HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2005-09-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
September 1,2005
Final Meeting Minutes
Present: Lenore Durkee, Diane Conneman, Barney Unsworth, Brent Katzmann, Eva Hoffmann, Melissa
Anthony, James Hamilton, Larry Sallinger and Jon Meigs.
Absent: Susan McCutcheon and Elissa Wolfson.
Staff. Chris Balestra
Lenore Durkee called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
Member concerns: Barney called attention to the excellent Ithaca Times article on Richard Fischer and
suggested that we should keep close contact with the author, Larry Klaes.
Diane Conneman noted that she had not looked at the issue of a tree ordinance for the town. Jon shared
with her a copy of the city ordinance and Chris Balestra said she would share related town documents.
Chair Report:
Lenore reported that no one had volunteered to serve to represent the town on the EMC.
Conrad Istock will attend one meeting and Susan McCutcheon will serve on the Forest Home/Cornell
Plantations Deer Fence Committee.
Coordinator Report:
• Chris Balestra noted that a Lake Source Cooling Data Sharing Committee will be held on September
7.
Minutes
The August 4, 2005 minutes were approved with minor corrections.
Attendance at the NYSACC Conference on the Environment: There was some interest but several persons
had conflicts because it was scheduled on the Columbus Day weekend.
Regular Reports and Updates
Fischer Award Committee: Lenore asked Jon and Brent to check when the tree is planted, set a date and
plan for a brief ceremony in Eastern Heights Park and clear the date with Dan Hoffman.
ERC: Lenore reported that the committee would be reviewing the proposed addition to the Six Mile
Creek Winery.
Scenic Resources: Diane reported the committee met and found that adding additional seasonal shots to
the inventory was difficult in the present programming format. Other software was being investigated for
organizing and managing the numerous photos. Brent suggested that Power Point might be able to
accommodate the pictures and written descriptions that the committee desired.
Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: Larry reported that the low water flow has made it
impossible to do high water event testing. He also noted that there was a proposal to combine requests for
funding for both Six Mile and Fall Creeks. He discouraged that idea because of different municipality
interests.
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: No report as there were no activities pertaining to Six Mile
Creek.
Consideration of a Conservation Zone for the Indian Creek Gorge and Lake Slopes Unique Natural Area:
Chris shared a copy of the parameters for a Conservation Zone. The group discussed the options and
boundaries for a Zone that can be defended. The draft resolution was slightly modified to reflect this
discussion and a map of the proposed new Conservation Zone was prepared and attached to the
resolution. The area that the Board agreed should be included in the Zone is larger than the UNA because
it:
• creates a wildlife corridor
• Includes hospital lands which provide benefits to patients and staff
• includes the steep slopes and erodible soils.
• follows the tree line of the mature forest
• includes the areas that buffer the significant streams and gorges.
Approval of the resolution was moved by James Hamilton, seconded by Eva Hoffman and passed
unanimously. It will be sent to the Town Board.
Other Business:
Brent shared that he has an email from the person who has the black walnut saved from the Redbud
Woods. This person is seeking ideas for public use of the wood. Brent will share the email with the
Board.
Jon suggested that the new coordinator for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization,
Darby Kiley,be invited to meet with the Board as a knowledgeable resource person.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:23 p.m.
