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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-22 PAB Final Minutes1 PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, August 22, 2018 Old Jail Conference Room, 125 E. Court Street, Ithaca NY 14850 FINAL MEETING MINUTES Members Attending: Guests: None Call to Order: Chair Dave Herrick called the meeting to order at 9:04 am. Agenda Review/Changes: None Draft Minutes Approval: Anna Kelles moved approval of the May 23rd minutes. Fernando de Aragón seconded. Motion carried. Anna Kelles moved, and Sue Cosentini seconded, approval of the July 25th minutes. Dave Herrick abstained. Motion carried. Natural Infrastructure Capital Program Update and Waterman Tract Proposal – Scott Doyle Scott Doyle provided a refresher on the Natural Infrastructure Capital Program (NICP), which the Legislature approved in 2017 based in part on a recommendation by the Planning Advisory Board (PAB). The program seeks to protect, through acquisition, easement, restoration, and stabilization, the County’s upper watershed forests and wetlands; stream corridors and floodplains; and aquifer recharge areas. Four projects have been funded so far: Six Mile Creek/Lounsberry Tract ($15K in NICP funds, $250K in leveraged NYS Source Water Protection funding – 2017 CFA); Etna Swamp ($20K in NICP funding, $20K leveraged from Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT)); Dubois Road Ditch Improvement ($3K in NICP funds); and the Public Works Facility Stormwater Improvement ($7K in NICP funding). Next, Scott presented a fifth potential NICP project for consideration by the board. It would involve $8K to support the FLLT in acquiring 9 acres that buffer 900 feet of wetlands on the larger 527-acre Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in Danby. The project, which the Town of Danby supports, would further enhance this natural buffer through the removal of invasive species and planting of native trees and shrubs. There are also plans to build an accessible parking lot overlooking the wetlands at Lindsay-Parsons. Action: Martha Armstrong moved to recommend the use of $8,000 in funding from the Natural Infrastructure Capital Program to assist with the acquisition and implementation of the Lindsay-Parsons Wetland Buffer Project – Waterman Tract. Anna Kelles seconded. Andy Zepp abstained. Motion carried. Name  Representation Name  Representation Martha Armstrong P Econ. Development Kathy Schlather P Human Services Joe Bowes P Housing Rob Steuteville A Built Environment Design Sue Cosentini P Business Andy Zepp P Land Preservation/Public Land Management Fernando de Aragón P Transportation David Herrick P Facilities/Infrastructure Others Present Rod Howe P Historical/Cultural Resources Scott Doyle P Associate Planner David Kay P Local Planning (urban) Katie Borgella P Commissioner Anna Kelles P PDEQ Darby Kiley P Associate Planner Susan Mann A Energy Kristin McCarthy P Administrative Assistant Gay Nicholson P At-Large Megan McDonald P Deputy Commissioner Marcus Riehl E Natural Environment Monika Roth P Agriculture Leslie Schill E Education 2 The current (as of 8/22/18) NICP fund balance is $355K (that figure will drop to $347K if the Waterman Proposal is approved). Scott will most likely return to PAB in the fall to discuss funding a few larger projects. Update: Community Housing Development Fund – Megan McDonald Megan McDonald updated the members on the Community Housing Development Fund (CHDF) and narrated a brief chronology of the fund’s history. The current six-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for CHDF, which succeeded the original MoU established in 2009 by fund partners Tompkins County, City of Ithaca, and Cornell University, is set to expire in 2021. The County Legislature has expressed interest in using local tax dollars to help fund this program moving forward but requires the NYS Attorney General’s opinion first. In total, $3.6 million has been awarded over 17 funding rounds, leveraging more than $114 million in additional project development funds. The maximum funding request for constructing new or rehabilitating existing owner-occupied properties is $400,000 per project for ownership units and $300,000 for rental units. Most local affordable housing units built since 2009 have benefited from CHDF awards. A Notice of Funding Availability is released early each year, with the next funding round deadline October 1. Joe Bowes explained that New York State looks favorably on community support and this fund leverages a great deal of other resources; the amount of money is important but so is the symbolism behind it too. The applicant pool has grown, though no applications have been denied thus far due to lack of funding. With this increased demand also comes a need for new funding partners. The Bylaws state that with a $50,000 contribution to the fund, partners have a voting voice in decision making. The Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation have a Park Foundation grant to address such questions and advance affordable housing development in the County. One idea put forward is whether smaller donors could collectively pool funds into a foundation totaling $50,000. The foundation could then have a seat at the CHDF table. Also, a market-rate housing developer has expressed interest in building mixed-income workforce housing. Fall 2018 Board Member Recruitment – Darby Kiley According to the County Charter, PAB members do not recommend candidates for the Board but their feedback is helpful and welcome. Current vacant seats include Education, Local Planning (non-urban), and At- Large. Sue C. is not renewing her Business seat and will approach local developers about applying. Rob Steuteville is not continuing as Built Environment Design representative. Gay Nicholson (At-Large), Kathy Schlather (Human Services), and Monika Roth (Agriculture) will renew their seats. Ithaca College will most likely put forward a candidate for the Education seat. Andy suggested finding candidates actively involved in municipal planning, specifically someone familiar with the City of Ithaca. Members brainstormed about which planning interests lack representation on the Board. Climate adaptation, public health, and municipalities emerged as areas that also align well with the TCDPS 2018 Work Program. For now, PAB would find At-Large candidates with experience in those areas as changing seat titles most likely involves changing the County Charter. Dave H., David K., and Katie will interview candidates. Planning staff will distribute a list of vacancies and descriptions for targeted recruitment. A press release will go out by the end of August. Member Announcements Andy relayed that he has seen large amounts of Styrofoam particles, most likely debris from a building roofing project near his house, contaminating Cascadilla Creek. He asked if anyone knew of a city code prohibiting the use of Styrofoam as a roofing material. Sue C. spoke in depth about roofing materials but knew of no code. Adjournment: Chair Dave Herrick declared the meeting adjourned at 10:26 am.