HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Packet 2023-12-07
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
215 N. Tioga St 14850
607.273.1747
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TO: CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBERS
FROM: MICHAEL SMITH, SENIOR PLANNER
DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2023
SUBJECT: UPCOMING CONSERVATION BOARD MEETING – DECEMBER 7, 2023
This is to confirm that the next meeting of the Conservation Board (CB) is Thursday,
December 7th at 5:30 p.m. The agenda for this meeting is enclosed (see the back of
this memo).
The draft minutes from the October 5th and November 2nd meeting are attached. Please
email me any spelling, grammatical, or other minor edits you have prior to the meeting.
At this meeting, we will continue the conversation on indigenous environmental justice
with Mike R.
We will also continue the conversation regarding the CB assisting with deer browse
monitoring as part of the Town’s Deer Management Program. Here is a link to a recent
analysis of several monitoring methods titled “Experimental evaluation of four protocols
for assessing white-tailed deer browse intensity” (2023):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23007938.
We will also discuss the upcoming NYS Open Space Conservation Plan update and
when/how to contribute. Please see the October 30th email (attached) from James
which includes information from NYSDEC on the process.
Under Other Business, the usual end of the year items are included as we prepare for
2024. The CB will need to discuss nominations for the 2024 chair and vice-chair
positions, along with the approval of the 2024 meeting schedule. We will need to
discuss the July 2024 meeting date, as the first Thursday is the 4th of July holiday.
Mike R. is signed up to take minutes at the December meeting.
If you have any questions prior to the meeting or are not able to attend, please contact
me at msmith@town.ithaca.ny.us or 607-273-1747.
Conservation Board Members and Associates (*)
Lori Brewer (Chair), Frank Cantone (Vice-Chair), Lindsay Dombroskie*, Elise Edwards*,
James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Michael Roberts, Ingrid Zabel
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TOWN OF ITHACA
CONSERVATION BOARD
5:30 p.m., Thursday, December 7, 2023
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Aurora Conference Room
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(The rear entrance is handicapped accessible)
(607) 273-1747
Members of the public are welcome to attend in-person at Town Hall
or virtually via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/6750593272).
AGENDA
1. Persons to be heard (5:30 pm)
2. Members comments / concerns
3. Environmental Review Committee Update (Lori)
4. Chair and Coordinator reports
5. Approval of minutes from October 5, 2023 and November 2, 2023
6. Continue discussion of Indigenous Environmental Justice (Mike)
7. Town’s Deer Management Program – continue browse monitoring discussion
8. Discussion of upcoming NYS Open Space Conservation Plan update (James)
9. Regular reports and updates (6:30 pm)
a. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva)
b. Communications Committee (James)
c. Tompkins County EMC (Ingrid)
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program (James)
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program (James)
10. Other Business (6:50 p.m.)
- Approval of the 2024 Meeting Schedule
- Recommendation of a Chair for 2024
- Nomination and Election of a Vice-Chair for 2024
11. Review 2023 Work Goals / Discuss January Agenda
12. Adjourn (7:00 p.m.)
1
Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting
October 5, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
(In Person at Town Hall and via Zoom Video Conference)
Draft Minutes
Members present: Lori Brewer (Chairperson), Elise Edwards, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann,
Michael Roberts and Ingrid Zabel.
Staff: Michael Smith, Senior Planner.
Guests: Veet Deha (from West Hill; is interested in working with CB, but lives in the city of
Ithaca), Norman Adelewitz, from Muriel Street (in person) and Robert Boynton, Carrie
Regenstein, Andrea Dutcher and William Sonnenstuhl (by Zoom), representing a Northeast
group of residents.
1. Persons to be heard: Mr. Adelewitz spoke for the Northeast residents group and described a
proposal they have become aware of for a Tareyton Drive area, where Cornell Real Estate is
selling land to a private developer to build affordable housing. He mentioned an article in the
Ithaca Voice about possible development on Tareyton Drive. He has seen a conceptual plan for
a 58-acre plot of land. This is not close to Tareyton Drive, but the whole area shown on a map is
near enough to cause concern. He stated that it is very wet (with many wetlands) and is not
suited for being built on, especially with many impervious surfaces from houses, roads and
driveways which would need to be constructed. Studies have been done which indicate this. Mr.
