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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2004-07-15 Conservation Board Minutes July 15, 2004 Call to order 7:39PM PRESENT: Diane Conneman (acting chair), Eva Hoffmann, Brent Katzmann, Helen Lang, Jon Meigs, Larry Sallinger, Barney Unsworth, John Yntema STAFF: Sue Ritter ABSENT: Lenore Durkee, Conrad Istock, Elissa Wolfson 1. No persons to be heard. 2. Member Concerns John Yntema asked about the status of the Country Inn & Suites proposal. Sue responded that the developer's plans continue to evolve. The Planning Board rejected the latest sketch plan brought to them for a 2-story hotel, and the Planning Department has not received a preliminary site plan for further ERC review. Barney inquired whether anyone had come across a section in the proposed County Comprehensive Plan concerning air quality. No one had, so he is considering commenting to the County on the importance of including discussion of this in the Plan. Barney also asked about the Transportation Plan status. Sue reported that it is in the early stages following a public meeting held in June. Seven (7) townspeople, plus members from various Town Boards attended. She also mentioned that the Town received a petition from residents of the Hanshaw Road area supporting the introduction of pedestrian/bike lanes. There is ample opportunity for input on the Transportation Plan should anyone desire. Larry presented an editorial from the 6/22/04 Ithaca Journal supporting the efforts of citizens to call for corporate responsibility in industrial waste cleanup. Specifically, the efforts of Walter Hang, Toxics Targeting, were cited. Larry thought a presentation from Mr. Hang to the CB might be valuable. The Board agreed to consider it. Sue will discuss the idea with Jon Kanter and Diane will do the same with Lenore Durkee. 3. Chair and Coordinator reports Chair: No report Coordinator: Sue reported that: a). Richard Fischer has contacted her regarding a proposal he is preparing that would establish a Chimney Swift Initiative, providing appropriate nesting sites in the Town for this species of bird; b). a 100-acre parcel located behind PRI, Massage School and Lakeside Nursing, and adjacent to Route 89, is on the market for $600K. Half of the parcel is in the Lake Slopes/Indian Creek Gorge Unique Natural Area. This area was identified for conservation zoning in the Town's Open Space Plan, and the CB was considering the zoning issue and conducted a site visit a couple of years ago; c). there is a narrow (60' wide) strip of land along RT89 in this same area, adjacent to the proposed Black Diamond Trail, that is being considered for a new home. This will come to the ERC as it requires a zoning variance; d). Cornell University is proposing an 80,000 sqft 4-story addition to house animals for research and testing, plus a Phase 1124,000 sqft addition later. This will come to the ERC as a Preliminary Site Plan as it is a Type I action. 4. Minutes were approved with minor typographical corrections. 5. Reports and Updates a).Natural Areas Commission Jon reported that discussions are continuing at the Natural Areas Commission about Gateway Bridge and Trails. There is expectation of a$500,000 grant forthcoming from the Federal Transportation Board. b). EMC Report from Barney included discussion of the Central New York Resource Conservation and Development Program. This 16 county group identifies unfunded projects of value and helps link them with funding to get them started. One example is the Willow Biomass Fuel Project. There was also discussion of the CAP allowances and trade program that permits industrial companies to trade pollution emission credits in lieu of capital improvements to clean their emissions. Barney further noted that Cornell is in the process of raising $300K to construct a 3-mile long deer fence around Cornell Plantations. This prompted Barney to question the depth of the deer herd "problem" and whether population control measures are even technologically or economically feasible, citing the resolution from the Town Board for the CB to conduct a literature review of the issue. He then suggested the CB consider contacting Mr. Fred Gouldin as a possible resource in this effort. Mr. Gouldin has been instrumental in the recent Cayuga Heights deer population control initiative. Finally, Barney questioned whether there were practices in place among the municipalities to prevent spraying of herbicides/pesticides at bridge crossings when conducting roadside spraying. Sue reported that she was unaware of an intra-municipal approach, but noted that Fred Noteboom keeps the Town crews aware and prescribes minimal use of these chemicals. c). Stream Buffer Committee Sue informed the CB that the Stream Buffer Ordinance is on the agenda for the COC meeting of 7/21. d). Scenic Resources Committee Eva noted that the committee has voted to change its name from the Viewshed Committee to Scenic Resources Committee. Diane Connemean is preparing a draft of a Power Point presentation to the Town Board regarding the status as recommended actions of the committee. She will be presenting this first to the Scenic Resources Committee at the 8/10 meeting and then to the CB for comment. e). ERC Diane reported that the ERC recently reviewed a proposed 5-parcel subdivision on Coddington Road and a request to add communication antennas to a water tower on Dryden Road. No further review was needed. 2 f). Six Mile Creek Partnership Larry informed the group that there have been three public orientation sessions at the creek that are designed to begin teaching the process of water monitoring. An information meeting among participants will be held on 7/26. Larry will bring back a report from that meeting for the next CB meeting. g). Fischer Award Jon plans to present a full report at the next meeting. 7. Town Board Resolution concerning Deer Population Helen suggested that the Cornell University DNR be approached to discover any work that has already been done which may expedite the CB's response. She also thought the CB might wish to consider hiring an intern to lead the charge on this effort. In preparation for the next CB meeting, Diane and Helen agreed to contact CU and Cooperative Extension, Jon to contact Fred Gouldin and Diane to follow up with Bill Lesser to gauge Board expectations. 8. Environmental Review Law To open the discussion, Sue walked the group through the DEIS document process required of DEC for all Type I actions and the steps that the Planning Department takes. After input from interested and involved agencies, and a"findings"by the Planning Board, the Town must notify and forward the determination to the NYS DEC. Larry suggested that should the CB succeed in establishing a Scenic Resources Inventory and recommend protections, this could bolster the Planning Board's responses to future EIS/EA submissions. Further,the CB agreed that they would like to consider impacts to wetlands of a size less than the DEC's recognized status of 12.7 acres as a Type I action in the Town's Environmental Review Law. Further deliberation on what the specific wetland size should be, and what cases would trigger a Type I action is needed by the Board. Sue will bring in a map to the next CB meeting depicting the wetlands identified in the National Wetlands Inventory, which depicts many smaller water bodies in the Town including wetlands and ponds. 9. The CB agreed to meet with Dan Karig at Six Mile Creek for a tour on Wednesday, 7/28/04 at 4:30pm. The purpose is to show some interesting geologic features in this stretch of the creek and the potential impacts from the proposed stream bank stabilization efforts. CB members are asked to meet at the rifle range off Burns Road. Meeting adjourned at 9:35pm. Submitted by Brent Katzmann 3