HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2025-140 Adopt LL 19 of 2025 Replace ECSMEETINGOF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
December 8, 2025
TB Resolution 2025 – 140: Adoption of “A Local Law Deleting Ithaca Town Code Chapter 144, Titled “Energy Code Supplement,” and replacing it with a new Chapter 144, titled “Energy Code
Supplement.”
Whereas, climate change is causing an increase in extreme weather events, such as storms, flooding, and heat waves that threaten human life, healthy communities, and critical infrastructure
in the Town of Ithaca (Town), New York State, and across the world; and
Whereas,greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to human activity are the main cause of global warming, andbuildings within the Town of Ithaca are the most significant contributor to
local GHG emissions, responsible for more than half of all community GHG emissions; and
Whereas,the Town Board unanimously adopted the Town’s Green New Deal on March 23, 2020, which sets forth a goal to achieve an equitable transition to carbon-neutrality community-wide
by 2030; and
Whereas,New York State, through its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, has set ambitious goals to combat climate change through GHG reduction, andstate goals are in line
with many of the objectives of the Energy Code Supplement (“ECS”), including reducing emissions in buildings,electrifying space heating, water heating, and cooking systems, increasing
the use of renewable energy, and reducing the use of fossil fuels; and
Whereas,for new buildings, the most affordable and cost-effective time to reduce GHG emissions is during the design and construction phases of a project, rather than at a time of later
retrofit; and
Whereas, pursuant to section 11-109 of the New York State Energy Law, and subject to the provisions and requirements of that section, municipalities may promulgate local energy conservation
construction codes more stringent than the NYS Energy Code; and
Whereas, Town Code Chapter 144, Energy Code Supplement, is a local energy code supplement for all new construction, certain additions, and major renovations, with requirements above
and beyond the state energy code;and
Whereas, the ECS is intended to advance best practices in the design of affordable buildings that deliver reduced GHG emissions and to provide a rapid but orderly transition to buildings
that do not use fossil fuels on-site for major building energy needs, such as space heating and hot water heating, by 2026; and
Whereas, the 2014 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan recommendsadopting a building code to require all new construction projects and major renovations to incorporate green building techniques
and achieve specific energy efficiency standards; and
Whereas, the Comprehensive Plan includes the following guiding principle: The Town enacts and implements policies and regulations that integrate sustainability and climate protection
into building and construction practices and land use planning; and
Whereas, the Townof Ithaca adopted the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement on June 14, 2021; and
Whereas, at Town Board meetings, including most recently on September 29, 2025, andNovember 10, 2025,the Board received an update on the Energy Code Supplement and was giventhe opportunity
to discuss, ask questions, and offer suggestions on the proposal; andWhereas, a Public Hearing was scheduled for November 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., to hear all interested parties on the
proposed local law; and
Whereas, notice of the public hearing was duly advertised in the Ithaca Journal; and
Whereas, the public hearing was duly held on the date and time and all parties were permitted an opportunity to speak on behalf of or in opposition to the proposed local laws, or any
part of them; and
Whereas, pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and its implementing regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617, adoption of the local laws is a Unlisted Action
for which the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, acting as lead agency in an environmental review with respect to adoption of these local laws, has, on December 8, 2025, made a negative
determination of environmental significance, after having reviewed and accepted as adequate the Short Environmental Assessment Form Parts 1, 2 and 3; and
Whereas,the Town Board finds that the amendments to the Town Code, and the type of development it enables will further the health, safety, and general welfare of the community and are
in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan; nowtherefore, be it
Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby adoptsLocal Law 19 of 2025, entitled: A Local Law Deleting Ithaca Town Code Chapter 144, Titled “Energy Code Supplement,” and
replacing it with a new Chapter 144, Titled “Energy Code Supplement,” and be it further
Resolved, that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to file the local laws with the Secretary of State as required by law.
Moved: Margaret JohnsonSeconded: Pamela Bleiwas
Vote: ayes – Johnson, Bleiwas, Howe, and DePaolo