Adelewitz mentioned that there has not yet been any publicity about this proposal, The Planning
Board has not heard of it. This residents’ group plans to be at the Town Board meeting on
October 12. He mentioned a five-year battle waged 2006 to 2011, with “back-and-forth” over
that in minutes. A “comfort letter” was provided to the developer regarding water and sewer
availability. The CB described the “Environmental Resource Mapper”
(https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/erm/) is available that the group may want to look at. Lori
explained the process a development proposal goes through after it is received by the Town of
Ithaca. There was a comment from Zoom stating that it looks like this is a third of Sapsucker
Woods. Eva stated that as a long-time member of the CB and former member of both the Town
of Ithaca’s Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board, she feels certain that the town is
completely aware of the wet areas on the northeast part of the town, the existing drainage
problems there and their causes and origins.
2. Member comments/concerns: None.
3. Environmental Review Committee Update (Lori): There is a review of a self-storage facility on
Elmira Road coming up.
4. Chairperson and Coordinator reports: No report by Lori.
a. Mike S. mentioned the tree planting near the Eastern Heights water tank coming up at 9 am on
Oct. 14. The information is available on the Town’s Web site. Signs have been posted. Plants
have been ordered using a grant received from Tompkins County.
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b. He also stated that the Town has purchased three parcels of land in the southwest area by Routes
13 and 13A. They will be transferred to NYS Parks for the Black Diamond Trail project.
c. The 2014 Priority Trail Strategies document (Tompkins Priority Trails Strategy, 2023 Update,
draft 10/4/23.) was updated. A map shows which trails have been secured, which are in the
works, connections, etcetera. Tompkins County will eventually adopt the document and there
will be public access to all. Lori mentioned that trail counters to monitor use have been up for
about a year.
d. Funding was recently awarded for improvements along East Shore Drive and underpass area
under Route 13, to clean it up and make more pedestrian friendly. The Town got funding for the
design. There will be a public meeting on this in November.
5. Approval of minutes from September 7, 2023: The minutes were approved as written.
6. Recap of the Conference on the Environment (Elise and Lori): There was a discussion about
Environmental Management Councils (EMCs), what they do and where they are. Tompkins
County’s EMC has arranged for each of its towns to give talks about what they do, what
regulations and similar systems they have. Elise gave a very good presentation about how the
Town of Ithaca’s CB does things.
7. Continue discussion of Indigenous Environmental Justice (Mike R.): No report today. Mike will
meet Steve Henhawk next week. Lori mentioned that Henhawk was involved with a Town of
Danby study. Mike stated that in Cornell’s project with Henhawk, a History Center employee is
learning the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' language and is willing to create draft into Cayuga language. Mike
said that there is progress, but it is slow.
8. Regular reports and updates:
a. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva): No report, because no news is available.
b. Communications Committee (James): As of last night, our Facebook page has 341 followers,
reached 135 and engaged 21 over the past 28 days. The Tree Planting Event posted Oct 2 has
already reached 33 and engaged 5. Two to three people were interested in CB membership.
Mike S. has got us a Town email address (conservationboard@town.ithaca.ny.us) we can use,
and has set up an Instagram page.
c. Tompkins County Environmental Management Committee (EMC) (Ingrid): No report.
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program (James): Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Harriers
reported a large localized Harmful Algal Boom October 4, 2023 at residential lakefront
properties along Portland Point Rd; samples showed dolichospermum and microcystis present.
On Oct 3, HABs were spotted in three different “lakeshore segments” further north, including
along Wells College Boathouse. These happen on especially calm warm days.
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program (James): Volunteers dug out infestation of
slender false brome just west of trail near Monkey Run gated trailhead parking spot on Hanshaw
Rd. (Brachypodium sylvaticum, a bunchgrass found in high-use areas in Taughannock Falls
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State Park; it’s native to Europe, Asia, North Africa; it has a “very high” ranking of invasiveness
under NYDEC “ranking form” metrics); moved exclosure cages to protect blooming rare fringed
gentian in Etna Fringed Gentian Area (deer browse noticed on quite a few uncaged Gentianopsis
crinita); found three albino gentians & flagged them for special seed collection next month;
hunted Japanese stiltgrass in Lick Brook and South Hill Swamp NAs, near infestations on
adjacent lands owned by IC and FLLT easements.
