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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2004-10-07TownofIthacaConservationBoardOctober7,2004FinalMeetingMinutesPresent:LenoreDurkee,DianeConneman,BarneyUnsworth,BrentKatzmann,JonMeigs,LarrySallinger,andJohnYntemaStaff:SusanRitterLenoreDurkeecalledthemeetingtoorderat7:35p.m.Therewerenootherpersonstobeheardormembersconcerns.ChairReport:Lenoresharedseveralitems:•TheTownofCarolinewillin2005have100%oftheirelectricityneedsmetwithwindpower.•Thebufferordinancecontinuestoberevised.CodesandOrdinancewillreviewtheenforcementandvariancesectionattheirnextmeeting.C&Ohasbeenveryhelpfulinclarifyingthelanguage.•JoseLozanoisnolongerworkingontheSixMileCreekprojectwhichiswhyheisnothereasaguesttonight.SueaddedthatRoxanneJohnstonisnowinchargeofamorelowkeyprojectandhasbeenincommunicationwithDanKarig.CoordinatorReport:SueRiflersharedavarietyofitemswiththeboard:•BudgetfortheConservationBoardisreducedfor2005from$2000to$1000inlinewithothertownbudgetcuts.(TheGBmembersunderstandthesituationbutwouldliketheoptiontoaskforadditionalfundsifneededforaproject.)•EvanMonkmeyerandthePlanningBoardarestillnegotiatingthesiteforaparkasrequiredfortheIthacaEstatesSubdivision(E.KingRd).•TheRemingtonRestaurant,Inn,andMarinaproposalwasdeclaredbythePlanningBoardtohaveseveralenvironmentalimpactsandwillneedtogothroughafullEnvironmentalImpactStatement.MinutesTheSeptember2,2004minuteswereapprovedwithminorcorrections.OtherBusinessTheparklanddonation,aspartoftheMountin6-lotsubdivisionproposal,willbeconsideredbytheTownBoard,andwilllikelybeacceptedbythetownasapedestrianwalkwayandpassiveusearea.Connectionstootherwalkwayswillbeneededinthefuture.JonandLenorewillwritealettertheTownBoardsupportingtheparkproposal.AnewEMCrepresentativeisneededasBarney’stermwillendinDecemberandheisnotcontinuing.EMCmeetsthesecondWednesdayofthemonth.Representativesareoftenaskedtoserveonacommitteealso.TheTownofIthacarepresentativemustbeamemberoftheConservationBoard.NewConservationBoardMembersareneededtoreplaceConradIstockwhohasresignedandJohnYntemawhowantstobecomeanassociate.Elissaisconsideringifshecancontinue. SuewillputanoticeinthepapersandTownwebsite.Membersareaskedtothinkofpossiblemembers.ChimneySwiftProposalSuewillcontinuetotrytoreachKevinMcGowenwhowethinkhasmoreinformation.SteveKressthinksthatonetowermayserveagroupofbirdsforroostingbutonlyonepairfornesting.[Subsequentlytothemeeting,Mr.Kressaddsthatweshouldnotexpectimmediateresponsefromtheswifts,itwilllikelytakethemtimetodiscoverthechimney.]Otherquestionsthatremainare:Needandscope?Maintenance?Flywayandrange?PossiblepartnerssuchastheCayugaBirdClub?DeerMembersneedthesameversionofthereportpreparedbyConradIstock.Suewillmailthemforthenextmeeting.Itwaspointedoutthatdeerare“ownedbythestate”soactionneedsstateapproval.Questionswereaskedonthecostofagricultureimpactlocallyandthecostofdamagesfromautoaccidents.FinalRevisionsontheTownEnvironmentalReviewLaw.Afteradiscussionandclarificationsthegroupagreedthatnofurtherchangeswereneeded.ReportsandUpdatesScenicViews:ThecommitteewillmeetagainonOctober20.ThepresentationtotheTownBoardwaswellreceived.BarneysuggestedthattheInstituteforAppliedGeospatialTechnologymightbehelpful.Thiswouldbeonlyafterwecompleteaninventory.Itwasmoved,secondedandcarriedthatweallotupto$500fromthecurrentbudgettopurchaseasdigitalcameraandlensforuseintakingscenicviews.Suewilldosomeinvestigating.FischerAward:TheprogramtodedicatethetreeinhonorofBetsyDarlingtonwillbeheldonOctober15at11:30a.m.BrentwilldistributethenewsreleasewrittenbyJohn.Dianewillarrangetheprogramandgetahangtagforthetree.Therewerenootherreports.Themeetingwasadjournedat9:28p.m.SubmittedbyDianeConneman TOWNOFITHACA215N.TiogaStreet,Ithaca,N.Y.14850TOWNCLERK273-1721HIGHWAY273-1656PARKS273-8035ENGINEERING273-1747PLANNING273-1747ZONING273-1783FAX(607)273-1704TOWNOFITHACAPLANNINGDEPARTMENTMEMORANDUMTO:CONSERVATIONBOARDMEMBERS‘2FROM:SUSANRITTER,ASSISTANTDIRECTOROFPLANNINGJi’DATE:SEPTEMBER,292004RE:OCTOBER7,2004MEETINGOFTHECONSERVATIONBOARDThisistoconfirmthatthenextmeetingoftheConservationBoard(CB)isThursday,October7that7:30p.m.Theagendaforthismeetingisenclosed(seethebackofthismemo),asaretheminutesfromtheSeptembermeeting,foryourreview.IncludedontheagendaisthecontinueddiscussionoftheChimneySwiftproposal,asyoumayrecall,theBoardpostponeddiscussionofthisissueuntilmoreinformationwasobtained.IamintheprocessoftrackingdownadditionalinformationandwillreportmyfindingsatthemeetingonThursday.AlsoontheagendaisdiscussionofthedraftdeerreportpreparedbyConrad.Membersareaskedtocometothemeetingpreparedtooffercommentsonthisreport.ConraddistributedthisdocumentattheSeptemberCBmeeting.Pleaseletmeknowifyouareinneedofacopy.Andfinally,thereisstilltimefortheCBtosubmitadditionalcommentsonthereviseddraftTownEnvironmentalReviewLaw.TheCBhadfocusedconsiderableattentionontheissueofwetlanddefinitionfortheTypeIactionlist,butinputdoesnotneedtobelimitedtothisoneissue,andmembersareencouragedtoprovideadditionalfeedbackontherevisionstothislaw.Anopportunityforfinalcommentldiscussionofthisdocumentwillbeprovidedatthemeeting.Pleaseletmeknowifyouneedacopyofthisdocument.EnclosedwithyourmaterialsisaprintoutoftheScenicResourcesCommittee’spresentationtotheTownBoard.ThecommitteereceivedaveryfavorableresponsefromtheTownBoardonSeptember13th,andwillhopefullyprovideareportofthemeetingonThursday.SeeyouonThursday.Enc. TOWNOFITHACACONSERVATIONBOARD7:30p.m.,Thursday,October7,2004AuroraStreetConferenceRoom215N.TiogaStreetIthaca,NewYork14850(Therearentranceishandicappedaccessible)(607)273-1747AGEN1A7:30pm1.Identifyvolunteerforminutes7:31pm2.Personstobeheard7:36pm3.Membersconcerns7:45pm4.ChairandCoordinatorreports7:55pm5.Business:Approvalofminutesfrom9/2/04NominateTompkinsCountyEMCRepDiscussMembership&Recruitment8:10pm6.ContinuediscussionofChimneySwiftproposal8:25pm7.DiscussdraftDeerReport8:45pm8.FinalcommentsonrevisionstotheTownEnvironmentalReviewLaw8:55pm9.Regularreportsandupdates•ScenicResourcesCommittee•FischerAwardCommittee•TompkinsCountyEMC(Barney)•EnvironmentalReviewCommitteeSixMileCreekPartnershipCityofIthacaNaturalAreasCommission(Jon)9:20pm10.Otherbusiness9:30pmII.AdjournmentCBMembersand*AsniatLenoreDurkee,ChairHelenLang*BarneyUnsworthDianeConnemanJonMeigs*ElissaWolfsonEvaHoffmannLarrySallingerJohnYntemaBrentKatzmann