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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2024-12-05 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Meeting December 5, 2024, 5:30 p.m. (In Person at Town Hall and via Zoom Video Conference) Final Minutes Members present: Lori Brewer (Chair), Frank A. Cantone (Vice-Chair), James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Ingrid Zabel Staff present: Michael Smith (Senior Planner) Guests: Andrew Molnar, Daniel Seib, and Caroline Ashurst (all via Zoom). 1. Persons to be heard: The above community members urged the Conservation Board (CB) to oppose construction of the 138-foot Verizon cell tower at Wiedmaier Court. The Town Zoning Board of Appeals is currently reviewing Verizon's application. The tower would present an eye sore, decrease property values, impact wildlife, affect survival of endangered species, and impose harmful health effects of people living at Wiedmaier Court. Alternative options exist (e.g., smaller cells on existing poles), but Verizon is focused on the proposed site and will not consider other options. The tower would create precedence for other such disruptive projects in the Town. Additionally, community members cited a low level of decorum at Planning Board meetings. 2. Members comments/concerns: a. The Town Planning Board has already approved the site plan for the Verizon cell tower. The Zoning Board has yet to approve the height variance, which allows a maximum of 30 feet. The CB will submit a letter to the Zoning Board asking it to reject any height variance. b. Related to the Field Hockey project, Eva asked if Cornell has provided any comprehensive plan for the eastern edge of campus, particularly east of East Hill Plaza toward Game Farm Road. 3. Environmental Review Committee Update: a. The ERC reviewed the proposed generator project at Cayuga Medical Center and did not identify any concerns. b. The Planning Board is currently reviewing the sketch plan for the Cornell field hockey site along Game Farm Road. The Board has not determined what level of environmental review will be required for the project. Cornell indicated that the plastic carpet proposed for the field hockey site will not contain any infill (e.g., shredded tires). However, shearing of the carpet fibers during use is still a concern. The Town's Planning Committee discussed the moratorium idea on the use of plastic carpets, based on the CB letter to the Town Board. C. Lori presented two research studies - Combined toxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances and microplastics on the sentinel species Daphnia magna: Implications for freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Pollution 363 (part 1), 15 December 2024,125133; Making invisible chemicals used in plastic materials visible. eBioMedicine 2024 November, 109:105422. d. Ingrid contacted a lab at Cornell that measures PFAS and provided some locations for measurement. No word of any action. Page 1 of 2 4. Chair& Coordinator Reports: Coordinator report: a. Maplewood 2 site plan will be on the Planning Board's 12 December agenda. b. Safestreetstompkins.com - Tompkins County and ten municipalities have come together to prepare a comprehensive Safe Streets for All Joint Safety Action Plan and there are a couple of public meetings coming up. 5. Approval of minutes from November 2024 meeting: James moved and Lori seconded. All approved. 6. Discussion of Conservation Board member recruitment ideas: a. Mike suggested that the CB place an information table in Town Hall lobby as a recruitment tool for when people come to pay taxes in person for the month of January. b. The Town considers the CB as a full board at nine members, of which five is needed for a quorum. With the resignation of Mike R. we only have five members. Do we wish to change the number of CB members to seven, for example, to reduce pressure for quorum? If we get a lot of interest in the future, it could always be changed back to nine members for a full board, and there is always the option of having more associate members. Mike S. will consult with the Town attorney and work with the Town Board to make the change. 7. Regular reports and updates: a. Scenic Resources: No updates. b. Communications Committee: Facebook statistics (e.g., post engagements, likes) trended downward over the last month. C. Tompkins County EMC: No regular EMC meeting this month, but there was a special public meeting on UNA's. Ingrid forwarded an email regarding Cargill d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: Volunteers did water sampling on November 191". Beaver pond has been created at a site James usually uses. Samples are being analyzed. e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program: Volunteers have been visiting South Hill Swamp on South Hill to remove invasive plants that have been moving in. On the south bank of Beebe Lake at the toboggan slope, volunteers were planting native trees where they previously killed all the invasives. 8. Other business: a. Members approved the 2025 meeting schedule (James moved and Ingrid seconded). January's meeting is scheduled for 16 January instead of 2 January. b. Chair and vice-chair for 2025: Lori Brewer was recommended as chair (James moved and Frank seconded), and Frank Cantone was voted as vice-chair (Ingrid moved and Lori seconded). 9. Review 2024 Work Goals: a. Postponed until January 2025 meeting. 10. Adjourn: at 7:00 pm Minutes drafted by Frank A. Cantone. Page 2 of 2