9. Other Business: A question was asked regarding access to the meeting Zoom recording.
Mike S. stated that the Town doesn’t currently post the Zoom recordings on the website for the
Conservation Board, only the minutes. Dakota Partners are the developers of the wetlands area
of the Sapsucker Woods.
Elise mentioned Brendan Quirion (NYSDEC) as a resource regarding a deer browsing surveys.
10. Review 2023 Work Goals/ Discuss November Agenda: Not done.
11. Adjournment: 6:44 pm
Respectfully submitted by Eva Hoffmann
November 28, 2023
1
Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting
November 2, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
(In Person at Town Hall and via Zoom Video Conference)
Draft Minutes
Members present: Lori Brewer (Chairperson), Elise Edwards, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann,
Mike Roberts, Ingrid Zabel
Staff present: Michael Smith (Senior Planner), Joe Talbut (Parks Maintenance Manager)
1. Persons to be heard: none
2. Members comments/concerns
James mentioned an email he had sent to CB members, with news that the DEC will
soon be updating its Open Space Conservation Plan. We should be prepared to respond
during the public comment period.
Elise announced that she will be leaving the Conservation Board because she has a job
offer and will be leaving Ithaca. This is her last meeting. The chair, members, and staff
thanked her for her service and wished her well.
3. Environmental Review Committee Update (Lori)
There are no current projects to report on, but Mike Smith mentioned that a project was
submitted earlier in the week for Longview. It is not complete yet but will likely be coming
soon. It involves parking lots and changes to an entrance way.
4. Chair & Coordinator Reports
a. Chair Report: none
b. Coordinator report:
i. The East Shore Drive Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Corridor project is
underway. The goal is to enhance safety between Boynton Middle School
and Ithaca Youth Bureau / Stewart Park. The project is currently in the
first phase (design). There will be a public meeting about the project on
November 15th, 2023 at 5:45 p.m. at the Boynton Middle School
cafeteria.
ii. On Monday, November 13, 2023, a training is offered that might be
appropriate for the ERC. It will present different mapping tools and
resources. Mike sent an email to the CB.
iii. The Oct. 14, 2023 tree planting event at the East Ithaca Preserve went
well. Three members of the public attended, along with four CB members
and four town staff. The participants planted all the trees!
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iv. Project at Babcock Preserve: the Town has funds for trails, etc. A
Request for Proposals went out for designs, and proposals are due on
November 27, 2023.
v. Planning staff are starting to work on updates to the Town subdivision
regulations. The first draft will go to the Codes and Ordinances
Committee next week, and eventually it will come to the CB.
The regulations have several references to the Town of Ithaca's 1992
Open Space Report. This report was done pre-GIS. In the next year or
two, should the Town update the Open Space Report? There's been a lot
of development since 1992. Staff and consultants will want input from the
CB.
A scan of the 1992 Open Space Report is available online; see the
“Publications” section of the CB webpage:
https://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/boards/boards/
Related document—1997 Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open
Space Plan Full Report:
https://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TOI-Full-
Open-Space-Report-85pgs.pdf
5. Discussion with Joe Talbut, Parks Maintenance Supervisor
Motivation for this discussion: sometimes people give us comments about public spaces.
We want to learn more about public space in the Town of Ithaca, the work that the Town
does, the challenges, and messages we could share.
Earlier this year the CB heard some concerns about mowing native wildflowers along the
South Hill Recreation Way and in Tutelo Park. Joe mentioned the roadside mower used
for mowing along trails and ditches. These incidents of mowing down native plants were
accidental and followed after a staff person retired. It's a staffing and communications
issue—people rotate in and out and sometimes the communications don’t get through,
and staff mow down things they shouldn’t.
