HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2018-09-06 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Thursday September 6,2018
Final Minutes
Members Present:James Hamilton, Elizabeth Hageman, Hannah George, Mike Roberts, Ellie Stewart,
Vladimir Micic, Eva Hoffmann, Will VanDyke
Staff: Mike Smith (Senior Planner)
1. Persons to be heard: None
2. Member concerns:The board had an extensive discussion regarding the new 2,000 bed
dormitory development Cornell University is planning to construct on their north campus, part
of which is on Town of Ithaca land.The town has given the City of Ithaca environmental review
lead on this project. However, the town, through the planning board, can submit comments to
the city planning board.There was a presentation on energy use and traffic open to the public
on September 41", which one member of the conservation board attended.The project will not
require changes in zoning or additional variances for the sections within the Town of Ithaca. The
Conservation Board will be formatting a letter to both the City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca
Planning Boards with comments/questions primarily relating to energy use.The following items
will most likely be addressed: alternative forms of energy, water use, energy efficiency of the
buildings, length of use of the structures, educational components for students, and cars on
campus.The goal is to have a letter written by October 2nd for discussion at the next Town of
Ithaca Planning Board meeting.
3. Chair and Coordinator reports:
a. Chair- Mike Roberts
i. Contact was made with the NYS Department of Transportation to determine if
the scenic views sign fee can be waived for the sign on Rt 96B.
b. Planner-Mike Smith
i. Sprint will most likely be seeking to add more antennas onto existing towers.
4. July minutes were approved with a motion from James with a second from Mike R. August
minutes were approved with a motion from Elizabeth and second from Will.
5. Reports/Updates
a. ERC-Cell tower proposal from Sprint was approved
b. SRC- Update above
c. Communications Committee-Individuals can contact PRISM in regards to feedback of
the invasive species event in July. Facebook is updated regularly.There are concerns
that the communications from the Board should be available in multiple formats to
reach all populations.
d. Tompkins County EMC- No meeting is August
e. Six Mile Creek- Benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) sampling of riffles below Potters Falls
and above the German Cross Road bridge was completed by volunteers on 8/28/18 and
9/2/18; a third riffle next to 600 Road in Slaterville Springs will be sampled for BMI on
9/8/18.The Community Science Institute (CSI) is sponsoring youth field trips on the
floating classroom to study lake water at different depths with a Van Dorn sampler;
1
children are also invited to learn about cyanobacteria with the Ithaca Youth Bureau at
Stewart Park on September 8 from 1:00-2:30 pm.
f. Cornell Botanic Gardens-Volunteers were shown an infestation of Japanese Stiltgrass on
Six Mile Creek below Van Nattas dam, then hunted for it during a swallow-wort check of
Cornell's Natural Area north of Hospicare's East King Road facility. A few swallow-wort
vines were found up there at sites mapped by a GPS unit, but no stilt grass was located,
though the latter has begun growing on Ithaca College's adjacent property.
g. Deer Management Committee
i. The new committee will form soon.
6. Other Business:There is a NY Hemlock Initiative which includes ranger training on October 131n
to help identify trees that may benefit from biocontrol.
7. Work Goals/Agenda: Mike R reviewed the 2018 Conservation Board work goals.
Adjourn: 7:01 pm
Minutes drafted by Elizabeth Hageman.
2