TownofIthacaConservationBoardSeptember2,2004DraftMinutesPresent:LenoreDurkee(Chair),DianeConneman(Vice-Chair),EvaHoffmann,ConradIstock,BrentKatzmann,HelenLang,JonMeigs,LarrySaflinger,BarneyUnsworth,JohnYntemaStaff:SueRitterAbsent:ElissaWolfsonPersonstobeheard:NoneMemberconcerns:NoneCoordinatorreport:Chairreport:NoneBusiness:Approvalofminutesfrom8/5/04;MinutesofAugust5,2004approvedwithminorcorrections.ContinuedDiscussionofTownEnvironmentalReviewLaw:BrentproposednewlanguageforSectionV5oftheTownEnvironmentalReviewLawwhich(paraphrasedhere)requiresthatallnaturalwetlandsintheTownthatappearontheNationalWetlandsInventory(NWI)map(orareaddedinthefuture)besubjecttoSEQRreview.Man-madewetlands(thosedesignatedbytheNWIasdiked,excavated,orimpounded)wouldbeexcluded.Anextendeddiscussionfollowed.Lenorequestionedwhetherweshouldfurtherlimitthesizeofwetlands,butBrentfeltthatifthemapswerecreatedbyaerialmappingthesmallestwetlandswouldnotappearanyway.Evapointedoutthattherecouldbesituationswhereitwasdebatableifawetlandwerenaturalornot,suchasthewater-filledquarryatLongview.SueraisedconcernthatallprojectswiththesewetlandswouldbeelevatedtoTypeIstatus,whichsuggeststhattheycouldrequireanEnvironmentalImpactStatements.Therewasmuchdiscussionofthereviewprocessandwhatimpactthiswouldhave.AvotetorecommendBrent’sproposal(withsomeamendmentstolanguage)passedunanimously.ScenicResourcesCommitteepresentation:DianepresentedapowerpointpresentationthatshepreparedwiththehelpofBrentandEva.TheresponsefromtheCBwasverypositive.ThepresentationwillbemadetotheTownBoardonSeptember13’.SeveralsuggestionsweremaderegardingwhatkindofsupportweareaskingforfromtheTownBoard.RecommendationontheChimneySwiftproposal:AverybriefdiscussionofthechimneyswiftproposalyieldedseveralcommentsofsupportforDr.Fischeraswellasseveralquestionsaboutthespecificsoftheproject.Itwasdecidedtopostponethisitemuntilthenextmeetingforfurtherdiscussion.Regularreportsandupdates:•CityofIthacaNaturalAreasCommission—Jonreportedthatmuchtimewasspentdiscussingcontrolofinvasiveexoticflora,especiallyJapaneseknotweed,intheSixMileCreekarea. •TompkinsCountyEMC—BarneyreportedthattheEMCwouldmeetonSeptember8th•Therewillbeapresentationonthe“FingerLakesDecisionSupportSystem”—aweb-basedtoolthatemploysNASAdataforlandusepurposes.TherewillalsobeaGreenBuildingFairattheFarmer’sMarketonSeptember19EhandatourofgreenbuildingsonOctober2Thd&3rd•StreamBufferCommittee—noreport.