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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 1997-06-05TOWN OF ITHACA 126 EAST SENECA STREET, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850 TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783 FAX (607) 273-1704 TO: Conservation Board Members FROM: Geri Tierney, CB Coordinator DATE: 28 May 1997 RE: Our next meeting - June 5, 1997 Greetings. Enclosed is the agenda for our June 5th meeting, and draft minutes from 5/1/97. Because we ran out of time on May 15th for the draft Park Recreation and Open Space Plan, we will continue our discussion of that document at this meeting. Please bring your previously distributed copy of this plan (dated 3/10/97) with you to the meeting. Please also bring the copy of the draft letter to DEC requesting reconsideration of the South Hill Swamp that was distributed last time, and the draft minutes from 3/6/97 and 4/3/97 that were distributed for our May 1st meeting. As always, please call me at 273-1747 if you have any questions. See you on June 5th. FINAL . . . ..... ......................... ... .......... M . .. .. ............... . ..... . . . .... ... . . .... . .... ' ... .%.. .................. .. . ............... . . ........... . % . ........ . . . ..... ... ................... ......... X ........ .................. ......... .. ..... ......... .. ........ TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD 7:30 pm, Thursday, 5 June 1997 Town Hall Board Room 126 East Seneca Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (Handicap -accessible entrance ramp on West side of building) (607)273-1747 AGENDA 7:30 pm 1. Persons to be heard 7:35 pm 2. Member Concerns 7:40 pm 3. Coordinator and Chair Reports 7:45 pm 4. Committee Reports 7:55 pm 5. South Hill Swamp - update on study and consideration of draft letter to DEC 8:10 pm 6. Discussion of Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan, 3/10/97 DRAFT 9:00 pm 7. Coy Glen Project 9:15 pm 8. Business a. Approval of minutes from 3/6/97, 4/3/97, and 5/1/97 9:30 pm 6. Adjournment CB Members and Associate Members: Phil Zarriello, Chair Frank Baldwin Elizabeth deProsse Richard Fischer Kara Hagedorn Eva Hoffmann Lois Levitan Jon Meigs Barney Unsworth John Yntema. (File Name: c:\28p1an\rb\-06-05-97.agd) r TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD MINUTES FINAL 5 JUNE 1997 Approved 7/17/97 PRESENT: Chair Phil Zarriello, Vice Chair Kara Hagedorn, Elizabeth DeProsse, Richard Fischer, Eva Hoffmann, Lois Levitan, Jon Meigs, John Yntema ABSENT: Frank Baldwin, Barney Unsworth STAFF: CB Coordinator Geri Tierney (left at 8:00 pm), Assistant Town Planner George Frantz GUEST: Lachlan Chambliss Chair Phil Zarriello opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. MEMBER CONCERNS: Lois Levitan asked what happened with the Monkemeyer parkland. Geri Tierney stated that all the information is not in yet. The Planning Board approved the proposal to the location seen by the Conservation Board. The Planning Board received the Conservation Board's comments. More information needs to be gathered for the Monkemeyer proposal. The proposal has not been heard by the Town Board yet. Ms. Levitan asked what information needs to be received for this proposal. Planner Tierney stated that she is not sure what information has not yet been submitted. Chair Zarriello asked what has been happening with the Monkemeyer Garden Center on the intersection of Danby Road and East King Road. Assistant Town Planner George Frantz stated that proposal is up for preliminary site plan approval with the Planning Board within the next couple months. CHAIR REPORT: Chair Zarriello asked if Nancy Ostman and Bob Wesley received an approved contract for a new South Hill Swamp Unique Natural Area (UNA) survey. Planner Tierney responded, yes, and they have started their survey. COORDINATOR REPORT: Planner Tierney stated that the Finger Lakes National Forest is going to revise their management plan, which happens about every 15 years. They have started the process, and it will take several years to complete. They sent some information to the Town Planning Department, and invited us to participate in this project. They are looking for people to join an interest group that meets on a regular basis in Hector. If someone is interested in participating in that group, an application needs to be filled out. The Board could receive the material, and provide written comments to them. Ms. Levitan asked when would the meetings start. Planner Tierney stated that the meetings would start at the end of this month. There is going to be a meeting at the end of June, July, August, and September. These would be preliminary meetings, and a new Forest Management Plan would be drafted from there. Richard Fischer asked if the information says what the group would be discussing. Planner Tierney stated that the plan would be determining what the priorities are during the meetings. TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD FINAL MINUTES 6/5/97 The Rural Grant Program applications for 1997 are in. In past years, grants up to $5,000 were granted for four different areas: Environmental Action Grants, Land Conservation Grants, Historic Preservation Grants, and Planning Grants. Deadline for applications is July 15, 1997. If anyone has a project for one of these categories, please contact the Planning Department. The Tompkins County EMC received one of these grants last year. Ms. Levitan stated that the Finger Lakes Land Trust has received several grants. Planner Tierney handed out information on training courses the Conservation Board could consider attending. