HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2010-04-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
April 1, 2010 7:30 p.m.
Final minutes
Members present: Jon Meigs, Diane Conneman, Tony Ingraham, Nirav Patel, Kristine Shaw,
Andrew Goodell
Staff: Darby Kiley
Guests: Aaron Donato; Larissa Smith; Doug Moore from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Persons to be heard: None
Members' Concerns: Nirav reported a concern that the parking area adjacent to the East Hill
Recreation Way on Maple Avenue was being used by Cornell staff for all day parking. The
question arose as to whether the parking area was the property of the Town or Cornell. Darby
agreed to look into it.
Chair and Coordinator Reports:
Chair:
Diane reported that she received the EMC Annual Report and circulated it for the Board to
review. The Town newsletter was recently completed and while the proofs were crowded the
report on invasive species was not cut, and a photograph was added.
Coordinator:
Darby reported on the discussions at the last planning board meeting. Cornell's plans for the
former parking lot at the old Courtside Recreation site no longer include a parking lot. Now it is
expected to be landscaping only. The original proposal, now overdue, was due on March 1, 2010.
A sketch plan was presented for a self-storage facility near the corner of Route 13 and Route
13A. Several problems were noted including storm water run off, set backs, and negative visual
impacts. The developer was advised to make revisions and try again.
Ithaca Beer has proposed an expansion but there is a hitch, in that the site may have
archeological importance which will need to be investigated before any further action.
The next PB meeting agenda includes three new buildings in the South Hill development and
expansion of College Circle. Tony noted a disturbance in the area at the corner of East King and
96B, this is Monkemeyer's property and there are some issues regarding parkland that are
pending there. No news on Briarwood Phase II.
Business:
The March 4 minutes were approved with one edit—change Rich Schoch to Rich DePaolo in the
Chair's report.
Discussion and Recommendation regarding proposed amendments to conservation zone
requirements:
Members were invited to comment on the Conservation Zone proposed changes.
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Tony expressed a concern that the proposal on page one, at paragraph number three, "The above-
referenced harvesting or cutting of timber is subject to site plan approval including a clear plan to
preserve healthy mature trees and identification of ecologically valuable trees of native species,"
was vague and asked for greater specifics regarding what constitutes a"clear plan", especially
remembering the West Shore plan (McArdle property) and issues with seed stock. If the CZ
requirements established that a plan approved by a certified forester was necessary it would
provide more information for the town to assess proposals and identify issues and concerns with
the harvesting of timber in any given incident. Alternatively, or maybe as well, a forester could
work with the town on assessing the plan. It was further discussed that any proposed plan should
be consistent with the established purpose of the conservation zone. The Board considered
setting some fundamental guidelines but felt unable to identify them without professional
guidance. Nirav proposed requiring that plans for harvesting in CZ should follow best
management practices for sustainability. The Board considered whether guidelines could be
established and enforced, it was thought that they could be if the ordinance provided for such.
The Board also discussed the need for any proposed plans to address the issue of invasive species
and an "after plan"to minimize invasive species in the disturbed areas.
James had provided an email to the group that proposed that the title of the Local Law be
changed to "A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE ZONING CHAPTER OF THE TOWN OF
ITHACA CODE REGARDING CONSERVATION ZONE TREE PRESERVATION IN
PERMITTED PRINCIPAL USES AND REQUIREMENTS, REGARDING DEPOSIT OR
REMOVAL OF FILL IN CONSERVATION ZONES OR WITHIN 100 FEET OF
WETLANDS, AND ADDING RELATED DEFINITIONS." (changes in bold). The members
felt that such a change made sense but that FOREST MANAGEMENT was better wording
considering the earlier discussion.
Regular Reports and Updates:
Environmental Review Committee: Nirav reported that the College Circle sketch plan was due
next Thursday and there would be multiple stages of plans yet to come which will require further
review. Concerns at this point included storm water management issues. Tony suggested that the
total parking available at IC be considered.
Scenic Resources Committee: No meeting this past month. James worked on captions for the
scenic view maps for the interpretive signs at East Shore Park. Jon worked on main body text for
this project. Tony has been in touch with Fossil Resources regarding sign manufacture. Diane
said a dollar estimate would be helpful.
Diane reported that she will be presenting on scenic resources to the Garden Club in September.
R. Fischer Award Committee: The award ceremony for A. Carl Leopold, founding president of
the Finger Lakes Land Trust, is scheduled for 11:00 AM at East Shore Park on May 22, 2010. A
serviceberry is the planned memorial planting. Tony regrets he will not be able to attend.
Kristine will contact Lynn Leopold and FLLT to confirm the date.
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Tompkins County EMC: Sustainable Tompkins and the Tompkins County Climate Protection
Initiative gave presentations at the March Meeting. The EMC is focusing on the unique role it
has in the community as the gateway to the legislature. Kristine reported that she is going to be
the EMC liaison on the Cayuga Sustainability Counsel.
Sixmile Creek Volunteer Monitors: (email from James) The Six Mile Creek Water Quality
Monitors moved up their scheduled winter sampling one day in order to catch a rainy snowmelt
high-water event just after it peaked. The Sunday morning March 14th sample was pretty
exciting, with stream levels close to the maximum reported flow for that date in 15 years of
USGS monitoring. Volunteers, led by weather watcher Dan Karig, showed they're good at
catching floodwater.
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: No report
Comprehensive Plan: The public meeting for review of the surveys and gathering additional
public comment is scheduled for May 11, 2010. Area meetings will follow in six locations based
upon areas/neighborhoods. The meetings will be lead by neutral facilitators. Diane reported that
the agricultural plan is making nice progress; she and Nirav have been participating in the
meetings. Tony asked what the significance was of the "identify developable areas" exercise map
distributed at an earlier meeting. The map will be used only as a small part of overall
comprehensive planning considerations.
Other Business:
Update on the swallow-wort removal strategy.
A tentative date for the removal of the swallow-wort on South Hill is during the first week of
June but timing is very dependent on weather and maturation of the plants. About six students
from LACS will be available to cut and bag. Thursdays are best for the LACS students.
Larissa has prepared an invasive species fact sheet, focused on black locust and myrtle (vinca).
It's expected to be available for the Soil and Water Conservation District's plant sale pick-up on
April 23. Other distributions might include the library book sale and the Town Hall lobby.
Associate Members
Both candidates were highly recommended by the interviewing committee. Tony moved and
Nirav seconded a motion for the approval of Aaron Donato and Larissa Smith as associates of
the CB. Motion was carried unanimously.
Tony encouraged board members to continue efforts to find members for the empty seats.
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
Andy reported that the recent Cornell Plantations sponsored survey at Flat Rock for wooly
adelgid populations resulted in none being found.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
These draft minutes generated by Kristine Shaw; approved at the May 6, 2010 meeting
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