We did hear from a member of the public that the issue had been addressed along the
S. Hill Recreation Way: the mowing had stopped and the plants were growing back.
Joe mentioned that he gets a lot of requests, sometimes contradictory. For example,
some people like screening from plants along the recreation trails and other people do
not. Also, there has been a petition with a request to make a dog park area within
Tareyton Park.
3
Question from Mike Roberts: Would the Town consider reducing mowing in some Town
parks to let grasses and native plants grow taller? For example, in Tutelo and Grandview
Parks? Maybe some areas could be put on a rotation to be mowed just occasionally to
keep out the growth of woody plants, but be allowed to grow wildflowers and tall grasses
instead of having lawn.
Eva: It would be good to keep some flat areas mowed for recreation uses, since flat,
open space is hard to find in the Town with all the hills.
Ingrid has observed residents of her neighborhood using the flat, mowed area of
Grandview Park for soccer, football, etc., so the mowed area does get used. But the
playing field is so large that maybe some of it could continue to be mowed and some
could be left to grow wild.
Mike R. noted that people use a slope in Eastern Heights Park for sledding in the winter.
This slope could be put on a two-year rotation for mowing, and maybe a mowed path
could be left for walking, but having tall grass and wildflowers would not interfere with
sledding since the plants get packed down by snow in the winter.
James noted that reducing mowing is in line with our efforts to encourage pollinator
habitat. He suggests that if we go ahead with this, we should have signs to let people
know that the lack of mowing is intentional, not neglectful (like the signs on Cornell's Libe
Slope). The signs could list the benefits of reduced mowing such as
● using less gasoline, thereby reducing costs to the Town
● lower carbon emissions
● pollinator habitat
● etc.
Joe noted that the Department of Public Works has been looking into electric vehicles for
its fleet, including electric trucks and electric mowers. Unfortunately, they had a bad
experience with a battery-powered mower they purchased.
Action items:
● Ingrid - send a message to her neighborhood listserv asking people’s
opinions about this idea for Grandview Park
● We should all think about these ideas and how they could apply to specific
Town parks, and come up with suggestions for parks where we could do
this.
6. Minutes: minutes from October 2023 meeting are not yet available for approval.
7. Indigenous Environmental Justice report (Mike Roberts)
4
Robin Wall Kimmerer’s talk at Cornell on Nov. 1 on decolonizing land care was aligned
with our work. Recordings: https://cals.cornell.edu/land-justice-engaging-indigenous-
knowledge-land-care
Mike expects to meet with Steve Henhawk next week. They will walk Tutelo Park, look at
plants, and decide which to have on the trail. After that, Mike can do a lot of the work
and not take so much of Steve’s time.
Steve is not a paid consultant, but perhaps he should be. Mike has talked with Rod
Howe about this.
Lori brought up the idea of giving Tutelo Park back to the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' people in some
way or having some type of shared management.
Questions:
● We should ask Steve for his perspective on this. What would he and others like to
happen?
● Could we establish some co-use of the land, or a cultural lease/land trust?
● Has this been done elsewhere? Note there was a NYSACC conference talk about
something similar being done on private land in Danby.
● What are the legalities?
● Should the CB make a resolution to the Town Board?
8. Report on deer management work (Mike Smith)
The Town Board recently talked about the overall deer management program, which has
operated for 5 years. They discussed how it has been going and whether it should
continue. The DEC staff person who issues the permit came and visited deer
management sites with Town staff recently.
Mike wrote a memo to the Town Board with the results of a review of the program. Some
key points:
● History: In May 2017, the CB presented a report on deer. The program started in
2019.
● Coddington Rd. has been the best location
● Deer killed by year:
● The DEC commented that we have a small impact over a big area. They
suggested concentrating sites, so we have a large impact in small areas. The
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
1 20 42 40 17
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Town will drop some sites, such as Overlook Apartments, and focus largely on
Coy Glen, Six Mile Creek, and Coddington Road.
● Mike R. noted that West Hill has a lot of deer. Maybe in the future we could find
another site there.
● A landowner in the Six Mile Creek area contacted Mike S. He has just bought
property and wants to participate in the deer management program, so if
approved, this will expand the Six Mile Creek region.
