CAC Meeting Minutes 09/04/08

Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC)

Waterfront Advisory Committee (WAC)

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP)

Town of Rhinebeck

September 4, 2008

Present: Members of the CAC/WAC/LWRP: Meg Crawford (Chair), Lisa Camp, Bill Dowden, Ryan Dowden, Gloria Fox, Tess McKellen, Marcus Mello, Carol Smith

Absent/excused: Sharon Sherrod, Dan Staley (Town Board liaison)

PLANNING BOARD PROJECT REVIEW

STONE CHAPEL - Why is this still on PB agenda? Wasn't the application withdrawn because neighbors wouldn't provide the necessary permission for access to Route 9?

WASHINGTON STREET PARTNERS/RHINEBECK MEWS LLC - What businesses will occupy the remaining small parcels of this property and how will their waste water be handled? Will there be trees in the pedestrian mall and the parking area? Describe method of lighting.

MORTON ROAD (STEPHEN DAVIS) - Explain how septic system will work. How will the two wet areas and the pond be incorporated and what buffering will exist? This project requires LWRP.

CSI - Is any portion of this property within 500 feet of the LWRP boundary (east of Hook Road)? If so, it requires appropriate review.

ZONING BOARD PROJECT REVIEW - No projects reviewed at this meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Meg reluctantly accepted the resignation of Marcus Mello, who explained that he wished to direct his energies to a more global environmental effort, in which his experience and expertise might be better utilized. He spoke of the Dutchess County Energy Alliance, to be based on the Boston Energy Alliance, but still in the early stages of formation. Marcus warned that the present plan has flaws and that town CACs are not sufficiently represented.

There are now two openings on CAC. Meg will post one opening on the town/village website and Lisa will contact the high school regarding a student replacement for Ryan, who will be stepping down this year.

2009 budget for CAC. Meg will begin work on this. No form is available, so she uses past allocations and expenditures for guidance. Carol mentioned that, according to Dan Staley, the town budget is in trouble; he cites Comprehensive Plan expenses. Bill Dowden added that there has been a significant reduction of income from building permits and mortgage taxes.

The proposed wetlands law was a matter of focus at the recent sparsely attended SEQR scoping session, so we need to develop an informed position. We discussed briefly the transfer of development rights and tax credits for landowners with wetlands on their property. Since we need more background, Warren Reese of Scenic Hudson will be asked to speak at our next meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

NEWSLETTER/ TOWN WEBSITE - Lisa reviewed the first issue of the CAC newsletter, which will be updated quarterly on the website.

SCHOOLS/EDUCATION - It was agreed that education of the public, both in schools and beyond, is one of our primary purposes and should be stressed. Some ideas for consciousness raising included a "free cycle" event in the fairgrounds, a "carbon rally" (see website: carbonrally.com), and a take-home test designed to enable families to assess their carbon foot prints.

TREES/PARKS

Meg reviewed the sites identified for a fall tree planting, using part of the 2-year grant to the town and village: 1) Montgomery Street north to Chestnut; 2) SW corner property at South Street and South Parsonage; 3) park on Rockefeller Lane. ---- Tess and Carol volunteered to write a tree care flyer for property owners with newly planted trees; Lisa agreed to do the layout. ---- The park on Rockefeller Lane will not be getting a renovation, as planned by village trustee Svend Beecher; the trees to be planted there this fall will be close to the lake banks, designed to serve as a riparian buffer. ---- The tree which has fallen across Landsman's Kill just west of the South Parsonage bridge will probably not be removed. Among other things, it is a part of the natural flood plain at that point and unlikely to cause damage. ---- Regarding the deterioration of the riparian buffer demonstration project in the mini park, Trout Unlimited is responsible for this portion of the park and plans a more comprehensive renovation of the embankment this fall.

WATERFRONT - Waterfront Day was very successful. Carol reported that the committee is still waiting for a response to their feasibility study. A portion of the Saland money will be used to plant two trees. At the committee meeting earlier this week town board liaison Dan Staley announced that he plans to prepare the budget and the purchase orders for the fenders project. He also stated that the Waterfront Committee and Waterfront Day will be absorbed by the Recreation Committee; Waterfront Committee members do not know how and when (or why) this will occur. Two corrections re: Waterfront Committee:

Correction To above. Dan said that the possibility of Waterfront sub-committee being moved to Recreation will be considered by Town Board, not that it would happen. Second, if there is leftover money from Saland grant after fenders installed, some might be used for two trees, pending Saland and Town Board approval

STANDING COMMITEES:

TREES: Meg, Carol, Tess

EDUCATION: Lisa, Carol, Meg, Tess

ENERGY: Gloria

WETLANDS & STREAM INVENTORY: Bill, Ryan, Sharon

CAC SCHEDULE:

Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 pm - Warren Reese of Scenic Hudson will speak to us re wetlands laws (tentative)

November meeting. Date TBA. Main topic will be CAC goals, budget, succession (membership terms), etc.

Adjourned at 9:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Tess McKellen