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Ms. Levitan asked what is the fill site map of the HSHP building for. Jon Meigs stated that the fill site map goes in conjunction with the Ford Hall, J -lot and M -lot parking expansion that were previously discussed. Ithaca College reacted to the comments of the extension of barriers to prevent filtration problems, and making the contour layout more natural looking. Mr. Yntema asked if the fill site map is the same for the other projects reviewed. Mr. Meigs responded, yes. Chair Zarriello stated that the plans do not say how much fill would be removed. Ms. Levitan stated that the plans say "raw fill volume = 9,300 cubic yards." Mr. Meigs stated that amount would include all projects happening on the Ithaca College Campus. Chair Zarriello stated that the Planning Board would be informed that the Conservation Board does not have any comments for the HSHP building. SOUTH HILL SWAMP SURVEY DISCUSSION: Mr. Fischer made some comments on how many birds are in the South Hill Swamp area. Mr. Fischer also told the Board about the different species that could be found in this area. Ms. Levitan asked how big of an area did he and John Confer cover for their survey. Mr. Fischer stated that they covered approximately 50 acres. Mr. Fischer also explained the different flowers he saw in this area. He would be giving the Conservation Board an update soon along with the new survey being done. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 1, 1997: MOTION by Jon Meigs, seconded by Richard Fischer: RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board hereby approves the Minutes of May 1, 1997 with the following corrections: A vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES - Zarriello, Fischer, Hagedorn, Levitan, Meigs, Yntema. NAYS - None. ABSTAIN - Hoffmann, DeProsse. The motion was declared be carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 3, 1997: Mr. Meigs asked to table the Minutes of Apri13, 1997, for corrections and additional clarification of wording. 2 TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD FINAL MINUTES 6/5/97 Chair Zarriello admitted that he did not review the minutes as well as he should have. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 6,1997: Chair Zarriello asked the Conservation Board if the Minutes of March 6, 1997, should be tabled for further clarification and corrections. The Conservation Board was in agreement to table the Minutes of March 6, 1997, until corrections and clarification have been done. DISCUSSION OF TOWN OF ITHACA PARK, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE PLAN, 3/10/97 DRAFT: Assistant Town Planner George Frantz stated that this Board was supplied with a memorandum from the Planning Department announcing the three public information meetings on the draft Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan. Mr. Frantz reviewed the memorandum with the Board discussing the dates, times, and places. The Planning Department will receive comments to correlate into one report for the Town Board to review. Ms. Hagedorn stated that she had a concern about the creation of a buffer on the east side of the Buttermilk Falls State Park. Assistant Town Planner Frantz stated that Zoning for Open Space, and the Purchase of Development Rights, described in the draft Plan, could help alleviate those concerns. Ms. Hagedorn pointed out on an enlarged map where the boundaries of the Buttermilk Falls State Park are located. Ms. Hagedorn asked if anything outside the Park boundary would be zoned anything different than it is already zoned for. Assistant Town Planner Frantz responded, yes. There would be a few areas to the east of the Park's boundary to be proposed. Some of the areas are zoned R-30, which means one house every 30,000 square feet. A subdivision would have to have 30,000 square foot lots. Ms. Hagedorn stated that she has strong concerns about that, because as a naturalist for the Buttermilk Falls State Park, she can very strongly say that Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park is one of the richest wildlife areas of Ithaca. She can hike Taughannock Park's three mile trail, and see many different wildlife animals. She could hike Robert Treman State Park's four mile loop, and see about the same thing as Taughannock Park. The Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park has beavers, Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk nests, woodpecker nests, etc. She has documented wildlife in books of the Park. The existence of wildlife attracts people to the Park. If the area outside the Park is rezoned in the Town's Open Space Plan as Conservation Zoning, it could offer protection to the area and wildlife in the Park. She