● Mike S. is still working through some other comments.
● The Town Board would appreciate it if the CB would help with measuring browse,
monitoring within the Town to show the deer impact. Or, do surveys via the town
newsletter or with specific neighborhoods.
● Surveys are good; residents are aware of deer and deer-car collisions.
Neighborhood-specific surveys would be good in areas where management is
being done.
Action Items:
● Homework: read through the report that Mike Smith shared
● Put on the agenda for next time to familiarize ourselves with browse
measurements
The Town Board asked about costs: supplies, equipment, Mike’s time (he provided an
estimate; most of his time on this program is spent from October to April).
The Town Board said yes to moving forward and is overall supportive.
Mike S. noted that Indian Creek Farm has a deer fence around their entire property. Mike
does an annual inspection and is curious to see what the impact will be in the next few
years.
9. Committee Reports
a. Scenic Resources (Eva): no report
b. Communications Committee (James)
i. Mike S posted on our facebook page a good link to a very comprehensive
19-page scientific article: "Humanity for Habitat: Residential Yards as an
Opportunity for Biodiversity Conservation" published in BioScience, 2023,
Vol 73, pp 671-689. Written by S.B. Lerman of the USDA Forest Service
and 4 others, it's in the public domain in the US and should be read by all
of us to help with our mission to stop lawn mowing and promote native
plant gardens. Our facebook page now has 344 followers and follows 107
other facebook groups.
ii. Ingrid now has access to Instagram and will start posting there
c. EMC (Ingrid)
6
Discussion at the last EMC meeting focused a lot on a resolution with
questions and concern about the sale of the Cargill salt mine. Should
each municipality create their own resolution, and would that add value?
Ingrid will ask.
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program (James)
The Thursday night Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI) Sample analysis
sessions are being held again at Community Science Institute's (CSI)
Langmuir lab (95 Brown Rd, next to airport). From 6 to 9 pm, volunteers
can help turn preserved summer BMI into data for statistical indications of
creek health. Tomorrow, Nov. 3, '23, CSI is hosting a "Data Jam" at
Tompkins County Public Library in the Borg Warner room from 10 am to
noon. Folks interested in water quality of local streams and lakes can
learn how to use CSI's extensive water quality database. The next
synoptic water sampling of 13 sites in Six Mile Creek will happen
Wednesday morning next week unless we reschedule to try to catch a
storm surge; we have not yet managed a storm sample this year.
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program (James)
The volunteer stewardship crew cut a painted glyphosate on woody
invasives' stumps in Fall Creek gorge below the Foundry. Some of the
invasive trees there have come from seeds shed from the Arboretum
upstream. Amur cork (Phellodendron amurense), for example, grows real
well in the Arboretum just across from Cornell's water treatment plant,
and has moved into Cornell's natural areas downstream. We also weeded
out woody invasives, including crabapple trees, from the Salt Road Fen,
where a rare American globeflower (Trollius laxus) needed less shade to
survive there. This week we harvested seedpods from a locally rare
fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) at several sites in Etna; they'll be
used to continue a fringed gentian conservation project in an Etna
preserve gardened to promote their growth under deer exclosure cages.
Harvest varies a lot, but was good this year.
10. December agenda items:
a. End of year items
b. Deer browse
c. Public comment on DEC Open Space Plan
d. Indigenous Environmental Justice
11. Meeting adjourned at 7:01 pm
Minutes drafted by Ingrid Zabel
1
Mike Smith
From:James W Hamilton <jameswaldo@bluefrog.com>
Sent:Monday, October 30, 2023 4:24 PM
To:Lindsay Dombroskie; E HoffmannContact; Elise Edwards; Lori Brewer; Mike Roberts;
Ingrid Zabel; Frank Cantone
Cc:Mike Smith
Subject:Fwd: Open Space Plan planning by NYS DEC
Dear CB colleagues:
My wife sent me this voluminous and possibly too-long notice that Whitney Carleton, who's on the
"Open Space Planning commitee for DEC regions 7 & 8, asked members of the Finger Lakes Native
Plant Society to spread the word that New York's DEC will be updating its old Open Space
Conservation Plan.
