CAC Meeting Minutes 05-29-08

Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP)
Town of Rhinebeck
May 29, 2008 7:30 pm

Present: Members of CAC/LWRP: Meg Crawford, Lisa Camp, Bill Dowden, Ryan Dowden, Tess Mckellen, Marcus Mello, Sharon Sherrod, and Carol Smith
Absent/Excused: Gloria Fox and Dan Staley-Town Board liaison
Guests: Joel Tyner

Committee Reports:
Carol reported on the Rhinecliff Waterfront Committee and the picnic shelter. The CAC reviewed the plans and the CAC/LWRP has no further comment or objections on this project.

Meg reported on the tree ordinance. The ordinance is now in the hands of the village attorney for review.
The village and town are applying for an Urban Forestry Grant to provide a grant of 100 trees and 50 shrubs.

Lisa reported on the schools. The Environmental Club spoke to the DC Legislature. They are also preparing new signs for the Mini Park to explain the reparian buffer plantings.

New Business:
Discussion on the residency requirements to serve on town committees needs to be resolved by the town attorney.

Discussion on how to get local information out to new residents.

The Zoning Board has asked the CAC to look at deer fencing as it exceeds the height currently allowed in the zoning law. Sharon is waiting for a return call from DEC Bureau of Wildlife deer Biologist Kevin Clark. Meg spoke with Andy Reinmann from Hudsonia and he gave the CAC his recommendations. Fencing should be restricted to gardens, both vegetable and ornamental, and not be placed in the woods or meadows. Only a percentage of the property should be fenced and not the total property. The CAC agrees with his recommendations and will provide more to the ZBA from the Bureau of Wildlife as soon as it is received.

Planning Board Project Review:
Bradford Rivenburgh, 15 Delano Drive
This project is within the LWRP so the CAC will need to do a consistency review. These two class D streams that the applicant wants to relocate cross under Route 9 to a small pond at Southlands. The outlet for the pond flows westerly and enters into Vandenburgh Cove on the Hudson River. CAC has concerns about the wildlife, including amphibians, which inhabit the area being disturbed.

Jed Brickner 45 Wurtemburg Road
Two acre pond is proposed. The CAC wants to know what habitat is currently where the pond is proposed and what animals and amphibians will be affected by filling this area with a pond.

Stone Chapel Route 9 South
The CAC needs to conduct a site visit to complete the LWRP consistency review as this parcel is within the LWRP boundary. The CAC questions how they propose to put in 14 parking spaces without affecting the topography. Will blasting need to be done to create these 14 spaces? The CAC recommends limiting the parking spaces to what is currently there in order not to change the historical character of the property as it is within the LWRP. The CAC also recommends that pervious surfaces be used for the parking areas to prevent erosion.

CSI on Route 9G
Is the CSI property within 500 feet of Hook Road and the LWRP boundary? If so the LWRP consistency review will need to be completed. This area appears to be mostly wetlands and the CAC is opposed to building in wetlands.

Zoning Board Project Review: No reviews at this meeting

Old Business:
Gloria provided a draft of executive summary for NRI to CAC for review. All present approved the summary and the NRI is almost complete and ready for final review at our next meeting.

Announcements:
Releaf Conference in Ithaca in July
July 12- concert at the town landing in Rhinecliff 4-7pm
August 16 Waterfront Day at the town landing in Rhinecliff 11 am-4 pm
Riparian buffer plantings will be planted this fall in the mini park.

Standing committees:
Trees: Meg, Carol, and Tess
Education: Carol, Lisa, Meg, and Tess
Energy: Marcus and Gloria
Wetlands and stream inventory: Bill, Ryan, and Sharon

CAC schedule: Next Regular CAC meeting will be:
Thursday July 3rd at 7:00 p.m.

Adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:
Sharon Sherrod