feels that a huge development on the corner of West King Road and Route 96B would be a concern to her. Last year, a developer sent the State Parks a letter with a proposal for 128 units of low income rental units. Ms. Hagedorn pointed out on a map where the developer wants the low income rental units to be. If the development progresses, the people could make illegal trails into the Park. Then there would be security problems, because people could enter the Park through these illegal trails when they felt like it. The buffer would help the wildlife in the Park, and would help keep people from coming into the Park illegally. Assistant Town Planner Frantz stated that the developer's subdivision would be approximately 3,500 feet westward of the park to within 500 to 1,000 feet of Lake Treman. Ms. Hagedorn stated that she has a concern about drainage from the developed land. There are also concerns of erosion in the Lake Treman area and Buttermilk Creek from the developed land. She feels TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD FINAL MINUTES 6/5/97 that any development would increase erosion in these areas. The subdivision would be bordered on both sides by deep ravines. She is not opposed to allowing strips of development towards Route 96B like the houses on West King Road, that help buffer the Park. Assistant Town Planner Frantz explained the different areas of zoning around the Buttermilk Falls State Park. Mr. Frantz stated that the changes to the draft plan were done in November during Planning Staff discussions. The Planning Staff discussed areas around the Buttermilk Falls State Park as to what could be considered as Conservation District. The Conservation Board had a brief discussion on the draft Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan for zoning and development close to the Buttermilk Falls State Park. Assistant Town Planner Frantz stated that 1991 was when he first drafted the Conservation Zoning District for Six Mile Creek Valley. The original goal of the Conservation District Zoning was essentially to reduce the potential for residential development to about 10 percent that is allowed under the R-30 zone and five percent that is allowed under R-15 zone. The Walter Wiggins parcel is 70 acres with 10 homes allowed instead of 70 homes that was proposed . Another benefit for Conservation District Zoning, when the development potential is knocked down from 70 homes to 10 homes, those 10 homes could be clustered on 20 acres. Since there is public water and sewer available, the 10 homes could be located on 10 acres closest to Danby Road leaving 60 acres, as either private ownership or possibly deeded over to the State Parks for addition to the Buttermilk Falls State Park. This is one of the concepts in the draft plan, the use of cluster subdivisions, in order acquire additional buffering in the Town of Ithaca. The landowners that have been approached on this idea have been in support of Conservation District Zoning. The Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan needs to be in conjunction with the Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan. The Conservation Board could help by thinking of areas in the Town of Ithaca that they think could be Conservation Zoned. NOTHING ELSE RECORDED. Chair Zarriello adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Minutes transcribed 06/25/97 by DK; edited 06/29/97 by JAY 4 ,,_< 1 : DRAFT TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD THURSDAY MAY 1, 1997 PRESENT: Phil Zarriello, Chair; Kara Hagedorn, Vice Chair; Frank Baldwin, Lois Levitan, Jon Meigs, Barney Unsworth, John Yntema. ABSENT: Elizabeth deProsse, Eva Hoffmann. STAFF: Geri Tierney, Conservation Board Coordinator; JoAnn Cornish, Environmental Review Committee Coordinator. GUEST: Greg Bell. Chair Phil Zarriello opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. MEMBER CONCERNS: Kara Hagedom asked when the latest draft of the Open Space Plan would be reviewed by the Conservation Board. Chair Zarriello stated that a prior draft has already been reviewed by this Board. Planner JoAnn Cornish stated that the new draft has been distributed to the public, and will be used for public hearings. Ms. Hagedom stated that she has serious concerns about the buffers to Buttermilk Falls State Park. There was some protection of Conservation Zoning through the previous draft, and this draft does not have it. She would be happy to lead a field trip through Buttermilk Falls State Park to show her concerns about creating buffers. Chair Zarriello asked Ms. Hagedom if she is proposing the Conservation Board review this plan again before it becomes final. Ms. Hagedom responded, yes. Planner Geri Tierney stated that this is a good time to do this because this is the time for public input. Chair Zarriello asked when would the final plan be proposed. Planner Cornish stated that there would be public hearings (WHEN) set up to make comments or suggestions. Ms. Hagedorn pointed out on a map where the buffers should be located for the Buttermilk Falls State Park from the Walter Wiggins development because of wildlife she has observed during watches she leads in these areas. Walter Wiggins would