Now it's too early to do much about that, but eventually the DEC will be asking for public comment on
a draft revision. Possibly we could contact Whitney Carleton (email: whitney.carleton@parks.ny.gov)
with suggestions about places we'd like the State to buy that would connect green spaces already in
various conservation programs or easements. The "emerald necklace" idea of trails and recreation
ways linking up open spaces to provide wildlife migration corridors could be relevant here.
Or we could just wait for the public comment period once the draft plan is ready for them. In any case,
I promised Di I'd let you know about this; so here's that news. I'll remind you all of this email, and
hope you have time to read and digest the many syllables below. Perhaps we should put the plan
revision on our agenda at some time in the future if we can figure out when our input would be most
appreciated.
See you all soon,
James
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Open Space Plan planning by NYS DEC
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:33:53 +0000
From: Diane Allyn Florini <diflorini@hotmail.com>
To: James <jameswaldo@bluefrog.com>
Dear James.
Below, please find information from two NYS webpages regarding the Open Space plan that Whitney
Carleton mentioned at a Finger Lakes Native Plant Society (FLNPS) meeting on October
24. Whitney is a biologist at New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and is also
on the Steering Committee for the FLNPS and is on the Open Space planning committees for DEC
regions 7 and 8.
It looks like there may be money available for land acquisition because of the Clean Water, Clean Air
and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act that we New Yorkers voted on in the November 8, 2022
general election.
2
Ask the Conservation Board to suggest places where land should be prioritized for preservation.
Robert Wesley suggested that Whitney look at the Tompkins County Unique Natural Areas for ideas.
Hugs, Di
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/128434.html
For Release: Wednesday, September 13, 2023
DEC and State Parks Begin Process of Updating the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan
Regional Advisory Committees Being Formed to Provide Land Conservation Recommendations
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) Commissioner Erik Kulleseid
today announced the start of the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan (Plan) update
process. As required by law, the Plan is updated periodically, relying heavily on the recommendations
of nine Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) that are composed of people knowledgeable in open
space conservation. All RAC members are appointed by county governments, or DEC, and State
Parks.
"Land conservation is an essential tool in New York State's comprehensive actions to address climate
change and protect our natural resources," said New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. "As work begins to revise the New York State Open
Space Plan, DEC and our State and local partners will look to both preserve our lands and waters for
future generations while ensuring priorities and projects help to advance New York's Climate
Leadership and Community Protection Act and align with the State's efforts to conserve 30 percent of
our lands and waters by 2030."
"The last few years have dramatically underscored the need for open spaces and parkland to help
moderate the negative impacts of climate change and provide people with places to get outside and
escape the daily stress of life," State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. "We look forward to
hearing from the public as we renew this statewide open space plan - and build on New York State's
outstanding legacy of land conservation and broad access to outdoor recreation."
The RACs will work with the public and staff from both agencies to develop a list of priority land
conservation projects and make policy recommendations such as identifying additional ways our
open spaces can help address climate change and increasing recreational access to underserved
communities. In addition to working with the RACs, DEC and State Parks will collaborate with State
agencies including the Department of Agriculture and Markets, Department of State, and Department
of Transportation to address issues such as farmland protection, coastal land conservation, and the
connection of transportation to land use.
Since 1992, the Plan has served as the blueprint for the State's Open Space Program, guiding land
protection investments from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The Plan also covers a broad
range of related topics, including protecting water quality, ensuring environmental justice, protecting
air quality, addressing climate change, and educating the next generation about the importance of
these topics.
The entire update process takes approximately two years and includes a public comment period
which is anticipated to take place in the summer of 2024. RAC meetings will begin this month. The
regional advisory committee contacts (PDF) is available on the DEC website.
Overwhelmingly approved by voters last fall, the landmark Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs
Environmental Bond Act is the largest environmental bond in state history and the first in New York
since 1996. The Bond Act makes $4.2 billion available for environmental and community projects.
Specifically, the Environmental Bond Act authorizes $650 million for open space land conservation
and recreation. State agencies, local governments, community-based organizations, and other
stakeholders will be able to access Bond Act funding over a multi-year process.
