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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution Adopting Natural and Scenic Resources Inventories (21-108)RESOLUTION 21-108 RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE TOWN OF LANSING NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY AND SCENIC RESOURCES INVENTORY The following Resolution was duly presented for consideration by the Town Board: WHEREAS, in November of 2017, and as is set forth in the updated 2018 Comprehensive Plan, the Town approved creating a Conservation Advisory Council to perform certain functions for the Town and to act in an advisory capacity under General Municipal Law § 239-x; and WHEREAS, as is set forth in the 2018 Comprehensive Plan’s Sustainability: Energy and Climate Change chapter, the Town of Lansing seeks to make a difference with regard to sustainability issues affecting the Town’s infrastructure, economy, agricultural and ecological communities, drinking water supplies, and recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, on January 16, 2019, the Town Board of the Town of Lansing adopted Resolution 19-49 creating an advisory body to be known as the Conservation Advisory Council (hereinafter termed “Council” or “CAC”) under authority granted to the Town by General Municipal Law Section 239-x; and WHEREAS, on November 7, 2019, the Town of Lansing Conservation Advisory Council unanimously recommended the adoption of the Climate Smart Communities pledge in order to engage with Cornell Cooperative Extension to develop planning documents, including a Natural Resource Inventory, which will further Comprehensive Plan Goal NR-7A “to complete an Open Space Inventory prioritizing open areas in Lansing for conservation based on natural, scenic, and cultural values” as defined in section 239-y of the General Municipal Law; and WHEREAS, on December 18, 2019, via Resolution 19-163, the Town of Lansing adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge, and the Town of Lansing Conservation Advisory Council was therein appointed as the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force for the New York State Climate Smart Communities program; and WHEREAS, the Town of Lansing Conservation Advisory Council (“CAC”) and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County have prepared the Town of Lansing Natural Resources Inventory dated July 2021 (the “NRI”), as well as a Scenic Resources Inventory (“SRI”) to supplement the same, each and both to assist the Town, its various agencies and boards, and the public, in identifying and considering important natural resources located within the Town; and WHEREAS, the NRI was prepared by members of the CAC at no cost to the Town through a partnership with Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, with funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Climate Smart Communities Program; and WHEREAS, the NRI includes maps displaying the Town’s mineral, water, biological, cultural and recreation resources, and their significance to the Lansing community; associated data; and a descriptive report summarizing the inventoried resources and findings; and is intended to provide information for comprehensive land use and conservation planning, as well as to allow natural resource information to be considered in local planning and zoning decisions; and WHEREAS, the NRI can provide information to designate critical environmental areas, develop and implement a municipal open space plan, amend existing zoning and subdivision regulations, assist in the evaluation of the effects of proposed land use and zoning changes, inform environmental review of development proposals, and document current conditions so changes over time can be assessed; and WHEREAS, the completed NRI and SRI are available on the Town’s web site for access by the public, and WHEREAS, the adoption of the NRI and the SRI is a Type II Action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), pursuant to 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(24) and 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(27) for which no further action under SEQRA is required; and WHEREAS, expressing its gratitude to the Town Conservation Advisory Council and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County for their work in creating these valuable resources for the Town, and upon due deliberation thereupon and all of the foregoing, the Town Board of the Town of Lansing has hereby: RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Lansing hereby approves and adopts the Town of Lansing Natural Resources Inventory and Scenic Resources Inventory, respectively, both dated July 2021, as created and recommended by the Town’s Conservation Advisory Council in its advisory capacity, as a collected and organized inventory of data identifying important natural, visual, and community resources within the Town of Lansing; and be it further RESOLVED, that the acceptance and approval of the NRI and SRI, and any recommendations regarding municipal actions which may be taken as provided therein, shall in no way be deemed binding upon the Town or it’s various boards or agencies with regard to present or future actions; By adopting the Natural Resources Inventory and the Scenic Resources Inventory, it is the intent of the Town Board that this valuable and comprehensive inventory of the Town’s natural and visual resources be regularly consulted and utilized by the Town, its various boards, departments, and the public to assist in the development, management and protection of these resources; and be it further RESOLVED, that it is the further intent of the Town Board, to periodically update and amend this Inventory at least every 10 years, or as often as may be appropriate in the future; and be it further RESOLVED, utilizing the now-adopted Lansing Natural Resources Inventory and Scenic Resources Inventory, including as such are built for this purpose, the Town Board directs the Conservation Advisory Council to complete an Open Space Inventory (“OSI”), as defined in State enabling legislation at GML 239-y, to prioritize open areas in a municipality for conservation based on natural, scenic, and cultural values; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is requested to upload this Resolution and the NRI and SRI to the Town’s website and provide a copy of this Resolution and website link to the members of the Town of Lansing Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals and to the Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board requests the Conservation Advisory Council present the NRI and SRI to the Town of Lansing Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, which presentation the Director of Planning has determined shall count towards the training on land use reviews, process, and procedures as required by Section 5(A) of the Town of Lansing Local Law 1 of 2020. The question of the adoption of such proposed Consent Agenda Resolutions were duly motioned by Councilperson Doug Dake, duly seconded by Councilperson Joseph Wetmore, and put to a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Doug Dake – Aye Councilperson Bronwyn Losey – Aye Councilperson Joseph Wetmore – Aye Deputy Supervisor Andra Benson – Aye Accordingly, the foregoing Resolutions were approved, carried, and duly adopted on July 21, 2021.