HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2025-144 Variance for Culver - Glenside - Pine Tree Preserves for Deer Management ProgramMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
December8,2025
TB Resolution 2025 -144: Granting a variance from the Town of Ithaca Code, Chapter 200 “Parks & Recreation Areas” to allow Culver Road Preserve, Glenside Preserve, and Pine Tree Wildlife
Preserveto be used in the Town’s 2026Deer Management Program
Whereas, the Town of Ithaca Deer Management Program is requesting a variance from Town Code Sections 200-3.A and 200-5.E to allow the Town Deer Management Program to operate a bait/culling
site on theCulver Road Preserve (Tax Parcel No.’s 31.-1-14.2, 31.-1-14.4, and 32.-1-7), the Glenside Preserve (Tax Parcel No. 30.-1-1.3), and the Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve (Tax Parcel
No. 57.-1-11.13), which,if granted, would permit participants to be on the three Preserves during normally closed hours and to possess and discharge firearms and/or archery equipment
(compound bow or crossbow), and
Whereas, the Town of Ithaca Deer Management Program is requesting a variance from Town Code Sections 200-3.A and 200-5.E to allow the Town Deer Management Program to park and access
East Ithaca Nature Preserve (Tax Parcel No. 57.-1-11.12), which, if granted, would permit participants to be on the property during normally closed hours and to possess archery equipment
(compound bow or crossbow), and
Whereas, the Town’s Deer Management Program has been operating for the past seven years on private propertyand City and Town of Ithaca owned propertiesthroughout the Town of Ithaca,
and
Whereas, a variance was granted by the Town Board to use the Culver Road Preserve in 2022-2025, the Glenside Preserve in 2023-2025, and the Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve in 2024-2025 for
the deer management program, and
Whereas, the Town’s Culver Road Preserve (155acres in total, 96 acres in the three tax parcels listed above), Glenside Preserve (7 acres) and Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve (14 acres) presents
an opportunity for the town to support and actively participate in the deer management program for the many reasons described in the Conservation Board’s report, but especially the potential
ecological benefits, and
Whereas, the Town Board has discussed the request and determined that good cause exists for another time-limited variance, now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Town Board grants a variance to the Town’s Deer Management Program from Town of Ithaca Code Sections 200-3.A “General Regulations” and 200-5.E “Prohibited Activities”
to allow participants to be on the Culver Road Preserve, Glenside Preserve and Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve during normal closed hours and to allow participants to possess and discharge
firearms and/or archery equipment as part of the Town Deer Management Program, and to allow participants tobe onthe East Ithaca Nature Preserve during normally closed hoursand to allow
participants to possess archery equipment as part of the Town’s Deer Management Program, with the following conditions:
Program participants must adhere to all DEC regulations related to culling activities contained in the Deer Damage Permit issued to the Town of Ithaca, and
This variance is valid February 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026, 1 hour prior to sunset through 1 hour after sunrise, and
With the following findings:
The Town Board finds good cause to grant this variance. The benefit to the Town’s Deer Management Programoutweighs the detriment that would result from strict enforcement of Chapter
200, and
The Culver Road Preserve is approximately 155 acres (96 acres in portion requested to be used),the Glenside Preserve is approximately 7 acres, and the Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve is
approximately 14 acres, allwith adequate space to operate a bait site, and
Using the Town owned Culver Road Preserve, Glenside Preserve, and Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve will support the Town’s Deer Management Program and will help to reduce deer browse on Town
natural lands, and
Using the Town owned East Ithaca Nature Preserve will allow participants to retrieve deer if necessary and to access the adjacent properties being used in the program easier.
Moved: Rich DePaoloSeconded:Rod Howe
Vote: ayes – DePaolo, Howe, Bleiwas and Johnson