3
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "New York's agricultural community always
been committed to protecting our natural resources, from cultivating healthy soil and preserving
farmland for future generations, to keeping our community waterways clean and safe. I'm proud that
agriculture is at the table in the work the State is doing to combat climate change, including open
space land conservation. I look forward to hearing directly from those most impacted to help us
continue our work leading the nation in protecting our most precious resources now and for the
future."
Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, "A comprehensive approach to land conservation is an
essential component of our efforts to address climate change, protect and restore natural resources,
and improve the quality of life for all of the communities within the State of New York. The New York
State Open Space Plan will serve as complement to so many of the Department of State programs
that create sustainable communities, protect the environment, and enhance community resiliency."
New York Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "Open space
preservation has countless environmental and recreational benefits for all New Yorkers, and this
collaborative, grassroots approach demonstrates Governor Hochul's continued commitment to
preserving the scenic beauty of the Empire State while continuing to combat global climate change.
For generations, New Yorkers have sought renewal within our natural, green spaces, and we must
continue to do everything we can to enhance access for all New Yorkers."
A recording of the Regional Advisory Committee kickoff meeting, will be posted to DEC's website by
September 27, 2023. For further information on the State's Open Space Conservation Program and
the current Plan see DEC's website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/317.html
Importance of Open Space
Open space is simply land or water that is undeveloped (free from residential, commercial, industrial,
or institutional use). Open space can be either private or publicly owned and includes areas such as
forests, agricultural field, public parks and preserves, and coastal lands. These spaces can be as
small as a vacant lot or as large as the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve.
Open spaces provide benefits to New York State's economy, culture, environment, and our
population's general well-being by providing:
• Scenic beauty, cultural value and historic significance
• Production of food and forest products
• Outdoor recreation
• Protection or restoration of ecological functions
• Wildlife diversity and habitat for endangered plant and animal species
• Fisheries, viewsheds, public access and ecotourism potential
• Mitigation of natural hazards, such as flooding, and protection of water supplies
• Values that can take decades or centuries to mature and can be quickly lost to new
development
NYS Open Space Conservation Plan
New York's Open Space Conservation Plan serves as the blueprint for the State's land conservation
efforts. The Open Space Plan is revised periodically.
New York's Open Space Conservation Plan provides four overarching objectives to direct our
priorities, policies, and actions:
• Promote outdoor recreation
• Address climate change
• Ensure clean water, air and land for a healthy public and vibrant economy
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• Protect, use and conserve our natural resources and cultural heritage
The Plan provides actions that we can take in pursuit of each objective and a listing of associated
programs and policies. The Plan also contains a statewide list of priority conservation projects that
are eligible for funding through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).
former plan: 2016 Open Space Conservation Plan
2023 Open Space Conservation Plan Revision
• Regional Advisory Committee Members (PDF)
• The Regional Advisory Committee Kick-Off Meeting was held on September 13, 2023.
View the webinar here (leaves DEC Website).
Smart Growth
Smart growth is an approach to land use that redirects economic growth away from undeveloped
areas and back into established communities. It uses economic development and job creation to
enhance the quality-of-life of a community, while preserving the natural and working environments.
Smart growth encourages clustered population centers that are full of activity, diversity and character.
Achieving this vision requires a combination of community planning activity, land use regulations,
government incentives, and individual actions to work toward improved communities and quality of
life. To learn more about smart growth, visit the Smart Growth Network (link leaves DEC website).
DEC Actions to Promote Smart Growth
DEC currently enacts the following smart growth initiatives:
• Promotion of park-wide planning and hamlet revitalization in the Adirondacks and
Catskills and implementation of the Adirondack Park and Catskill Park Smart Growth Grants Program
• Partnerships with state agencies and the private sector in promoting and implementing
smart growth principles
Environmental Benefits of Smart Growth
• Energy use - Smart growth reduces vehicle miles traveled and decreases greenhouse
gas emissions.
• Green development - Planned growth incorporates environmental awareness into land
use decisions.
• Water quality - Smart growth leaves more and larger areas for the natural process of
absorption and filtering.