be donating 18 acres to the Buttermilk Falls State Park upon final approval of his subdivision near the park. Chair Zarriello stated that this conversation should be an agenda item for further discussion. COORDINATOR AND CHAIR REPORTS: Chair Zarriello stated that there were some concerns mentioned regarding the reviews submitted to the Planning Board. The reports need to be worded constructively, not confrontationally. The main points are becoming lost during this effort. Planner Tierney stated that she handed out a section describing the role of the Conservation Board at the beginning of this year. The section mentions the importance of the relationship between the Conservation Board and the Planning Board. It makes it clear that the Conservation Board has only the power of persuasion because the Board is only an advisory board. The Conservation Board had a brief discussion of how the Environmental Review Committee's comments would be presented to the Planning Board. The Board decided to meet the third Thursday of this month to discuss the Environmental Review Committee's role, and discuss two subdivisions that would be coming before the Planning Board on May 20, 1997. The Conservation Board discussed the outcome of the Earth Day Celebration held in April. GUEST CONCERNS Planning Board Member Gregory Bell described the Planning Board's function. He suggested that members of the Conservation Board attend a Planning Board meeting for further information or to .. i. comment on a project. The Planning Board usually receives comments from the ERC at the night of the meeting, and usually has to read the comments during the presentation of the proposal. Sometimes it is hard for the Planning Board to read and listen to the applicants/agents as they are speaking. Mr. Bell suggested that if the comments were in before the mail out of the packets, the Planning Board could review the material ahead of time. Lois Levitan asked Mr. Bell if he is conveying as an individual or from the Planning Board the invitation to come to the Conservation Board meeting. Mr. Bell stated that it is him individually, but the Planning Board meetings are open to the public. The Planning Board has never discussed this issue. Planner Cornish stated that whoever takes the lead for certain projects, that person should go to the public hearing to speak out on that proposal. The passion or concerns of the memorandums are not conveyed because it is just a piece of paper. Eva Hoffmann often speaks to the Planning Board on behalf of the Conservation Board. It might be a suggestion that a person attend a Planning Board meeting to speak, particularly if they feel strongly about that proposal. That person would need to state, at that time, whether they would be talking on an individual basis or for the Conservation Board. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LAKE SOURCE COOLING PROJECT DEIS: Chair Zarriello stated that the comments were mailed to Department of Environmental Conservation for the Cornell University Lake Source Cooling Project DEIS. There were different comments gathered from other Boards and Committee members of the Town that were mailed to DEC. The Conservation Board had a brief discussion of the Cornell University Lake Source Cooling Project DEIS, and what some of the comments were that were submitted to DEC. SOUTH HILL SWAMP FOLLOW-UP SURVEY: Planner Tierney stated that a new proposal for a follow up study done last fall was received from Nancy Ostman and Robert Wesley. Ms. Ostman and Mr. Wesley selected sites they thought require further study, and costs to complete this study were provided. The follow up study will cost $4,500 because they underestimated the time required to complete the previous study and they are proposing several site visits to complete this study. The Conservation Board needs to write a memorandum to the Town Board to request funding of this study. Ms. Ostman and Mr. Wesley would like to start soon because the plants are starting to bloom. The Town Board meets again on May 12, 1997. The Conservation Board has approximately $2,000 in the budget for members to attend conferences and other related CB expenses. Some of the money needs to remain for a conference in October. Since there is not $4,500 in the fund, the Town Board would need to identify other funds. The Conservation Board agreed to use $1,000 of there budget to support this study. MOTION made by Frank Baldwin, seconded by Phil Zarriello: RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board hereby authorizes $1,000 to help fund the plant study by Nancy Ostman and Robert Wesley for the South Hill Swamp. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES - Zarriello, Meigs, Hagedom, Levitan, Baldwin, Yntema. NAYS - None. The motion was declared to be carried unanimously. Approval of minutes was postponed until the June meeting. Chair Zarriello adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. DRAFTED: 5/20/97 dk TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: TOWN BOARD MEMBERS PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBERS FROM: JONATHAN KANTER, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING RE: DATES FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS - PARK & OPEN SPACE PLAN DATE: JUNE 2, 1997 Three public information meetings have been tentatively scheduled for questions, comments and discussion of the draft Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan. Times and locations are as follows: Tuesday, June 10, 1997, at 7:00 p.m.: Wednesday, June 18, 1997 at 7:00 p.m.: Thurs., June 26, 1997 at 7:00 p.m.: South Hill Elementary School Gym Northeast Elementary School Cafeteria Alternative Community School Gym We will be sending out notifications to the press, neighborhood associations, and numerous organizations in an attempt to get good turnouts at these meetings. We are hoping that at least some members of each of your boards will be able to not only be present at, but also participate in; each of the three meetings. Please let me know which meeting(s) you would be able to attend. FINAL Date: May 19, 1997 To: Town of Ithaca Board and Town of Ithaca Planning Board From: Submitted by Lois Levitan for the Town of Ithaca CB, Environmental Review Committee (Present: deProsse, Hagedorn, Levitan, Unsworth, Yntema, Zarriello; Tierney and Cornish for staff) Subject: MONKEMEYER PARKLAND PARCELS Mr. Monkemeyer's donation of 12.5 acres of land on Ithaca's south hill is an exciting opportunity for the Town to establish its first community recreation park. The CB believes this park will be an important asset to the community and enhance the environment in which we live. However, we have some concerns about the proximity of the park to the South Hill Unique Natural Area (UNA), location of the park boundary road and drainage limitations of the site and surrounding land. We would like to elaborate on these points and suggest some mitigations': 1. Protection of South Hill Swamp Unique Natural Area: The proposed park is adjacent to the South Hill UNA. In November 1996 consultants Nancy Ostman and Robert Wesley surveyed plants and vegetative/hydro-geological zones within the general area of the South Hill Swamp.' The concluding section of their report from this initial trip begins: The presence of so many rare plant species and rare ecological communities suggests that more rare and scarce plant and animal species will be found with further investigation. This UNA is one of the top two UNAs in the Town of Ithaca (the other is Coy Glen)... Further, these UNAs are among the top ten in the county in terms of quality. The biological importance of South Hill should not be underestimated. 'The May 15, 1997 Conservation Board Environmental Review Committee (CB ERC) discussion of the Monkemeyer Parkland Parcels was informed by (1) a concept sketch for the 12.5 acre park, (2) Nancy Ostman and Robert Wesley's Inventory Report of the South Hill Swamp Unique Natural Area (UNA) (Fall 1996), (3) draft working Map # 1 "Vegetative Areas, Property Boundaries, and Natural Features" (2/6/97) adapted from the Ostman and Wesley report, We also draw from a broader base of information and interest in protecting the South Hill Swamp area. Some questions raised at the ERC meeting were subsequently answered during a May 16 site visit by Town Planners Geri Tierney, JoAnn Cornish and Jonathan Kanter. This report reflects their findings. The staff determined that the Monkemeyer property boundaries are congruent with the boundary of the ecologically fragile areas --ERC had previously been unclear whether the vegetative hydrologic zones # 21, 22 and 23 identified by Robert and Nancy ended at the Monkemeyer property boundary or extended furthest west. Staff also reported their impression that vegetative zones #21 and 22 are not important wetlands (they were dry during their visit on a rainy, spring day). As noted below, Nancy Ostman and Robert Wesley will be providing the CB with additional information re: the ecological significance of these zones, now or potentially in the future, as result of succession. Z Ostman and Wesley will complete their survey with additional site visits in summer 1997. We anticipate that their final report will enable the CB to better advise the Town re: boundaries and protection of the UNA. (file: Town of Ithaca/CB/Monkemeyer Parkland) CB ERC Report May 15, 1997 1 1 ... A buffer will be needed to protect the UNA. A zone 100 feet wide surrounding the UNA where no structures or excavations are permitted may be adequate to protect the physical features of the landscape. In order to protect the unique biological features of this site, it will be necessary to limit herbicide and pesticide use, invasive plantings and free ranging pets in the neighborhood.' CB is concerned that the "ear -shaped" road encircling the park extends very close to the UNA and will encourage encroachment into this fragile UNA. We recommend consideration be given to moving the north-eastern section of the road further west, to avoid creating a zone of access to the UNA, and a zone of automobile activity close to the UNA. • CB recommends that consideration be given to fencing in the area of the UNA-park boundary to limit uncontrolled access by pedestrians, mountain bikers and domestic pets. • Since fencing will not prevent movement and drift of pesticide, fertilizer, road salt, invasive