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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-26-2017 CSAC Minutes Approved 1 Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Committee DRAFT Minutes of October 26, 2017 meeting Present: Roxanne Marino, Don Ellis, Robert Oswald, Sue Poelvoorde Excused: Andy Hillman, Bara Hotchkiss, Brice Smith Roxanne called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Approval of Minutes Roxanne submitted the draft September 30, 2017, meeting minutes for review and approval. Don moved to accept the meeting minutes as submitted. Robert seconded. Approved. Updates on Town issues or Board actions relate to Sustainability/Conservation l CEC grant submission Roxanne reported that the Town submitted their application under the Clean Energy Communities program. The application includes replacing the HVAC system in Town Hall and if not all the funds are used for the HVAC project to set up a Ulysses Community Green Fund. The fund would be used to assist Town residents with updates that would make their homes more energy efficient. The details of what the fund would support and how residents would apply stills needs to be worked out. l Climate Smart Community Roxanne reported that the Town is also close to receiving designation as a Climate Smart Community. Terry Carroll, Cornell Cooperative Extension energy educator, has been assisting towns to work through the extensive qualification list for this designation. The program is under the direction of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This designation could allow the Town to apply for funds to complete a town-wide natural resources inventory. l Zoning Update Roxanne reported out on the September 21st Zoning Update Steering Committee (ZUSC) meeting. The ZUSC asked representatives from the BZA, Planning Board, Ag Committee and the CSAC to participate in a discussion of the different viewpoints that each group expressed toward the draft Ag/Rural zoning update. Roxanne noted that it was a useful meeting with the main issues of lot size (minimum and maximum) and subdivision the focus of the discussion. As a result of the discussion, additional changes will be made to the draft zoning. An updated draft will be presented to the public on November 30, 2017. The changes include: Minimum lot size: 2 acres Maximum residential lot size: 4 acres Minimum road frontage: 200 feet Subdivision: Divisor of 15, normal math rules for rounding With regard to the subdivision change, there may need to be further consideration of parcels that are less than 7.5 acres as the divide by 15 rule would exclude any further subdivision. Roxanne noted that future meetings of the ZUSC are November 9th where they will discuss the Office and Technology mixed-use area and November 16th where they will prepare for the November 30th public information meeting. 2 Old Business A) Proposed Glare Standard Roxanne has not communicated with Brice regarding the wording for a letter from the Town Board requesting Brice’s students present their glare standard findings. C) Continued discussion of possible CSAC projects l Review prioritization of projects (August 14 minutes), possible formation of subcommittees The group reviewed the list of projects that were discussed at the August 14th meeting. If the committee is re-authorized by the Town Board for 2018, the members present agreed that working on item 3) Feasibility of developing a town-led/Town-established water quality protection program may be the most appropriate project in light of the blue-green algae blooms that occurred in Cayuga Lake. The first step would be to discuss the project scope with the Town Board. Roxanne, Don and Sue noted their interest in working on item 2) Tools for supporting Agriculture as a subcommittee. With respect to item 7) CSAC proposed Glare Standard for Large Solar installations the committee passed the following draft resolution, to be edited as needed by Roxanne and then submitted to the Town Board. Final submitted resolution is appended to these minutes. WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses requested the Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) to review and recommend amendments to Local Law No. 3 of 2015 governing the installation of Solar Collection Systems in the Town as a propriety work item for the committee for 2016, and WHEREAS, the CSAC completed the task and submitted the recommended changes, including adding glare standards to the law, in January 2017, and WHEREAS, the Town Board has to date not taken steps to update Local Law No. 3 of 2015 with the CSAC recommended changes including said glare standards, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the CSAC requests that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses include in their 2018 work schedule updating Local Law No. 3 of 2015 and adding the recommended glare standards. Moved: Robert Seconded: Don Roxanne: aye Don: aye Robert: aye Sue: aye Agenda items for next meeting l Schedule next meeting. The next meeting of the CSAC is scheduled for Thursday, December 7th, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m. At the October 26, 2017 Conservation and Sustainability Advisory committee, the following resolution regarding the Town of Ulysses Local Law #3 of 2015 and associated the review and recommendations submitted to the Town Board by the CSAC in early 2017 was passed unanimously: WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses requested the Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) undertake a review and recommend amendments to Local Law No. 3 of 2015, governing the installation of Solar Collection Systems in the Town as a priority work item for the committee for 2016, and WHEREAS, the CSAC completed the task and submitted detailed recommendations in January 2017, including the addition of a proposed Glare Standard to the law, in response to specific concerns raised by the Planning Board and the Town Board on that issue, and WHEREAS, the Town Board has to date not taken any action on considering the CSAC recommendations and possible update Local Law No. 3 of 2015, including said Glare Standards, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the CSAC respectfully requests that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses include as a priority in their 2018 work schedule taking action on the recommendations made by the CSAC as well as the Planning Board and the Ag committee regarding an update of Local Law No. 3 of 2015, including the recommended Glare Standards. Moved: Robert Oswald Seconded: Don Ellis Roxanne Marino: aye Don Ellis : aye Robert Oswald: aye Sue Poelvoorde: aye We note that other members of the committee not in attendance at the October 26 meeting have raised concern about the lack of response on this issue at previous CSAC meetings and are in support of this request to the Town Board.