The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCAC Minutes - 11_13_18Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 4 Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes of monthly meeting on Monday, November 13, 2018 Danby Town Hall, 1830 Danby Road, Danby, New York This particular meeting was held at The Gathery, 1774 Danby Road, Danby, New York preceded at 6pm by an Natural Resource Inventory Map Open House giving the public opportunity to view maps and make comments Council Members present: Matt Ulinski (chair), Joel Gagnon, Don Schaufler , Clare Fewtrell, Ruth Sherman, Mary Woodsen Council Members absent: Biil Evans Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (secretary), C.J. Randall (Danby Town Planner), Ronda Roaring (Danby resident) Meeting opened at 7:05 pm Agenda Review (Additions or Deletions) Bob Beck, chair of the Rail Trail Task Force in Dryden and former chair of a conservation group similar to CAC in Dryden, was not available to speak to CAC – called away for an emergency Public Comments/Privilege of the Floor (later referred to as PoF) No comments at this time Reading and Discussion of previous Oct Minutes Approval of Minutes Deferred Reports and Updates 1. Report from Randall on local law affecting White Hawk which is under review- This local law No. 1 of 2019 (White Hawk Ecovillage Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 4 Community) proposes to amend the zoning of PDZ 19 for the following reasons (among others): • Property was accidentally subdivided by County Assessment after a survey map (not a subdivision plat) was filed that showed the location of the 30 house lots; • PDZ 19 references specific Site Plan prepared by an engineer who is now unreachable, and thus the Site Plan tied to the PDZ cannot be amended; • PDZ 19 does not reflect the extent of uses the WhiteHawk community would like to see – they have added professional offices and small wind energy conversion systems as permitted accessory uses; they also would like to see neighborhood retail and restaurants (limited to 15,000 total gross square feet) as well as as wind energy facility (utility-scale) by Site Plan Review; • PDZ 19 referenced specific manner of land ownership, which has created headaches for them trying to get NYS Attorney General approval for their land offering plan (they use ground leases rather than fee simple plots, so they have to prepare prospectus and risk disclosures) • Link to the amended PDZ 19: https://towndanby.digitaltowpath.org:10768/content/Departments/Vie w/7:field=documents;/content/Documents/File/609.pdf. 2. Update on 2275 Danby Road, Willseyville Danby Conservation Easement • Ulinski reported Town Board voted to approve • Press release for Danby Area Newsletter suggested. Randall will work with owner – Katherine O’Neal – on publicity • This easement was a group effort: Woodsen and Gagnon initiated it and Ulinski completed it. The negotiations and contract have been complicated by inclusion of several new parcels along the way. • The pubic hearing is on Monday, November 26, 2018 3. Update on Income from Rural Properties presentations • Schaufler reported that the last presentation by Steve Gabriel on growing mushrooms was well received and around 10 to 15 people attended. Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 4 • Next presentation is to be given by Lance Ebel of NewLeaf Environmental LLC on federal and state funding for sustainable land management on Monday, November 26th. • Will skip December presentation; next will be in January • Advertising suggestions besides Gay Huddle: Cayuga Radio Group, Ithaca Times, posters in Brooktondale Post Office, Italian Carryout, Danby Church. • Topics suggested: growing paw paws (Gagnon), Maple syrup • Fact sheet on presentations on display at Town Hall suggested 4. Update on non-chemical alternatives to spraying on 3 pipelines going through Danby: • Matt will draft a letter to Town Board 5. Update on follow-up to logging situation on Deputron Hollow Rd. • Schaufler reported that he had called Aaron St. John on Oct 17th.. He was cordial and Schaufler introduced myself as a forester and on the Danby Conservation Advisory Committee. He asked him if he had plans for the Deputron Road property after the logging. St. John replied it was a personal matter and when Schaufler explained that some of the neighbors were curious as to the future of the property he replied again it was a personal decision. Schaufler told him he understood and respected that. St. John mentioned that no one seemed interested in the property when it was for sale a while ago. Then he said goodbye and ended the conversation. • PoF: Roaring said that the offer should have been followed up on when it was given. But the group consensus seemed to be that there were no plans or money available for the town to buy properties so it was not possible to move fast enough when there was a favorable opportunity. Nor is there any evidence the town wants to do this. 6. Follow up to Natural Resource Inventory Map Open House • Randall said that she would take comments on each map and incorporate into existing information and add more explanatory text to go with maps. Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 4 • Goal is to do parcel prioritization for conservation purposes • Planning Board is doing a zoning audit to determine how well zoning is working on such things as signage; light pollution (International Dark Sky Association); working on developing more nuance in zoning. Taking another look at agricultural areas, species habitats, conservation areas. • An alternative to conservation easements for critical areas is purchase of development rights –issue bonds to finance. • Can use maps to pitch to land owner what is special in his/her property. • PoF: Roaring noted that there are development pressures in South Danby. Randall responded that is more in the north of Danby. • Any questions on details that need to be added to another possible layer to ArcGIS talk to Randall 7. Update on Knotweed and Highway Department • Sherman reported that there is a Cornell Local Roads Program (https://www.clrp.cornell.edu/nuggets_and_nibbles/articles/ 2009/invasives.html ) that could help with training on invasives. • Matt reported that the Highway Department was very receptive to the idea. 8. Update on Mary Wimsatt property conservation easement and proposed gift to town • Gagnon had nothing to report Next Meeting is on December 13, 2018 at 7p.m. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 pm _____________________________________________ Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)