• Ecosystems and habitat - Building compactly leaves ecosystems intact to support
diverse plant and wildlife populations.
• Connection to nature - Smart growth creates links between our neighborhoods and
areas set aside for nature-based recreation.
Open Space Funding from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
Created in 1993, the New York State EPF, as defined in Environmental Conservation Law Article 54,
provides mechanisms for open space conservation and land acquisition.
Title 3 allocates funds to DEC and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for
purchase of land to be included in the Forest Preserve, State Parks, the State Nature and Historical
Preserve, State Historic Sites, Unique Areas and other categories.
Title 9 provides funds for local governments and not-for-profit organizations to purchase park lands or
historic resources as well to develop and preserve these resources.
A portion of the revenue from New York State Bluebird License Plates (see below) supports the EPF.
Open Space Conservation License Plate
Order New York's first conservation license plate and help conserve our most precious natural
resource -- the open space that provides recreational enjoyment for people, necessary habitat for
plants and animals, and economic benefit for businesses and communities.
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When you buy your Bluebird Plate, $25 goes directly into the State's Environmental Protection Fund,
dedicated for conservation projects identified in New York's Open Space Plan. Order your Bluebird
Plate now and help the Environmental Protection Fund complete urgent land conservation projects for
our families and future generations of New Yorkers.
The Bluebird Plate is designed exclusively for New York by world-renowned artist and naturalist,
Roger Tory Peterson, and is made from recycled aluminum.
For more information call (518) 402-4838 or visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles Office (link
leaves DEC website).
More about Open Space:
• Smart Growth in the Adirondack Park and Catskill Park - DEC has initiated EPF
funding for towns, villages and not-for-profit organization partners in the Adirondack and Catskill Park.
This funding is intended to help park communities capitalize on the historic and cultural assets of
existing settlements to cultivate economic growth within the framework of highly protected forest
preserve lands.
• 2016 Open Space Conservation Plan - The plan provides statewide priorities for
setting aside, purchasing, and otherwise protecting lands that make up the state's vital open spaces.
• Recent Land And Conservation Easement Announcements and Acquisitions - The
Bureau of Real Property is DEC's Real Estate Agent, handling all land conveyance transactions for all
DEC Divisions. This page lists recent land and conservation easement announcements and
acquisitions.
• Grant Partnerships with the Land Trust Alliance - Together with the Land Trust
Alliance, DEC helps administer two grant programs for New York State land trusts.
• NYS Conservation Easement Tax Credit - The Conservation Easement Tax Credit
(CETC) offers New York State taxpayers a refundable income tax credit on their school district,
county, and town property taxes paid during the year.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION: Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Schedule of Meetings for the Year 2024
Conservation Board Meeting, December 7, 2023
Motion by: ____ ____ Seconded by: ____________________
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board of the Town of Ithaca adopts the following
schedule of meetings for the Conservation Board for the year 2024.
The Town of Ithaca Conservation Board will meet at 5:30 p.m., on the first Thursday of the
month in the Aurora Conference Room in Town of Ithaca Town Hall, unless otherwise noted.
THE 2024 SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS:
January 4
February 1
March 7
April 4
May 2
June 6
July 4 (2024 holiday/town hall closed)
August 1
September 5
October 3
November 7
December 5
A vote on the motion was as follows:
Ayes:
Nays:
Abstentions:
PROPOSED RESOLUTION: Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
2024 Conservation Board Chairperson
Recommendation to Town Board
December 7, 2023
Motion by: __________________ Seconded by: ___________________
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board recommends to
the Town Board that _______________________ be appointed as Chairperson of
the Conservation Board for the year 2024.
A vote on the motion was as follows:
Ayes:
Nays:
Abstentions:
PROPOSED RESOLUTION: Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
2024 Conservation Board Vice Chairperson
Nomination and Election
December 7, 2023
Motion by: __________________ Seconded by: ___________________
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board does hereby
nominate and elect ________________________ as Vice Chairperson of the
Conservation Board for the year 2024.
A vote on the motion was as follows:
Ayes:
Nays:
Abstentions: