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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-26Dryden Conservation Board February 26, 2019 Page 1 of 4 Dryden Conservation Board February 26, 2019 Members Present: Peter Davies (chair), Bob Beck, Anne Clark, Gian Dodici, Craig Schutt, David Wilson, Tim Woods, Jeanne Grace, Milo Richmond (alternate) Absent: Nancy Munkenbeck Liaisons: None present The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm. Review and approval of minutes dated January 29, 2019 C. Schutt made a motion to approve the minutes as written, G. Dodici seconded the motion, minutes were unanimously approved. Reports and updates Environmental Management Council (EMC) – Steve Bissen See attached report Dryden Rail Trail – B. Beck • We are applying for two grants through the County Planning Department. • Reminder that on May 11, 2019 we are still planning on having a grand opening/celebration for the trail section between Dryden and Freeville. M. Richmond inquired as to the price of having a bench with a name on it versus some of the other options. He has had people asking him about it. B. Beck explained that a resolution was adopted last year by the town board approving their memorial donation plan. The donation would be $800 per bench for an 8”X3” plaque inscribed with approved wording. The top rail will be routed with Dryden Rail Trail’s name and the plaque will go on the second board. We already have two out of seven benches installed with plaques. We have three more requests pending that won’t be installed until another section of trail is opened. Donations are potentially tax deductible. OLD BUSINESS Discussion and approval of the Executive Summary and Action Plan for the Natural Resources Conservation Plan. C. Schutt advised the board that the Town of Dryden already has residential development guidelines. There are sections that talk about ag land, rural land, wetlands, and conservation, and there are diagrams to recommend how you might do development in the town. M. Richmond suggested we work through our recommendations and then note on it that the Residential Development Design Guidelines exists. C. Schutt went to the County Ag Summit today and collected a lot of good information regarding climate change, strategies for farmers and communities. He will send the folder of information around for everyone to look at if they are interested. Dryden Conservation Board February 26, 2019 Page 2 of 4 P. Davies read down through the recommendations line-by-line, discussions took place, and a final recommendation document was completed. P. Davies made a motion to pass the following resolution: RESOLUTION #2 of 2019 from the Town of Dryden Conservation Board to the Dryden Town Board regarding a Natural Resources Action Plan WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden Conservation Board is empowered to make recommendations to the Dryden Town Board; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Dryden Conservation Board recommends that the Dryden Town Board and other Town agencies consider the following: Natural Resources Action Plan Recommendations by the Town of Dryden Conservation Board for actions by the Dryden Town Board and other Town agencies in line with the Natural Resources Conservation Plan adopted by the Town Board in January 2018 • Heighten local awareness of the importance of conservation in any Town communication with the media or the Town residents. • Consider environmental concerns early in any planning process, with sufficient time for input. The opinion of the Conservation Board should be sought (e.g. via SEQR) as soon as any development with possible environmental consequences is considered. • Maintain forests in flood plains with intact vegetation and undisturbed forested floors wherever possible. • Protect wetlands and streams from disturbance, and maintain buffer zones around water courses. • In floodplains, ensure resilient land uses that can withstand moderate to severe flooding whenever possible. • Minimize ditch erosion through the implementation of best management practices for ditch maintenance and culvert installation. Design, install, and retrofit culverts to maintain the continuity of stream gradients and substrates. • Design new culverts and bridges and retrofit existing ones to accommodate storms of 200 year or 500-year intensity in anticipation of more frequent and severe storms in coming decades. • Minimize applications of potential polluting substances, such as de-icing salts, pesticides, and the application and timing of agricultural fertilizers and animal manure to reduce runoff of nutrients. • On development sites, minimize impervious surfaces and manage stormwater in accordance with the Town of Dryden Stormwater Law. • Avoid fragmentation of large forests and large meadows; maintain landscape connect ivity in large, undisturbed contiguous configurations. Endure corridors for wildlife. • Preserve forest and vegetation cover on hillsides. • Protect significant landforms and representatives of all ecologically significant habitats. • Maintain buffer zones around ecologically sensitive areas. • Encourage sustainable