HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2008-02-07 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
February 7 2008
Draft Minutes
PRESENT: Chris Benedict, Mike Goettel,James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Brent Katzmann, Susan
McCutcheon,Jon Meigs, Larry Sallinger
STAFF: Sue Ritter
Persons To Be Heard:
None
Member Concerns:
Jon had a few corrections to member list.
Chair and Coordinator Reports:
Vice Chair: Ithaca Green Building Alliance continues series through spring at the Unitarian
Church near Town Hall, 7-9 pm on Tuesdays. Ithacagreenbuilding.org
Coordinator: Submissions for the Town newsletter are being requested, the deadline is March
14th; an announcement for filling the CB member vacancy was suggested. The Town Board will be
holding a public hearing on Monday (Feb 11rh) concerning the Town Stormwater Management&
Erosion Control Law, with possible enactment to follow. The Planning Committee discussed
extending development moratorium in the NE, and the Town Board will be discussing it on Feb.
111h. If CB members are interested, Sue can provide a copy of the Scenic Resource's Committee
presentation that Diane presented to the Town Board in January. The TB has referred
consideration of the SRC Report to the Planning Committee. Jon asked about the Cornell
Cogeneration Project, and Eva replied that it was given approval at last PB meeting. The Planning
Board reviewed and approved the Weidmaier restoration project. Town staff did not recommend
re-grading the site to its original topography given that re-disturbing the site would only cause
further erosion of the highly erodible soils and further damage to the soil structure. The Scoping
Document for the Holochuck Homes subdivision EIS was accepted by the Planning Board with
changes, and will be released to the public for comments. The public scoping session is scheduled
for March 181h meeting.
Business:
Minutes: December and January meeting minutes were accepted as corrected.
Finalize CB priorities list for 2008
Conversation began with discussion of the Coy Glen Conversation Zone. Jon outlined that the
report has been generated, but will need to be reviewed again. Issues over developing this zone
may be difficult because of the many land-owners involved and differing opinions concerning the
rezoning proposal. Some minor grammatical and word changes were added to the priorities list.
Brent asked how the CB will be involved in the Town's Comprehensive Plan and Jon followed by
asking that someone from the CB be directly involved in the process. Sue stated that Diane has
been appointed to the Committee, and that process is only in the initial stages but that input from
the CB on the environmental elements would be important. Brent asked that we include the
Comp. Plan in the CB's regular reports and updates. James suggested that"Monitor and engage
activities appropriately to manage town deer population" be added to the priority list.
Discuss and review Town Conservation Zone language
Members discussed the suggested modification that James had submitted in an email. Jon agreed
to work on the changes and develop modified Conservation Zone language as outlined by CB
members. Mike asked whether the current language intended to address "outstanding natural
features",needs to be so restrictive with inclusion of such things as yard regulations. Eva followed
that these are typical requirement that you would find included in all the other Town zones. Brent
asked about property that may be zoned partially as Conservation, and partially as a different
zone, i.e. properties along Coddington Road zoned Low Density Residential and Conservation.
Members expressed specific concerns/changes they would like to see.
The language stating that"wildlife habitats and biological corridors should be preserved" led to a
discussion of what habitats and corridors exist throughout the Town. Sue was asked to provide
materials to initiate discussion of this at the next meeting, and she stated that work on this topic
would be useful to the Comprehensive Plan update.
Regular Reports and Updates:
ERC: No meeting since last CB meeting. Members will attend Feb 191h PB meeting which will
discuss IC Athletic and Events Center. Sue handed out Phase I site plan materials (to ERC
members), along with a portion of the EIS that was recently modified.
SRC: No meeting. Members agreed to James' suggestions for modifying the Tour of the Town
map that was included in the appendix of the report. The map was updated to make the tour
include more sites and more detail. The Town's website is currently being updated, but will
include a page devoted to the SRC project.
TOMPKINS COUNTY EMC:Jan 91h meeting. Scott Doyle is working on a stream corridor
management plan.
FISCHER AWARD: There have been 0 nominations; as a result the deadline will be extended
through the end of February. CB members were asked to invite nominations from outside
organizations. An e-mail will be generated that will be sent to CB members to send to
organizations/people.
SIX MILE CREEK VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM: Annual meeting occurred with 40+
attendees. James added that the group asked researchers to interpret data into a usable form for
others. Two upcoming public educations events to focus on P in Cayuga Lake,Feb 131h (6-7:30)
and Feb 271h (6-7:30)
CITY OF ITHACA NATURAL AREAS COMMISSION: Discussion continued on what will happen
to the Six Mile Creek area if the City decides to no longer use it for their water supply. Possibly it
will be turned into a park. Southwest Natural Area becoming a formal natural area by City of
Ithaca.
Other Business: None.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM.
Minutes generated by Chris Benedict