Submitted by Diane Conneman
2
TOWNOFITHACACONSERVATIONBOARD7:30p.m.,Thursday,September1,2005AuroraStreetConferenceRoom215N.TiogaStreetIthaca.NewYork14850(Therearentranceishandicappedaccessible)(607)273-1747AGENDA7:30pm1.TdentifS’volunteerforminutes7:31pm2.Personstobeheard7:35pm3.Membersconcerns7:45pm4.ChairandCoordinatorreports8:00pm5.RegularBusiness:•Approvalofminutesfrom8/4/058:05pm6.AttendancetoNYSACCConferenceontheEnvironment8:15pm7.Regularreportsandupdates•R.FischerAwardCommittee•EnviromrientalReviewCommittee•ScenicResourcesCommittee•SixMileCreekVolunteerMonitoringProgram(Larry)•CityofIthacaNaturalAreasCommission(Jon)8:35pm8.ConsiderationofaconservationzonefortheIndianCreekGorgeandLakeSlopesUniqueNaturalArea9:20pm9.OtherBusiness9:30pm10.AdjournmentCBMembersand*AssociatesLenoreDurkee.ChairEvaHoffinaimLarrySallingerMelissaAnthonyBrentKatzmannBarneyUnsworthDianeConnemanSusanMcCutcheonElissaWolfson*JamesHamiltonJonMeigs*
TownofIthacaConservationBoardAugust4,2005DraftMeetingMinutesPresent:LenoreDurkee,DianeConneman.MelissaAnthony,JamesHamilton,EvaHoffmann,JonMeigs.LarrySallinger,BarneylinsworthStaff:SusanRitterThemeetingwascalledtoorderat7:35PM.PersonstobeHeard:NoneMemberConcerns:DianestatedthattheRedbudWoodssituationhasraisedherawarenessoftheneedfora“TreeOrdinance.”Herresearchrevealsthattheseordinancesexistinothermunicipalities.Jonsuggestedthattheremightbeawaytoincorporatetreeordinancelanguageintoexistingordinances.Sueadvisesthatthereisnotreeordinanceinplace,butthattheCodes&OrdinanceCommitteehasthisonits“todo”list.EvathinksanordinancewouldbehelpfhltothePlanningBoardsincetheonlywayitcandealwithtreerelatedissuesisthrough“artflilpersuasion.”DianeagreedtodosomepreliminaryinvestigationofexistingTownordinancesthatcouldincorporateatreeregulationandtreeordinancesineffectinotherjurisdictions.DianeaskedaboutdefiningtheresponsibilitiesoftheERCandwonderedifstaffcouldofferspecificordetailedsuggestionsastowhatthecommitteeshouldbeconsideringintheirreviewofdevelopmentproposals.Aftersomediscussion,SueagreedthatshewouldworkwithMikeSmithtodevelopadraftchecklisttoassisttheERCindefiningtheparametersoftheirresponsibility.Melissastatedthatshewouldalsobeinterestedinhelpingtodevelopsuchachecklist.Barneyaskedaboutatownmeetingscheduledforconsiderationoftheburnbarrellegislation.ItisSue’sunderstandingthatitistheCountyHealthDept.thatisleadingthiseffort,andwillbeholdingseveralpublichearings.Lenore&SuewillwriteanarticlefortheTownnewsletterontheproposedstreambuffer/setbacklaw.Chair/CoordinatorReport:Lenoreasked,again,foravolunteertobenominatedtoserveontheCountyEMC.Thetermis1yearending12/31/06.RegardingtheproposedCornellPlantationsdeerfence,LenorereportedthatsheaskedformerC.B.member,ConradIstockifhewouldbewillingtoserveonthestudycommittee(establishedbyCornellPlantations)onbehalfoftheC.B.Conraddeclinedbutsaidhe’dattendonemeetingtosizethingsup.SusanMcCutcheonhastoldLenorethatshe’sinterestedinservingonthiscommittee.SueRitteradvisedthattheTownBoardhasdeferredarequestforfundingforaFallCreekvolunteermonitoringinitiative.ThebudgetyearistoofaralongforfundingnewprojectsbutthereislikelytobemoneyinfuturebudgetsforboththeFallCreekandSixMileCreek