plants, automobile exhaust and noise, etc., we reiterate the Ostman-Wesley recommendation for a 100' vegetative buffer zone around the UNA, in which no structures or excavations are permitted. (Boundaries of the UNA can be determined from the Ostman-Wesley report and site visits.) • Education of residents who move into lots near the South Hill Swamp is another important approach to protecting the UNA. We recommend that the Town provide educational materials about the UNA which discourage landscaping with invasive plants, use of excessive fertilizer and pesticides, dumping, and free roaming pets. 2. Drainage on South Hill is critical. We are concerned that runoff to the proposed parkland may impair use of the park, and that future costs to the Town to alter drainage may be quite costly. We are also aware that in its current undeveloped state there is often standing water on the fields in this vicinity. We strongly suggest that a drainage study be completed and that a master drainage plan be developed as part of overall subdivision plan. We recommend that some attention be given to this issue before the parkland concept plan is accepted. It may be of some considerable comfort to note that the report also states: "Impacts from adjacent properties are to some degree limited by the fact that most adjacent properties are downslope from the Unique Natural Area. For the most part adjacent properties are also isolated hydrologically from the UNAs." (file: Town of Ithaca/CB/Mornkemeyer Parkland) CB ERC Report May 15, 1997 2 JUN 41997 TOWN OF ITHACA P"LANNING ZONING ENGINEERING SOUTH HILL SWAMP SURVEY Richard Fischer and John Confer May 15, 1997 BIRDS Brown Thrasher - 1 Robin - 2 Cowbird - 3 Common Crow - 1 Black -capped Chickadee - 3 Ruffed Grouse - 1 Towhee - 6 Catbird - 1 Ovenbird - 10 Northern Flicker - 1 Tufted Titmouse - 1 Solitary Vireo - 1 Ba ltimore Oriole - 1 Veery - 1 or 2 Wood Thrush - 1 Song Sparrow - 1 Field Sparrow - 1 Downy (?) Woodpecker - 1 Crested Flycatcher - 1 Blue Jay - 2 Nashville Warbler - 2 Black and White Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10 Brewster's Warbler - 1 Blue -winged Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 1 Northern Yellowthroat - 1 Black-throa led Blue Warbler - 1 MAMMALS White-tailed Deer - 1 Eastern Chipmunk - 1 Fox or Coyote scat -La- A 1.— 4 13. 6AsA-) �.�. p!_L.SGti�: �-'• L.G✓x_1.4►–t---°—�_I.L IJs �-- E�_._T%e_r✓_oa.es � T._�� �'c..,,.�.____K.._Ks�<.o�oih_ Platnr�. 0 JUN 4 17 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING ZONING ENGINEERING SOUTH HILL SWXIP SURVEY Richard Fischer and John Confer May 15, 1997 BIRDS MAMMALS Brown Thrasher - 1 White-tailed Deer - 1 Robin - 2 Eastern Chipmunk - 1 Cowbird - 3 Fox or Coyote scat Common Crow - 1 Black -capped Chickadee - 3 Ruffed Grouse - 1 Towhee - 6 Catbird - 1 Ovenbird - 10 Northern Flicker - 1 Tufted Titmouse - 1 Solitary Vireo - 1 Ba ltimore Oriole - 1 Veery - 1 or 2 Wood Thrush - 1 Song Sparrow - 1 Field Sparrow - 1 Downy (?) Woodpecker - 1 Crested Flycatcher - 1 Blue Jay - 2 Nashville Warbler - 2 Black and White Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10 Brewster's Warbler - 1 Blue -winged Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 1 Northern Yellowthroat - 1 Black-throa ied Blue Warbler - 1 JUN 41997 TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING ZONING ENGINEERING SOUTH HILL SWAi,9P SURVEY Richard Fischer and John Confer May 15, 1997 BIRDS Brown Thrasher - 1 Robin - 2 Cowbird - 3 Common Crow - 1 Black -capped Chickadee - 3 Ruffed Grouse - 1 Towhee - 6 Catbird - 1 Ovenbird - 10 Northern Flicker - 1 Tufted Titmouse - 1 Solitary Vireo - 1 Ba ltimore Oriole - 1 Veery - 1 or 2 Wood Thrush - 1 Song Sparrow - 1 Field Sparrow - 1 Downy (?) Woodpecker - 1 Crested Flycatcher - 1 Blue Jay - 2 Nashville Warbler - 2 Black and White Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10 Brewster's Warbler - 1 Blue -winged Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 1 Northern Yellowthroat - 1 Black-throa led Blue Warbler - 1 MAMMALS White-tailed Deer - 1 Eastern Chipmunk - 1 Fox or Coyote scat TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD MINUTES FINAL 5 JUNE 1997 Approved 7/17/97 PRESENT: Chair Phil Zarriello, Vice Chair Kara Hagedorn, Elizabeth DeProsse, Richard Fischer, Eva Hoffmann, Lois Levitan, Jon Meigs, John Yntema ABSENT: Frank Baldwin, Barney Unsworth STAFF: CB Coordinator Geri Tierney (left at 8:00 pm), Assistant Town Planner George Frantz GUEST: Lachlan Chambliss Chair Phil Zarriello opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. MEMBER CONCERNS: Lois Levitan asked what happened with the Monkemeyer parkland. Geri Tierney stated that all the information is not in yet. The Planning Board approved the proposal to the location seen by the Conservation Board. The Planning Board received the Conservation Board's comments. More information needs to be gathered for the Monkemeyer proposal. The proposal has not been heard by the Town Board yet. Ms. Levitan asked what information needs to be received for this proposal. Planner Tierney stated that she is not sure what information has not yet been submitted. Chair Zarriello asked what has been happening with the