
Another mechanism that is used to preserve land is the purchase of development rights(PDR). The Town
of Ithaca is currently in the process of developing a PDR program. This program works whereby the
Town purchases the rights to develop land, thereby preserving the land in its current state and
compensating the owner for the restrictions placed on any future development. The land itself is not
purchased,only the development rights. While this mechanism would be cost prohibitive for the entire
SHS proposal, a small parcel was identified in the Town of Ithaca Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
19
Draft 2/12/99
Plan as warranting PDR. This 24 acre parcel currently owned by Ithaca College, no. 12 on
Fig 12)adjacent to the Claussen Swamp on the west, was selected because of its sensitive location,and
that it was feared that any amount of development on this parcel could pose significant risks to the
wetland ecosystem.
As Ithaca College(IC) is the largest land holder on the South Hill, opportunities for more significant
protectio that would largely preclude further development may be possible if IC were willing to set
aside the area for passive uses, such as hiking and nature study(as it is used now). IC is currently in the
process of developing a long range Master Plan for the school, and an opportunity may exist for the
Town of Ithaca to work with IC, to set aside the majority of SHS as a natural area. This would offer the
greatest protection for SHS, and could serve as an important asset to both Ithaca College and the Town.
Summary
In summary, SHS is a significant asset of the Town of Ithaca. A botanical treasure that has been
recognized for over one hundred years, it 4&-also provides habitat to numerous wildlife species, including
several rare species. Recent surveys undertaken by botanists, Nancy Ostman, PhD. and Robert Wesley
only further underscore the importance of the South Hill area in to of its significant natural
amenities, concluding that it represents one of the most important Unique Natural Areas in the Town of
Ithaca. The Conservation Board believes that South Hill Swamp deserves permanent protection to insure
its integrity and value to future generations. The Town of Ithaca has shown its commitment to protecting
the SHS in the Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan, It is our hope that this report will expedite-4s
implementatiom. of necessary and appropriate measures, such as those suggested in this report, to effect
such,protection.
Bibliography
Dirig, Robert, Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, Personal communication, January
15, 1999.
Dudley, William R., 1886, The Cayuga Flora.
New York Natural heritage Program, New York Rare Plant Status List, Edited by
Stephen M. Young, January 1996.
Ostman, Nancy, Cornell Plantations Quarterly, Protecting a Small Natural Area; A High-
Risk Enterprise, 1983.
Shapiro, Arthur M. Butterflies and Skippers of New York State, Cornell University
Agricultural Experiment Station, Search 1974, Vol. 4 No. 3.
Tompkins County Unique Natural Areas
Weigand, Karl M. and Eames, Arthur J., 1926, The Flora of the Cayuga Lake Basin, New
York,Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station.