HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-24Meeting Notes -
February 24, 2009
Conservation Board
Chair: Nancy Munkenbeck
Craig Schutt
Bob Beck
Charlie Smith
Steve Bissen
Milo Richmond
Stan Marcus
Bard Prentiss
Board L,iasion:
David Maltar
Town Environmental Planner: Dan Kwas-
nowski
93 East Main Strcct
Dryden, NY 13653
T 607 844.8888
F 607 844 -SODS
dank- @dr*n.ny.us
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Present: Nancy M., Craig S., Bob B., Charlie S.,Steve B., Mike R., Stan M., Bard P.,
Dave Makar, Dan Kwasnowski,
Guest: Mary Ann Sumner, Hillary Lambert, Stefan Wagner, ?.
I'm adding a section here called old business to remind the CB what they said they
were going to do in the previous month.
Old Business (not discussed during the meeting)
• Jan, 2009 - The CB passed a resolution endorsing a letter to be sent to the
Governor requesting that the real estate tax continue to fund the Environ-
mental Protection Fund, and that the state maintain the current funding level.
• Open Seat = The open seat should be announced in the newspaper, again.
Decision Summary:
No decisions were voted on during the February meeting.
1. Presentation by Scott Doyle: Scott Doyle was not able to attend the meeting, but
said the department was still gathering information and was planning a meeting,
likely at the town hall, in the spring.
2. Agenda changes: Move Verizon Wireless portion of meeting before Riparian
Buffer Law.
3. EMC Report: Stan Markus reported that the EMC has a new Chair, Amy Risen,
and that Stan has chosen to sit on the Invasive Species committee because of his
interest in the Emerald Ash Borer, Steve Bissen indicated he might be interested in
sitting on a committee as well.
4. Verizon Wireless Tower
There was a long discussion of the Verizon Wireless Tower proposed for the Uhl
property near the corner of Sapsucker Woods Road, and Hanshaw Road. The pro=
® ject is before the Town Board for a Special Use Permit under the town's Telecom-
munications Towers Local Law.
Previously (January, 2009) the Conservation Board determined that at the proposed
height (114 feet) with no lighting or guy wires there appeared to be no wildlife im-
pact, and that the proposal did not appear to have any other obvious environmental
impacts, recognizing that the neighborhood was not happy or comfortable with the
proposal, the CB had no specific comment on the project.
Before the meeting, two members relayed reports, one by email from a local expert
and the other a compendium of studies, that further determined that impacts to birds
and bats. These are listed at the end of these notes.
• During the meeting, residents from the Cardinal Drive neighborhood, and the Town
of Ithaca expressed their concerns over the proximity of the project to Unique Natu-
ral Areas, and especially their neighborhood, and relayed the concern of the owner
of Ludgate's farm market on Hanshaw Road. They also still question the need for
the tower in spite of the explanation provided by Verizon to the Town Board during
the January meeting.
The CB asked several questions, and noted several concerns regarding the project,
such as:
• What is the benefit to the Town of Dryden?
• The tower is located near one of the very few places anywhere that makes a
concerted effort to study birds. Is this tower really necessary, and is it worth
the risk to that facilities mission?
• It would seem homes are more invasive and threatening to wildlife than the
tower; is there a real impact from the tower?
• Have they ( Verizon) presented alternative sites?
• When does an installation like this become a commercial facility in a residen-
tial area?
• What is the reasonableness of colocation on this facility? Not can someone
® do it, but will they?