HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 4-6-06 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
April 6, 2006
Meeting Minutes
PRESENT: Lenore Durkee, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Brent Katzmann, Jon
Meigs, Larry Sallinger
STAFF: Sue Ritter
GUEST: Katie Borgella, Principal Planner, Tompkins County Planning Department
Visitors: Three students from Ithaca High School on a class assignment
The meeting was called to order at 7.30 PM by Vice-Chair Brent Katzmann.
There were no persons to be heard or Member concerns.
Katie Borgella described the Tompkins County Scenic Resources Inventory project.
With the assistance of Peter J. Smith, a landscape architecture and planning firm from
Buffalo, the County is preparing an inventory of all types of views, from ag lands to
urban settings, including UNAs, land trusts, public parks, preserves, trails, streams,
winding roads, etc. Photographs are taken and each view is evaluated using specific
criteria. In June, a public meeting will feature the photographs to educate people on
what comprises a scenic resource and to get some feedback from them. These photos
will also be available on a website.
Later in the summer, the very large database, evaluations, and public input will be used
to develop a list of the top 100 scenic sites. In September, at a public meeting, people
will be invited to vote on their favorite sites. Their input, together with professional
evaluation, will be used to decide on the top 25 sites, and the 25 next- best sites. The
results will be made public and also used by the County offices for brochures and
publicity. Katie distributed copies of the inventory form and the definitions used on the
form.
Katie's presentation elicited a number of comments and questions. The County will be
using the data to develop model ordinances for view preservation. Jon suggested the
need to evaluate how "protectable" some views are. Katie replied that some views are
extremely vulnerable, as, for example, Buttermilk Falls area. Brent mentioned some
areas that are prime targets for development and wondered if they are in jeopardy, if
they would be given a higher rating. Eva noted the need for precise pinpointing of the
place from which a photo is taken. She also suggested that since, over time, trees grow
up to obliterate scenic views, some careful culling of some trees might be useful to open
up the view. Trees could also be used as effective barriers protecting scenic areas from
nearby development. Finally, when they are replaced, utility poles might effectively be
repositioned to protect the views.
The Conservation Board thanked Katie for her presentation. It is very useful to see how
the County is handling the scenic resources preservation work in view of our own
Committee's efforts.
Chair Report: None
Coordinator Report: On April 10, the Town Board will hold a public hearing on the
Indian Creek/Lake Slopes Conservation Zone. CB members who are able to come are
welcome to do so and provide input.
Holochuck Homes LLC (aka Cayuga Cliffs) submitted a Sketch plan proposal, but was
requested by the Planning Department to submit additional, more detailed information,
before it could be scheduled for Planning Board consideration.
The County has submitted a request to extend the new communications tower at Ithaca
College an additional 15 feet. The tower will be less than 200 ft. and will therefore not
require lighting.
The Planning Board approved the demolition plans for the Biggs Building.
Business: The minutes were approved as amended.
Regular Reports and Updates:
ERC: Lenore reported that no new proposals have come to the Committee, and that a
previous proposal (Holly Creek Subdivision) that is seeking site plan modification did not
require further consideration by the Committee. The ERC was also notified that the
property owner of a home on Calkins Road has applied for a variance to build a solar-
electric system adjacent to the house. Part of the property is in a UNA. Solar systems
have not been adequately addressed in our zoning laws. The Calkins Road request
and the three other variance requests to be submitted have alerted the Town to the
need for modifying the zoning ordinance to better address solar panels. The Zoning
Board of Appeals has recommended that, for the time being, the building of solar panels
should be considered as requiring an area variance until the COC has had a chance to
develop an amendment to the zoning ordinance that will specifically allow solar panels
and photovoltaic arrays, subject to certain requirements.
Scenic Resources Committee: No report.
Fischer Award Committee: Brent said that Jon had prepared a document nominating
the PRI as the recipient of the 2005 Award. Jon distributed the document and after a
brief discussion it was moved and approved
Tompkins County EMC: No report
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Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: James reported that some of the fill used
in parts of the channel for the Barille Stream Bank Stabilization project was
contaminated with Japanese knotweed.
Efforts are still being made to get data entered in a format that will be easily accessible
on the Community Science Institute (CSI) website. An intern from TC3 is working on
this project. Funds will be needed to maintain this database over time. Water sampling
dates are being planned for this year. The Town of Ithaca has submitted the requested
funding for CSI's work in 2006 for Six Mile Creek and Fall Creek. The Town Board will
want a report on the data findings, before authorizing additional funding for 2007.
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: Jon participated in a field trip to check on a
repair project proposed for a portion of the unpaved road to the 60 ft. dam. A short
stretch of the road was damaged over the winter from heavy rain and snow. The repairs
will not damage rare or endangered species in that area. Work will include installation
of some diversion drains above damaged sections to minimize reoccurrence of such
problems.
Jon also reported that Dan Hoffman has observed that, in the process of
repairing/moving a sewer line near the recreation way, it appears that the Town had
done considerable damage to the land. He noted "a wide swath of destruction".
On a more positive note, Dan also discussed the acquisition of additional property to
increase the buffer area. Jon will get more details on this.
Six bluebird boxes will soon be installed by the Natural Areas Commission near the 30-
foot dam in honor of the memory of Richard B. Fischer.
Purchase of Development Rights Program for Environmentally Sensitive/Important
Lands : ( Members had been asked to read the document "Town of Ithaca Natural
Heritage Preservation Program, Draft 2-27-01).
Larry and other members noted the absence in the document of possible initiatives by
the Town to begin the process of acquisition. It would seem appropriate for the Town
to approach landowners to ask about their interest in ceding development rights for
conservation purposes. The CB should consider the intent of the program. Are the
objectives clear? Are the appraisal criteria unambiguous? Since the CB is acting in an
advisory capacity to the Town Board, we need to have a clear sense of the policy
generally. Discussion will continue at the next meeting.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40PM.
Lenore Durkee
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