•EnvironmentalReviewCommittee—LenorereportedthattheERChascaughtuponsitevisits.ConcernwasraisedabouttheRemingtonInn&Restaurantproject.Theyhavemadesomemodificationsbuttheirparkinglotisencroachingontheadjacenttownpark,andalsosharesadrivewaywiththetownpark.Trafficcouldnegativelyimpacttheexperienceofparkvisitors.Thereisalsonothingtopreventguestsoftheinnfromusingtownparkingspaces.JonalsopointedoutthatthepicturessubmittedbyRemingtonofviewimpactaredeceptive.LenorealsoreportedthatdevelopersoftheMountinpropertyatElmStreetExtensionandWestHavenRoadhaveproposeddonating10+acrestotheTownforopenspace.SuepointedoutthattheTownmayhavereservationsaboutacceptingthepropertyduetoliabilityconcerns,andthatiftheCBwantstheTownBoardtoacceptthepropertytheyshouldmaketheirwishesknown.•SixMileCreekPartnership--LarryreportedthatthepartnershipmetonAugust30htoidentifysamplesites.Thenumberofsiteswilldependonthenumberofvolunteers,Larryadvocatedfor3samplesitesintheTown:onenearGermanCrossroadwherethecreekenterstheTown,onenearBumsRoadandthefiringrange,andonenearGilesStreetwherethecreekexitstheTown.BaselinestudieswillprobablybedoneinlateSeptemberorearlyOctober.A“stormevent”willalsobemeasured.•FischerAwardCommittee—JonreportedthatworkwasproceedingontheplaqueandthattheTownParkManagersuggestedariverbirchbeplantedinHungerfordPark(asTuteloParkwillnotbelandscapeduntilnextyear).ThesuggestionwasapprovedbyconsensusoftheCB.OtherBusiness:•Conradpresentedadraftreportof“DeerintheTownofIthaca:Benefits,NegativeEffects,Amelioration.”TheCDwilldiscussthereportatthenextmeeting.•Thetopicofoutsidespeakersforfuturemeetingswasraised.SuewillseeifJoseLozanoisavailableforthenextmeeting.Meetingwasadjournedat9:55submittedbyHelenLang2 S--PreservingScenic’tnttheTowqofltka—-—.L4,______--Why?ScenicviewsenhanceourlivesaScenicviewsenhanceourlivesILScenicviewsenhanceourlivesEncourageappreciationofnaturalsurroundingsGiveasenseofplaceandbelongingScenicviewsenhanceourlivesProvideeconomicvaluethroughtourismandincreasingpropertyvalues1 ThreatstoScenicViews•Insensitivelyplacedresidentialorcommercialdevelopment•Uncontrolledgrowthofvegetation•Poorlyplacedutilitypoles,communicationtowersandsimilarstructuresExamplesoflostviewsOncegone,theseviewsarelostforeverActionstoDate•ScenicViewpreservationbeganintheearly1990’s•LocalResidentsidentifiedfavoriteviews•Photosweretakenandlegalresearchdone.•TheTownendorsedthevalueofviews•Wecanandshoulddomore2 PlanofAction—ThenextstepsFinalizecriteriaforevaluatingscenicresources:-UniqueNaturalResources-CulturalIdentity-HistoricRelevance-RecreationalSignificance-EntryPointstotheCityOfIthaca-ImpoitancetoTourism-ScopeofExposurePlanofAction•Developmethodstoprotect‘most-valued’LPlanofAction/TimetableOctober,2004I-•Finalizecriteriaforevaluatingscenicresources•Usea9ridtocataloguetownviews•Systematicallytakepictures•Evaluateandrankviews•Developrecommendedprotectionmethodsformost-valued’viewsMay,2005September,20053 Thedirectionisclear•TheNYSConstitutiondelegatestolocalmunicipalitiesthepowertopreseivescenicviews•TheTownendorsedthevalueofviewsinthe1993ComprehensivePlan•The2004ZoningOrdinancereflectstheimportanceofscenicviews.Weaskforyoursupport.4