HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-28
Town of Dryden Conservation Board
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Dryden Town Hall
93 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053
1. Call to order (7:00 p.m.) - C. Smith 1
Present: Smith, Ryan, Prentiss, Beck, Dodici, Schutt, Richmond, Sherman, Munkenbeck 2
Absent: n/a 3
Liaison: David Weinstein (Planning Board) 4
Ex officio: J. Nicholson (Planning Department), L. Lavine (Town Board), S. Bissen (EMC) 5
Guests: Sharon Anderson (CCE), and C. Anderson (Planning Board) 6
7
2. Swearing in of newly appointed and re-appointed members - Bambi Avery (Town Clerk) 8
9
3. Completion of Record of Attendance by Members and Observers 10
Attendance was passed around amongst the board members. 11
12
4. Review and approval of minutes from 10 December 2013 Meeting 13
Line 23- “melding” not molding 14
Smith requested a motion to approve the minutes. 15
Beck moves. 16
Prentiss seconds. 17
All approve. 18
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5. Citizens’ privilege (5 minutes, or less, per person, please) 20
21
6. Additions to agenda? Sharon Anderson, CCE 22
Beck introduces the notion of holding a public meeting/discussion concerning the issue of property rights, and 23
finding someone to facilitate or lead this effort. Sharon Anderson presents the idea of involving Cornell 24
Cooperative Extension and suggests that CCE might be a good fit to help communities facing a controversial 25
issue to move forward. Ms. Anderson is seeking information on the issue rather than bringing a proposal to the 26
table. Schutt suggests that there is a lack of knowledge on the law, and the role of government and perceptions 27
are a part of the problem. Understanding the extent of the laws to help frame the issue would be helpful. Smith 28
suggests there might be a concern of the definitions and terms associated. Ms. Anderson looks at this process 29
as a forum; a means of finding common ground. Richmond states that discussion over property rights started 30
with the CEA’s and the absence of understanding a broader point of view from both sides, including the 31
agricultural community. Prentiss states that polarized perceptions coming from the community will hinder 32
having a discussion. Beck suggests that a panel would be a good start. Sherman states that it’s important to 33
have representatives from the organizations responsible for writing law and policy to be present. Ms. 34
Anderson suggests that it might be a good idea to speak with individuals from other viewpoints to see if this 35
would be a good idea. 36
37
7. Reports and Updates (briefly, 3-5 minutes, please) 38
a. Town Board - Linda Lavine 39
No report. 40
41
b. Town Planning Board - David Weinstein 42
Weinstein reports that the Planning Board is having discussions regarding a fill ordinance. The Board is 43
not moving forward with an ordinance, but rather looking at preliminary ideas to incorporate fill into the 44
stormwater law. The Board has not come to any conclusion about the best path to move forward. 45
46
Weinstein sent the Planning Board review of the Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives to the CB. The 47
Planning Board is asking the CB to look specifically at item number 6 -- open space and environmental 48
protection. The Board suggests that a number of items are not “complete”; rather, they need to be 49
continued or are ongoing. 50
51
c. Tompkins County EMC - Steve Bissen 52
Bissen reports that there was damage to the Treman Gorge Trail due to the spring rain events; should be 53
opened for Memorial Day. The Allen Treman Marina has Master Plan that soon will be complete which 54
will include a solar array. Other topics include deer management, mowing through the parks, easements 55
acquired for the Black Diamond Trail, redesign of the Taughannock overlook, and potential creation for a 56
state forest in Lansing. 57
58
d. Town Board Agriculture Advisory Committee - Craig Schutt 59
The Ag Committee met this month and reviewed the Draft Farmland Protection Plan grant and the 60
agricultural section of the Comprehensive Plan. 61
62
e. Other Town Boards and Commissions - Jane Nicholson 63
No report. 64
65
8. Recommendation to Town Board for Conservation Board Chair during 2014 66
After a brief discussion Smith requests a motion to recommend Bob Beck as the new Chair of the 67
Conservation Board. 68
Richmond moves the motion. 69
Schutt seconds. 70
All approve. 71
72
9. Old business 73
a. Future meeting of multiple town boards and commissions - J. Nicholson 74
No date has been set for this meeting. 75
76
b. Defining Open Space - Group Discussion (See next page.) 77
