HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2016-08-04 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
August 4, 2016 5:37 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: Ellie Stewart (Chair), Mike Roberts, James Hamilton, Jon Meigs, Eva
Hoffmann, Will VanDyke
Staff: Mike Smith
Guest: Elizabeth Hageman (prospective member)
1. Persons to be heard: No public comments
2. Member Concerns:The board discussed the ongoing drought conditions and what we've
done to notify the public. We discussed outreach to the Cornell Cooperative Extension and the
County Health Department regarding materials already available. We also discussed what the
Planning Board was doing regarding promoting the use of rain gardens in new developments.
James posted a water conservation article on the board Facebook page.
3. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Ellie deferred discussion on the Invasive Species Week event
until it came up in the agenda.
Mike mentioned that a new gate will be added on the Aurora Street entrance of the town hall
parking lot. Members will need to use the Buffalo Street entrance to park for future meetings.
Mike mentioned the Parks Connect profile on Trail Steward and former Conservation Board
member Aaron Donato.
Mike mentioned the National Drive Electric Week event (September 171") in Ithaca which
promotes the increase of electric car usage in Ithaca.
The Planning Board heard a presentation on the Sleep Inn hotel on Elmira Road and had a
discussion regarding the plans but did not get past the design portion and suggested the
applicants go back and revise their plans.
The Planning Board also saw the McGowan Farm Deer fence project, a 22-acre area off of Game
Farm Road.
The Maplewood applicants submitted the draft EIS and the planning board was set to review
the DEIS for adequacy. The planning board will have 45 days to review before it's released to
the public. James reiterated his opinion that the planning board considers the durability of the
proposed buildings. Ellie noted that we included that stance in our letter to the planning board
regarding the durability when the plans were first reviewed. Eva mentioned that our letter did
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not include the reuse of materials of the existing structures and that the Conservation Board
ensures that the EIS takes that into consideration.
4. Approval of Minutes:
May 51" minutes. Eva wanted some more clarity on naming sections of the East Ithaca
Recreation Way. James moved to approve with discussed changes. Mike Roberts seconded.
June 2nd minutes. James moved to approve with discussed changes. Eva seconded.
5. Recap of July 141" Invasive Species Awareness Week:James mentioned the number of public
attendees was low but the Board was well represented and was able to give very focused
feedback to the public that did attend. James filled out a survey for Hilary Mosher, the
administrator from the state for the event. We discussed a competing event hosted by Robert
Wesley and the possibility of moving the event to a different location next year. Eva made the
suggestion that we might want to ask Robert Wesley about participating in the Conservation
Board event next year.
Jon mentioned a previous discussion by the Conservation Board to clean up the area of Helen's
Way of invasive species. James mentioned that is was a project the Scenic Resources committee
had addressed. Eva proposed the area was worth looking at again.
6. Consideration of a recommendation to the Town of Ithaca Town Board regarding the keeping
of domestic animals in the Conservation Zones and the keeping of chickens in the Medium
Density Residential Zones: Eva, who is also on the Codes and Ordinances Committee (COC)
outlined the process and discussions that went into the current draft law. Mike S noted that the
current proposed law of six chickens came from examples of other town laws regarding the
keeping of chickens.
We discussed the basis for a Conservation Board comment in general as Ellie pointed out
there's some confusion as to what grounds we'd be making a comment. Eva pointed out that
some members of the community were concerned about noise issues regarding some types of
fowl (Guinea Hens). Mike S made clear that this law is only in regards to chickens and does not
address other types of fowl. We agreed that no action from the Conservation Board was
needed.
7. Consideration of a recommendation to the Town of Ithaca Town Board regarding revisions to
provisions related to solar facilities:James noted that he thought the distance proposed was
too much of a hindrance to new installations. The current proposed provisions state new
installations be 25 feet from neighboring property. James' proposed nine feet as a revision to
the provision. James cited the current code (270-219.1) which considers solar installations that
are not roof mounted as accessories and can be no closer than three feet from the back border.
James moved that the small-scale accessory (small panels) use in all zones be moved back 10
feet instead of 25 feet. Mike Roberts seconded. Eva Abstained. Draft comment to be sent to
Conservation Board before sending to the COC.
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8. Review the draft displays regarding the Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation Award
& discuss Town bluebird box maintenance: Mike S presented drafts of the displays the
Conservation Board would use to recognize the Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation
Award at different board events. The displays would highlight the criteria for the award, Dr.
Fischer's contributions to the town's conservation efforts and a timeline of past winners. They
would be used in Town Hall to display to the public and at the award event itself. The
Conservation Board agreed to submit suggestions on any changes to Mike for the Town's intern
to incorporate into the design.
Mike Smith discussed his conversation with Rich Schoch regarding the bluebird boxes that are
currently out in Town parks and trails. They are currently maintained by the parks department
but have not had regular checkups in the last three years. He does have a database of how
many are in each park and on each trail. Rich was open to Conservation Board involvement in
maintaining or suggestions on how to maintain the boxes more regularly.
The Board agreed that we needed to know the amount of boxes that need to be maintained
prior to committing to facilitate the upkeep.
9. Deer Management, update from ad hoc committee: Mike Roberts updated the Board on the
current status. The current open items were related to budget, prospective questions from the
public, format for the draft and deadlines. The goal for the ad hoc committee is to have a draft
ready by the end of fall.
10. Regular Reports and Updates:
- Environmental Review Committee: Ellie mentioned that comments were needed for the
Sleep Inn Hotel proposal on Elmira Road.
- Scenic Resources Committee: Letter was sent to the Town Board for placement of our
next sign. Mike S mentioned that the Town Board has directed the letter to the Town
Public Works Committee.
- Communications Committee:The Conservation Board needs to discuss the
communications committee's reorganization based on current member statuses.
- Tompkins County EMC: Nothing to report
- Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program:James reported on June 161"the
volunteers sampled the creek. The volunteers agreed with the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) to participate in the Rotating Intensive Basin Survey
(RIBS) in which the DEC comes from Albany to look at area basins and creeks. James was
unsure if there would be a benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) sample this summer due to
the lack of water.
- City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission:Jon reported that in the recent meeting the
commission discussed the prohibition of swimming in the cities Six Mile Creek natural
area. The commission was concerned that there were not strong proposals for
controlling the prohibition. The commission also discussed the acquisition of buffer
properties for the citV's watershed regions.
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Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Program:James reports that the program has been
planting natives in restoration areas that were once infested with invasive species.
James also mentioned that Gary Snyder will be speaking on August 24t" at Kennedy Hall
on the Cornell campus.
11. Other Business: Nothing to report.
12. September Agenda: We will discuss the bluebird box maintenance plan, water conservation
efforts as well as an update from the deer management ad hoc committee.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm Minutes drafted by Will VanDyke 9/16/16
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