HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2001-02-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Final Minutes
February 1, 2001
Present : Barney Unsworth, Don Weir, Eva Hoffmann, Clifford Blizard, Lenore Durkee,
Richard Fischer, John Yntema, Elissa Wolfson, Libby deProsse
Staff: Susan Ritter
Persons to be heard: none
Members Concerns: Clifford asked about the Ithaca College Committee having to do with the
conservation zoning? Sue will schedule a meeting.
Coordinator report: We have a new Town clerk, her name is Tee Ann Hunter. We also have a
new part time planner, Chris Balestra, who has previously worked for the Town.
Chair report: It was noted that the Town of Danby was having a meeting at the same time as the
CB meeting, their meeting was regarding sensible land use.
Barney has written a letter to Bill Lesser of the Town Board, who has been appointed as
the Town's EMC representative, reminding him that we would like to be kept "posted" on the
EMC goings on.
There was been much public reaction to the proposed oil and gas drilling in the Finger
Lake National Forest. Seven alternatives have been proposed. It is possible that the drilling will
occur on private land which is interspersed amid the Forest. There will need to be issued a DEC
Permit.
The City is planning to build a pedestrian bridge over Route 13 in the Southwest area which
would link portions of the Black Diamond trail and the City's Southwest Natural Area.
We have received a copy of the EIS scoping document from the Cornell Vet. School
Waste Management Facility.
There will be a neighborhood meeting at the North East School to discuss the issue of the
Town's sewer easement and the need for clearing trees that are clogging the sewer lines and
obstructing access.
Ideas for the Town Newsletter were suggested: discussion of invasive species in a "do
you know format".
Minutes: Minutes from the 1-4-01 meeting were approved as amended.
Stream Buffers: Ms Ritter had three videos on stream buffers, which were very informative. We
learned the value of trees in holding water, the denitrification from leaf litter, the three zone
buffer system. These were also described in the written material distributed to us in the mail.
Proper management of the buffer provides removal of excess nitrogen, trapping of sediment, and
protection from pesticides in runoff. A copy of the DRAFT Water Resources Protection
Ordinance was distributed so members could review and comment on the ordinance before the
next meeting.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:35. Submitted by E. deProsse, Secretary
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