Monkemeyer Garden Center on the intersection of Danby Road and East King Road. Assistant Town Planner George Frantz stated that proposal is up for preliminary site plan approval with the Planning Board within the next couple months. CHAIR REPORT: Chair Zarriello asked if Nancy Ostman and Bob Wesley received an approved contract for a new South Hill Swamp Unique Natural Area (UNA) survey. Planner Tierney responded, yes, and they have started their survey. COORDINATOR REPORT: Planner Tierney stated that the Finger Lakes National Forest is going to revise their management plan, which happens about every 15 years. They have started the process, and it will take several years to complete. They sent some information to the Town Planning Department, and invited us to participate in this project. They are looking for people to join an interest group that meets on a regular basis in Hector. If someone is interested in participating in that group, an application needs to be filled out. The Board could receive the material, and provide written comments to them. Ms. Levitan asked when would the meetings start. Planner Tierney stated that the meetings would start at the end of this month. There is going to be a meeting at the end of June, July, August, and September. These would be preliminary meetings, and a new Forest Management Plan would be drafted from there. Richard Fischer asked if the information says what the group would be discussing. Planner Tierney stated that the plan would be determining what the priorities are during the meetings. L TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD FINAL NIINUTES 6/5/97 The Rural Grant Program applications for 1997 are in. In past years, grants up to $5,000 were granted for four different areas: Environmental Action Grants, Land Conservation Grants, Historic Preservation Grants, and Planning Grants. Deadline for applications is July 15, 1997. If anyone has a project for one of these categories, please contact the Planning Department. The Tompkins County EMC received one of these grants last year. Ms. Levitan stated that the Finger Lakes Land Trust has received several grants. Planner Tierney handed out information on training courses the Conservation Board could consider attending. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Ms. Levitan asked what is the fill site map of the HSHP building for. Jon Meigs stated that the fill site map goes in conjunction with the Ford Hall, Mot and M -lot parking expansion that were previously discussed. Ithaca College reacted to the continents of the extension of barriers to prevent filtration problems, and making the contour layout more natural looking. Mr. Yntema asked if the fill site map is the same for the other projects reviewed. Mr. Meigs responded, yes. Chair Zarriello stated that the plans do not say how much fill would be removed. Ms. Levitan stated that the plans say "raw fill volume = 9,300 cubic yards." Mr. Meigs stated that amount would include all projects happening on the Ithaca College Campus. Chair Zarriello stated that the Planning Board would be informed that the Conservation Board does not have any comments for the HSHP building. SOUTH HILL SWAMP SURVEY DISCUSSION: Mr. Fischer made some comments on how many birds are in the South Hill Swamp area. Mr. Fischer also told the Board about the different species that could be found in this area. Ms. Levitan asked how big of an area did he and John Confer cover for their survey. Mr. Fischer stated that they covered approximately 50 acres. Mr. Fischer also explained the different flowers he saw in this area. He would be giving the Conservation Board an update soon along with the new survey being done. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 1, 1997: MOTION by Jon Meigs, seconded by Richard Fischer: RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board hereby approves the Minutes of May 1, 1997 with the following corrections: A vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES - Zarriello, Fischer, Hagedorn, Levitan, Meigs, Yntema. NAYS - None. ABSTAIN - Hoffmann, DeProsse. The motion was declared be carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 3,1997: Mr. Meigs asked to table the Minutes of April 3, 1997, for corrections and additional clarification of wording. L TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD FINAL MINUTES 6/5/97 Chair Zarriello admitted that he did not review the minutes as well as he should have. