HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2008-06-05 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
June 5, 2008
Final Minutes
Members Present: Diane Conneman, Mike Goettel, James Hamilton, ]on
Meigs, Larry Sallinger
Staff: Sue Ritter
Guests: Tessa Flores, Adrian Williams, David and Rene from IHS government
class
Persons to be heard: Tessa Flores is considering applying for a position on
the Conservation Board.
Members' concerns: ]on has been reviewing Cornell's draft Master Plan for
campus development, which will bring vast change to the east side of Town.
As these huge designs for growth create an urban precinct on East Hill, the
Conservation Board needs to be on its toes for what's coming, and ready to
become actively involved. Mike reported problems with Cornell's work on
fish ponds on Cascadilla Creek just upstream of Judd Falls. Mike reported
that he will be moving away on June 30th. Diane attended the North East
Drainage meeting, where many homes have drainage problems, some due
to neighbors dumping water on them. Diane wondered why the Town's
Public Works Department was putting drainage pipes along Simsbury Rd
when best drainage practices indicate that swales and holding ponds were
generally better for water quality, and might also be preferable in this area
to pipes which only cause bigger flooding problems downstream. The
workers at this site claimed the pipes would keep the road bed stable, and
that swales over the pipes would slow down surface water runoff. The CB
agreed that we should further investigate whether a general policy on
roadside drainage solutions might prevent the shifting of stormwater
flooding problems to downhill neighbors.
Chair and Coordinator reports: Diane reported the wind energy law was
making progress. There was much diversity of opinion among members of
the Comprehensive Plan Committee as to where Town development should
happen; the committee will be sponsoring a bus tour, tentatively scheduled
for July 8, to view areas Board and Committee members may not be familiar
with, as well as provide a clearer view of areas suitable for development.
Sue noted that our suggestions for correcting wind tower diagrams in the
law and for assuring the removal of non-functioning towers at owner's
expense had been implemented. Cornell's Transportation Plan, in draft stage
of the Environmental Impact Study, would be holding public meetings to see
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if it was adequately responding to concerns identified at the scoping stage.
The Stream Setback Law was again getting staff attention; visits to Town
streams recently made the law seem applicable to smaller streams of 35
acre drainage area instead of the current 50 acres. Some progress had been
made towards establishing a Conservation Zone in Coy Glen. Many projects
would have to wait for the replacement of two departed members of the
Town Board; the Planning Committee wouldn't meet till July.
With minor revisions on the last page, the 5/1/08 minutes were approved.
During discussion of the proposed Local Law for Storm Sewer System and
Surface Waters Protection, Mike admired the way the Stormwater
Management Officer had well-defined and yet flexible procedures for
handling pollution problems. James objected to vagueness in the parts of the
law defining "any court of competent jurisdiction" and wondered how the
SMO could "terminate access" to the Town's storm sewer system. Perhaps
leaving the law vague in these areas could help with the flexibility of its
implementation. James also noted that the Oct. 2004 "Guidance manual for
Program Development" members received with the law stressed that
"complex detective work" would be required to detect illicit discharges
polluting stormwater, and that the proposed law did not deal with such
detection at all. Since the law was only a small step towards preventing
pollution, James proposed that the CB's resolution recommending the law be
revised to resolve "That the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board hereby
recommends that the Town board adopt the Storm Sewer System and
Surface Waters Protection local law to promote the ecological health and
water quality of our streams and lakes." The CB agreed with this change of
wording, Larry moved the Resolution be adopted; Mike seconded. All voted
to adopt, though we were short of a quorum by one member, Diane agreed
to see if we could effectively pass the resolution with Brent's accord as soon
as he could be advised of our need for it.
In discussion of proposed modifications to the language of the Town's
Conservation Zone law, ]on presented three new definitions for the terms
"Biological corridor," Ecologically Valuable," and "Wooded area." He also
wants to revise the definition of "Yard," to make it clearer that yards may
contain wooded areas and still be considered "open." Seven other passages
in the law could be improved. Mike thought cultivated fields were also
important parts of biological corridors, and would prefer the law to make a
wider focus on all undisturbed areas, and not just woods. James noted that
the proposed changes were intended to protect trees in conservation zones,
but perhaps further changes to protect wetlands could be made as well. As
four members absent made it impossible to resolve anything on this issue,
we would discuss it further at our next meeting.
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For the regular reports and updates, Larry explained that the ERC had met
with Cornell to learn of its plans for a Plantations Welcome Center. Now at
sketch plan stage, the 6,000 square feet 2-story structure would sit just
south of the Knoll adjacent to the Gift Shop. With a green roof, the building
would have at least Silver, perhaps Gold LEED Certification. Parking for the
larger center would channel storm water runoff through a special system of
rain gardens and bioswales that themselves would be set up for educational
studies. The ERC likes the plan so far. A plan to replace a small cottage at
819 Taughannock Blvd did not look so good, however, and was complicated
by different parts of the property being located in the City and Town.
The SRC, waiting for the currently understaffed Planning Committee to
respond to its call for action, had no report.
The Tompkins County EMC, reported Larry, had resolved that the County
support a Carbon Tax, though it wasn't clear how they could do so.
The Six Mile Creek Volunteer Water Quality Monitors had nothing new to
report.
The City's NAC had met with the mayor and police for a Safety Meeting to
determine how police should respond to calls from gorge rangers in Six Mile
Creek requesting emergency help. ]on was impressed that such response
should help rangers do a better job.
Under Other Business, changes in lake dock laws would be considered at our
July meeting. Tessa Flores, a guest today, could well become a new
member. Jason Hamilton, from the IC committee that recently got the Fisher
award, might become an associate member, even though he lives in the City
instead of the Town.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:27.
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