forestry practices and sustainable and wildlife -friendly agricultural practices. • Direct human uses toward the least sensitive areas, minimize alteration of natural features; encourage new development along existing roads. • Encourage the planting of native species for revegetation following construction projects. Dryden Conservation Board February 26, 2019 Page 3 of 4 • Design subdivisions and new construction in a way that protects active farmland, prime farmland soils, and soils of statewide importance from the impacts of fragmentation and development. • Facilitate the safety and comfort of road users by including features such as wide shoulders on rural roads and street trees, and promote non-motorized travel to relieve traffic congestion and the reduction of air pollution. • Plan and develop additional walking, hiking and biking trails and trail connections. • Consider the impacts on scenic viewsheds in the location and design of any new structure or land use within the town; maintain intact hilltops, steep slopes, and tree canopy lines. Reference: • Town of Dryden Natural Resources Conservation Plan: Dryden-Natural Resources Conservation Plan-Final-11-16- 2017 Other References of note: • New York State an Ecosystem-Based Management Approach to Protecting Natural Resources Guide to Conservation Funding for Rural Landowners: https://www.nys-soilandwater.org/aem/forms/EBMguide.pdf • Town of Dryden Residential Development Design Guidelines: http://dryden.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ResDesignGuidelines120408.pdf Motion seconded by A. Clark, unanimously approved. Conservation Easement Monitoring Protocol – J. Grace Has completed some research and found a few references that can be used. Will put together a skeleton handbook, fill in some of the blanks, and then pass it around in the next week or two to the other members so they can prepare comments for our next meeting. I wouldn’t want it to be anything too long - maybe a few pages giving: • a background of why the town wants easements; • purpose of the easements; and, • how we are going to manage them. Maybe an inspection sheet and the protocol of how we are going to do this. P. Davies will email J. Grace the protocol he wrote so J. Grace can refer to it. She will also meet with R. Burger (Planning Dept.) to discuss. Deer Population Management T. Woods volunteered to take this topic over. He will work on this and prepare something for the April meeting. M. Richmond had previously attempted to speak to someone at DEC, but was not able to make an appointment with anyone at DEC. He will share any information he has with T. Woods. Discussion ensued regarding: • A deer management program that is up North that matches hunters up with property owners that would like their land hunted. • Areas that may or may not have a deer problem, and the areas that most likely have problems would be where hunting is prohibited. (i.e., villages) • DEC did sponsor a youth hunt this past Fall that included Tompkins County. • Getting people that want to hunt access to land that is owned by people that don’t currently hunt. Dryden Conservation Board February 26, 2019 Page 4 of 4 • To have that resource of a list of people that want their property hunted and a checklist on the Town website that they can go over with the hunter to make it easy for the person that is not an experienced hunter to know what questions to ask. For example: 1) What kind of agreement do you want to have with them? 2) Have you taken a safety course? 3) 24-hour notification in advance of hunter hunting the property. Other business B. Beck is trying to get answers on railroad history with regards to the train trench that went under George Road “Updike Cut”. T. Woods suggested he try both the Village of Freeville and Joan Manning (long-time resident of Freeville). They are gathering information for the kiosks. M. Richmond provided a contact at Cornell that could probably help find that information. Reports and Updates continued Dryden Agricultural Committee C. Schutt – See attached report Ag Committee will discuss the guidance document more at their March meeting. Other business continued M. Richmond inquired of T. Woods about the Town Board’s proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan from the Planning Board Building Energy Subcommittee. Public concept is incorrect as to what is being proposed. B. Beck - The March 7th meeting is strictly an informational meeting, no action to be taken at that meeting. M. Richmond – I discovered the County owns some forest lands and there are issues about how those should be managed and what should be done. Does the County own any forest properties in the Town of Dryden? If so, are they at risk? J. Grace – They went through all of this and got a management plan and went out to bid and there wasn’t a single logging company bidding. Discussion ensued regarding trees, disease issues, adelgid, and ash borer beetles among others. There being no further business, A. Clark made a motion to adjourn the meeting, unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm. Respectfully submitted, Chrystle Terwilliger Deputy Town Clerk