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 6,1997: Chair Zarriello asked the Conservation Board if the Minutes of March 6, 1997, should be tabled for further clarification and corrections. The Conservation Board was in agreement to table the Minutes of March 6, 1997, until corrections and clarification have been done. DISCUSSION OF TOWN OF ITHACA PARK, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE PLAN, 3/10/97 DRAFT: Assistant Town Planner George Frantz stated that this Board was supplied with a memorandum from the Planning Department announcing the three public information meetings on the draft Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan. Mr. Frantz reviewed the memorandum with the Board discussing the dates, times, and places. The Planning Department will receive comments to correlate into one report for the Town Board to review. Ms. Hagedorn stated that she had a concern about the creation of a buffer on the east side of the Buttermilk Falls State Park. Assistant Town Planner Frantz stated that Zoning for Open Space, and the Purchase of Development Rights, described in the draft Plan, could help alleviate those concerns. Ms. Hagedorn pointed out on an enlarged map where the boundaries of the Buttermilk Falls State Park are located. Ms. Hagedorn asked if anything outside the Park boundary would be zoned anything different than it is already zoned for. Assistant Town Planner Frantz responded, yes. There would be a few areas to the east of the Park's boundary to be proposed. Some of the areas are zoned R-30, which means one house every 30,000 square feet. A subdivision would have to have 30,000 square foot lots. Ms. Hagedorn stated that she has strong concerns about that, because as a naturalist for the Buttermilk Falls State Park, she can very strongly say that Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park is one of the richest wildlife areas of Ithaca. She can hike Taughannock Park's three mile trail, and see many different wildlife animals. She could hike Robert Treman State Park's four mile loop, and see about the same thing as Taughannock Park. The Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park has beavers, Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk nests, woodpecker nests, etc. She has documented wildlife in books of the Park. The existence of wildlife attracts people to the Park. If the area outside the Park is rezoned in the Town's Open Space Plan as Conservation Zoning, it could offer protection to the area and wildlife in the Park. She feels that a huge development on the corner of West King Road and Route 96B would be a concern to her. Last year, a developer sent the State Parks a letter with a proposal for 128 units of low income rental units. Ms. Hagedorn pointed out on a map where the developer wants the low income rental units to be. If the development progresses, the people could make illegal trails into the Park. Then there would be security problems, because people could enter the Park through these illegal trails when they felt like it. The buffer would help the wildlife in the Park, and would help keep people from coming into the Park illegally. Assistant Town Planner Frantz stated that the developer's subdivision would be approximately 3,500 feet westward of the park to within 500 to 1,000 feet of Lake Treman. Ms. Hagedorn stated that she has a concern about drainage from the developed land. There are also concerns of erosion in the Lake Treman area and Buttermilk Creek from the developed land. She feels that any development would increase erosion in these areas. The subdivision would be bordered on both sides TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD FINAL MINUTES 6/5/97 by deep ravines. She is not opposed to allowing strips of development towards Route 96B like the houses on West King Road, that help buffer the Park. Assistant Town Planner Frantz explained the different areas of zoning around the Buttermilk Falls State Park. Mr. Frantz stated that the changes to the draft plan were done in November during Planning Staff discussions. The Planning Staff discussed areas around the Buttermilk Falls State Park as to what could be considered as Conservation District. The Conservation Board had a brief discussion on the draft Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan for zoning and development close to the Buttermilk Falls State Park. Assistant Town Planner Frantz stated that 1991 was when he first drafted the Conservation Zoning District for Six Mile Creek Valley. The original goal of the Conservation District Zoning was essentially to reduce the potential for residential development to about 10 percent that is allowed under the R-30 zone and five percent that is allowed under R-15 zone. The Walter Wiggins parcel is 70 acres with 10 homes allowed instead of 70 homes that was proposed . Another benefit for Conservation District Zoning, when the development potential is knocked down from 70 homes to 10 homes, those 10 homes could be clustered on 20 acres. Since there is public water and sewer available, the 10 homes could be located on 10 acres closest to Danby Road leaving 60 acres, as either private ownership or possibly deeded over to the State Parks for addition to the Buttermilk Falls State Park. This is one of the concepts in the draft plan, the use of cluster subdivisions, in order acquire additional buffering in the Town of Ithaca. The landowners that have been approached on this idea have been in support of Conservation District Zoning. The Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan needs to be in conjunction with the Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan. The Conservation Board could help by thinking of areas in the Town of Ithaca that they think could be Conservation Zoned. NOTHING ELSE RECORDED. Chair Zarriello adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Minutes transcribed 06/25/97 by DK; edited 06/29/97 by JAY