monitoringprograms.Thetownhasretainedaconsultingfirm.FisherAssociates,toassistwiththeTown’stransportationplan.ThisisindependentfromtheCornell/Ithacainitiative.InSeptember,IthacaCollegeisexpectedtopresentapreliminarysketchplanforconstructionofanew“sustainable”BusinessSchool.Minutes:TheminutesoftheJuly7,2005werediscussedandapprovedasamended/corrected.ReportsandUpdates:TheFischerAward-Noreportfromthecommittee.LenorepassedaroundanarticlebyJohnHamiltoninthe“PositiveNewsInternetNetwork”inwhichDanHoffman’sreceiptofthe2004FischerAwardwasfeatured.ERC-The1-hiker4-lotsubdivisiononBumsRoadwasreviewedwithnomajorissues.SueadvisesthatthesubdivisionhasbeenapprovedbythePlanningBoard.TheproposedKingswoodtownhouseclusteredsubdivision(cornerofKingRd.andTroyRd.)wasreviewedandthereareanumberofconcernstobepresentedtothePlanningBoard.FuturereportsoftheERCwillbesenttoallC.B.members.ScenicResources-ThenextmeetingisscheduledforTuesday,8/9/05.SixMileCreekVolunteerMonitoring-JamesreportedthattheJuly6thwatersamplingshowsasubstantialincreaseinE.ColiandColiformbacteriasincetheMaysampling.Hotweatherandlowflowsmayexplainthis.BMIsamplesshownoevidenceoftoxicorpollutionimpactsonthecreek.CityofIthacaNAC-Noreport.IndianCreekGorgeandLakeSlopesU1’JA:ThisareahasbeenidentifiedintheTown’s1993ComprehensivePlanandthe1997OpenSpacePlanasrequiringspecialtreatmentbecauseofitsuniqueness.Afterdiscussion,theC.B.agreedtoformallydeclareitsdesiretoestablishaconservationzoneinthearearoughlydefinedasaUniqueNaturalAreaonthe“IndianCreekGorge&LakeSlopesUNA”mapwithspecificboundariestobedeterminedandtoincludepartoftheareaeastofIndianCreekRd.andwiththeeasternboundarymoreorlesstothewestsideofStateRoute89.JamesagreedtodraftaresolutionformallydeclaringtheC.B.sposition.TheCodesandOrdinancesCommitteeisalsoplanningtoreviewthematteranditwasagreedthattheCR.shouldplanasitevisittoareaswithintheproposedconservationzonelegallyaccessibletothepublic.OtherBusiness:NoneThemeetingwasadjournedat9:20PMSubmittedbyLarrySallinger
DRAFTTownofIthacaConservationBoardResolutionforEstablishingtheIndianCreekGorgeandLakeSlopesConservationZoneSeptember1,2005WHEREAS,the1992OpenSpaceReportfortheTownofIthaca,NewYork,recognizedthat“thecreationofconservationzoningprovidescomprehensiveprotectionforfragileenvironmentsandismostappropriateinlargeareaswithimportantcombinationsofenvironmentallysensitivefeatures,”(p.20);andWHEREAS.theLocalLawNo.10oftheyear2002chargestheTownofIthacaConservationBoardwiththepoweranddutyofreviewingapplications“whichseekapprovalfortheuseordevelopmentofanyopenareaidentified”intheopenspaceindexoftheTown;andWHEREAS,thisopenspaceindexidentifiesOpenAreasNumbers173and174,approximately372acresofopenland,inAppendixCoftheOpenSpaceIndextallying7and8“featuresofsignificantconservationvalue,”includingmaturewoods,steepslopes,wildlifehabitat,sevenDECClassDstreams,gorges,primeandhighlyerodiblesoils,andtheUniqueNaturalAreathenlabeled“1T26,”whichintheAnticipatedLandUsemapoftheTownofIthaca1991ComprehensivePlanwasidentifiedas‘Conservation!OpenSpace”;andWHEREAS,the1997TownofIthacaPark,Recreation&OpenSpacePlan,inMap2,titled“PotentialZoningforOpenSpaceandPurchaseofDevelopmentRightsTargetAreas,identifiedthisareaas“recommendedforconservationzoning”;andWHEREAS,thelastupdate(1/3/00)ofdataknownaboutthisUniqueNaturalAreainventoriedbyTompkinsCounty’sEnvironmentalManagementCouncil,currentlyidentifiedbySiteCodeUNA-97,andnamed“IndianCreekGorgeandLakeSlopes”notesthat“Itappearsthatithasbeen60-100yearssincethelasttimberharvestinthisarea,”wheretreesmorethan150yearsoldcanbefound,andthatthereareatleasttwospeciesofrareorscarceplants(ViolapalmataandLespedezaintermedia)inventoriedonthisSite,andthattheTompkinsCountyGreenwayCoalitionhasidentifiedabiologicalcorridorwhichincludesthisSiteandapossiblemulti-usetrail(BlackDiamond)onthisSite,andthat“themainthreattothesiteisfromdevelopment”;therefore,NOW,THEREFORE,beitRESOLVED,thatwe,thetownofIthacaConservationBoardstronglyadvisethetowntoestablishaConservationZonetopreserveandprotectthisvaluableopenspaceassoonaspossible,andtoincludeinthisZoneallofUNA-97aswellasadjacentlandsuphilldeemedimportantbufferstotheUNA.MOVED:SECONDED:VOTE:
WAVESorWfl1k7L3SrHEFUTURE1005CONFERENCEONTIlEENVIRONflENTConferenceHostsNewYorkStateAssociationofEnvironmentalManagementCouncilsEnvironmentalManagementCouncils(EMCs)arevolunteeradvisoryboardsappointedbycountygovernmentthroughoutNewYorkState.Theirmissionistwo-fold:(1)toadvisecountygovernmentand(2)serveasaliaisonbetweenthecommunityandcountygovernment.NYSAEMCadvocatesandeducatesonenvironmentalissuesandworksdirectlywithfederal,stateandlocalagenciesandothersonbehalfoftheEMCs.2005BoardMembersPresident:MikelShakarjianTompkinsCàuntyEMCVicePresident:DavidFoordDutchessCountyEMCSecretary:LeeHanleYoungeChemungCountyEMCTreasurer:LouiseHartshornMonroeCountyEMCDirectors-at-LargeStevenNicholsonTompkinsCountyEMCGeorgeProiosSuffolkCountyEMCPeterWarnErieCountyEMCNancyWebWestchesterCountyEMCeducation,actionandsharedexperiencesandtoassistinimplementingenvironmentalpracticestoprotectandpreserveNewYork’squalityoflife.2005BoardMembersPresident:JoySquiresHuntingtonConservationBoardVicePresident:SimonSkolnik.BedfordConservationBoardSecretary:DonaldDugerElbridgeConservationAdvisoryCouncilTreasurer:AnnBrandtWoodstockEnvironmentalCommissionDirectorsNewYorkStateAssociationofConservationCommissionsMunicipalitiesinNewYorkStatehavetheauthoritytoestablishlocalconservationcommissions(CACs/CBs)-.toadviselocalgovernmentonallissuesofenvironmentalimportance.NYSACCservestocoordinateandsupporttheworkofmunicipalconservationcommissionsthroughoutthestate.TheprimaryobjectivesofNYSACCaretoprovideaforumforSamAkimbamiEveFertigSteveNoblePeterRizzoLeeHanleJohnFavaFrankMantloneStevenOtisCaroleWilderYounge‘N
WAVESorEE7zLtHEFUTURWindandWateraretwoofNewYork’smostpromisingrenewableresourcesandthefocusofmanynewprogramsaffectinglocalcommunities.Thegoaloftheconferenceistoprovidevaluableinformationonwindandwaterprojects,programsandtoolsthatwillbeusefi4lastheseresourcesareutilized,restoredorregulatedthroughoutNewYorkState.CONFERENCEOVERVIEWSaturday.October8Noon-5pm—registration(AppleyCenter)3-5pm-concurrentsessions:(AppleyCenter)•ProjectW.E.T.:OutdoorWorkshopwithEnvironmentalEducators•SharingIdeasandInspiration:AwardWinningprojectsfromEMCsandCACsaroundtheState3-6pm-Exhibits(AppleyCenter)5-6pm-NYSAEMCAnnualMeeting(AppleyCenter)5-6pm-NYSACCAnnualMeeting(AppleyCenter)6-7pm-SocialHour-(Tepee)7-9pm-Dinner,(TheLodge)NYSDECActingCommissioner,DeniseM.Sheehan,keynotespeaker(invited)Sunday,October97-8:30am-breakfast(TheLodge)8:30am-5pm-registration(AppleyCenter)8:30-5pm—Exhibits(AppleyCenter)8:30—10:15am-workshops:(AppleyCenter)•“BirdsandWindTurbines:AReviewoftheScience”•“StreamandLakeMonitoringPrograms:Hands-On,HowToDoIt”10:45-noon-workshops:(AppleyCenter)•“WindFarmsandLandUsePlanningforRenewables”•“LocalPartnerships:EyesandEarsofWaterProtection”1:30pmAwardsLuncheon(AppleyCenter)pm-workshops:(AppleyCenter)“NYSEnergyPlanandLargeWindFarmInitiativesinNewYorkState”•“TheHealthandManagementoftheGreatLakes:TheFutureofNewYork’sWaters”Sunday.October9(continued)3:30-5pm-workshops:(AppleyCenter)•“CapturingtheWind:Municipal,CommercialandResidentialInstallations”•“StormwaterInitiatives:PhaseIIImplementation”5:30-6:30pm-SocialHour-(Tepee)6:30-8:30pm-Dinner,(TheLodge)AuthorBillMcKibben,keynotespeaker(invited)Monday.October107-8:30am-breakfast(TheLodge)8:30-9:30am-NYSAEMCBoardMeeting(Cleveland)8:30-9:30am-NYSACCBoardMeeting(TheLodge