This definition will be the back drop for the town-wide discussion. It will need to be supported by the 78
Town Board. Prentiss questions why historic resources are included in the definition. Munkenbeck 79
suggests that cemeteries were the original parks. Smith states that they are ideal for bird watching. 80
Weinstein states that they are also good view sheds. Beck suggests adding wetlands in line four before 81
streams. 82
83
Smith asks for a motion to send the Open Space definition to the Planning Department to distribute to the 84
other boards for their review and feedback. 85
Richmond motions. 86
Schutt seconds the motion. 87
All approve. 88
89
10. New business 90
a. Resolution proposed by C. Smith, in support of Planning Board Resolution of 23 October 2013: Be it 91
resolved that the Conservation Board joins with the Planning Board in urging the Dryden Town Board to 92
move expeditiously and with due diligence to (1) re-instate funding for a full-time Director of the Town 93
Planning Department, (2) develop a job description for said position, and (3) seek a certified professional 94
planner, with demonstrated expertise in environmental planning and economic development, to fill the 95
position at the earliest possible date in 2014. 96
97
A job description has been sent around by the Planning Board. The description was developed previously. 98
person on staff. 99
100
101
Smith entertains a motion with a change after number (2) from develop to finalize. 102
Prentiss seconds. Schutt asks if this is a budget issue. Lavine states that this is a matter of balancing the 103
budget. 104
Richmond states that the board is encouraging the Town Board to move forward. 105
All approve. 106
One abstention by Munkenbeck 107
108
Weinstein recommends that the Board consider keeping the GIS position. Smith suggests that this be 109
considered at a future date. 110
111
b. New York Rural Water Association Program- Nicholson 112
Nicholson reports that the Town Board has provided a resolution for water resource planning and that this 113
program would provide vital information for the Open Space Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and other planning 114
initiatives. 115
116
117
11. Adjourn 118
119
Schutt makes a motion to adjourn the meeting. 120
Beck seconds the motion. 121
All in favor. 122
123
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Recorded and submitted by J. Nicholson, Interim Director of Planning 125
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NOTE: Date for next meeting is 25 February 2014. 127
128
NYSDEC Open Space Definition (from 2009 New York State Open Space Conservation Plan, 129
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/47990.html ): 130
131
Open space is defined as land which is not intensively developed 132
for residential, commercial, industrial or institutional use. Open 133
space can be publicly or privately owned. It includes agricultural 134
and forest land, undeveloped coastal and estuarine lands, 135
undeveloped scenic lands, public parks and preserves. It also 136
includes water bodies such as lakes and bays. What land is defined 137
as open space depends in part on its surroundings. A vacant lot or 138
a small marsh can be open space in a big city. A narrow corridor 139
or pathway for walking or bicycling is open space even though it is 140
surrounded by developed areas. And while not strictly open space, 141
this Plan also discusses cultural and historic resources which, 142
along with open space, are part of the heritage of New York State. 143
144
145
Draft Conservation Board Open Space Definition, from Discussion of 10 December 2013: 146
147
Open space is defined as land which is not developed for residential, commercial, 148
industrial, or institutional use. Open space can be publicly or privately owned. It includes 149
agricultural and forest lands, undeveloped scenic lands, public parks, preserves, and hiking 150
trails. It also includes aquatic resources such as wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes. What 151
land is defined as open space depends in part on its surroundings. A vacant lot, a small 152
wetland, or a stream corridor can be open space in a hamlet, village, or town. A narrow 153
corridor or pathway for walking, bicycling, horseback riding, or snowmobiling is open 154
space, even though it may be surrounded by developed areas. Open space also can 155
include, but is not restricted to, the air above the land, groundwater recharge areas, or 156
subterranean spaces (e.g caves) beneath the surface of the land. And while not strictly 157
open space, this Plan discusses cultural and historic resources (e.g cemeteries) which, 158
along with open space, are part of the heritage of the Town of Dryden. 159