)9:45-noon-fieldtrip(leavefromTheGrove)1pm-lunch,CombinedBoardsMeeting(TheLodge)Conferencenotes:oRefundrequestsmustbeinwritingandwillbeprocesseduptoSept20fora$25administrativefee.NorefundswillbegivenafterSept20.oTheConferenceCenterisacasualbusinessgetaway.Sportswearisstandarddress.oQuestionsaboutscholarships,registrationortheconference?ContactConferenceCoordinatorAnitaCartin518-392-9179Canin@olcomFieldtrip:FennerWindProjectJoinusforatouroftheFennerWindProjectinMadisonCounty,NYhostedbylocaLofficials.Areviewofthesitingprocess,projectbenefitsandpotentialimpactsofalargescalewindturbineprojectinyourcommunityfromtheplanninganddesignthoughoperation.Cost:includedinregistration.Pleaseindicateifyouareplanningtoattendsowecanarrangeforbuses.12:15-1:45-3•
NameVIAVESOpVBR*7LDWZLL2tHEFUTURtAffiliationAddressCityState____________Zip(+4)_________-_________Phone()Fax()E-mailFUJIConference:October8-10,2005ArrivalSaturday2pm.departMonday2pm,includesSaturdaydinner,allmealsSunday,breakfast&lunchMondayInSept3afterSent3atdoor**Sharedroom*$120$135Singleroom$150$165OneNightonly:dayofarrival______Includes:lunch&dinnerdayofarrival,Sharedroom*$65$75Singleroom$80$90Commutermeals:Lunch$8.50$9.50Dinner$22$24Notespecialneeds:(Handicaproom,vegetarian)tRoommate’snameplusREGISTRATION$80$85$100Students/Spouses/non-participants$40$50$60Checksshouldbemadepayableto-2005ConferenceontheEnvironnientMailthisformwithcheckorvoucherto:ConferenceCoordinator,AnitaCartin160PondHillRdChatham,NY12037Totalenclosed(roomlboardlregistration)=$______ScholarshipandotherinformationmaybeobtainedthroughtheConferenceCoordinator518-392-9179(afterAugust15)cor%1’ERENCELOCATlONTheWhiteEagleConferenceCenterisdnexecutiveretreatfacilitysituatedon140acresinHamilton,NYlocatedonLakeMoraineinbeautifulMadisonCounty.00UticaExit31BinghamtonR’wiWhiteEagleConferenceCenter2960LakeMoraineRd.,Hamilton,NY133461-800-295-9322wwwwhit&agle.com180milesfromBuffalo,100MilesfromAlbany,240MilesfromNewYorkCityDIRErIIONS:Frompointswest:1-90toexit34,leftonRT13,leftonRT5,rightonRT46,leftonRT20toMadison.RightonRT83toWhiteEagle.Frompointseast:1-90to1-88toDuanesburg.RT20westtoMadison.LeftonRT83toWhiteEagle.Frompointssouth:1-81northtoexit6.RT12northtoRT12B,northtoHamilton.At3”’trafficlight,goontoMadisonSt.,2.5mi.toWhiteEagle.Frompointsnorth:WE12toRt12BinNewHartford.12BtoRT20westtoMadison,leftonRT83toWhiteEagleNote:RegistrationandmeetingswillbeheldintheAppleyCenterbuilding.ParticipantaccommodationswillbeashortwalkawayincottagesinTheGroveonWhiteEagleproperty.OverflowaccommodationswillbeattheWendtUniversityInn,2½milesaway.AREAATIRACII0NSANDACTIVHIES:•TheConferenceCenteroffersuseoftwobowlinglanes,pingpong,darts,boating,fishing,volleyball,biking,andjogging.•IntheVillageofHamilton,tourColgateUniversity,andvisitthesmallgiftshops,coffeeshops,andrestaurants.•NearbyBouckville,onRoute20(approximately5miles),boastsmanyantiqueshops.•GolfersmaywishtoarrangeateetimeatnearbySevenOaksGolfCourse(call315-824-1432).CONFERENCEREGISTRATIONFORM:SyracuseRoute20SherbumeRoute12$150$180breakfastnextday.$85$100$10.50$26ttNote:Participantspayingatthedoormustreservemealsandsleepingroombymailingregistrationformandnoting“paymentatconference”Fieldtrip:pleaseindicate-willattend!notattend#tickets______
NYSAEMCandNYSACCyJAVESopiWfl57/cHEru’ruROctober8-10,2005tn0jjir‘in-c-—-’o0)D>,a,2>-EOF—Zzc,Jc-i.--rCWhiteEagleConferenceCenter,Hamilton,NYSPONSOREDBY:0aUUSU—enoCo‘S-C00CCp4CeqflI-4?S4?S-ct4?•1NewYorkStateAssociationofEnvironmentalManagenieiitCouncilsandNewYorkStateAssociationofConservationCommissions