[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479276,"mediaKeyId","5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6","parentId",5701913,"title","Conservation board revises tree ordinance draft and plans advisory panel to pursue Tree City USA designation","audioSeconds",3373,"startMs",2423000,"endMs",5796000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6&start=2423&end=5796","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6/thumbnail_2423000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479276/Grand-Island/Erie-County/New-York/Conservation-board-revises-tree-ordinance-draft-and-plans-advisory-panel-to-pursue-Tree-City-USA-designation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479276-c007b5658bbe5c108bea1cbfe59614d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112404&Signature=cntDP8yA1-vkZqydiEIUQC-jDu3SQNIQDVxBLuha-rm53SeBFrB0n~j73PWIfJ0UB7PAE--I-A0iKidKJHDOKKjCdYR6Bn1SRLzZAB9ALbc3hVAoaNcrXddG7C4bPJTjTnUPBXrual5-agykZq~zNrhNbt9ZSMJj4w7EfMJbZg-6tZEV1X~pdAWhHfSv06PY1-wu39O1jXvAO8WnT1QbV2fwTbgijE88gbZRe-iuJjnRuVJ1MHeQw3CH6ySytqLsiamfuzef4tCuWnbnIupBQdhqVlYfs7kB2nINOXDAV8YxRcE8lbbMEm~sa1SzEHWAREnF30hQLSDcaASeQn-4mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grand Island, NY","date","2025-08-29T13:35:57Z","article","Members of the Grand Island Conservation Advisory Board spent the meeting reviewing a working draft of a tree ordinance and discussing edits intended to align the law with the town's Community Forestry Management Plan and with the requirements for Tree City USA designation.

Scope and title: Board members favored changing the ordinance title to emphasize \"public tree conservation and management\" and agreed the law should address trees located on town-owned property and in the public right-of-way rather than private-yard plantings. Diane and others urged that the ordinance explicitly define \"public trees\" and \"public right-of-way\" up front so the text is clear.

Definitions and thresholds: The draft included an existing definition that used diameter-at-breast-height thresholds (for example, 6 inches at 4.5 feet) inherited from earlier drafts. Members debated simplifying the text by using the town's existing community-forestry definition or by keeping a size threshold tied to replacement rules. Several members argued for a practical approach: use the town's community-forest inventory definitions and avoid overly narrow, technical thresholds that would exclude smaller ornamental trees.

Tree advisory board and Tree City USA: The group discussed creating a town Tree Advisory Board or designating a subcommittee of the Conservation Advisory Board with representatives from parks and highways. Members noted Tree City USA's application asks for a named contact (such as a department head) and for evidence of a municipal tree program. The advisory board recommended a committee that includes CAB members plus representatives from the parks department and highway superintendent (or their designees) and that the committee meet on a regular basis and provide an annual report.

Planting guidance and public right-of-way: Members agreed to add an appendix or town website list of appropriate right-of-way tree species and to require coordination with town staff before planting in public rights-of-way so plantings do not conflict with utilities or future capital projects.

Process and next steps: Members who were editing the draft said they would convert the available PDF to an editable version, incorporate agreed changes (title, definitions, committee language, and an approved species list) and circulate the revised draft for further review. The board also discussed removing provisions intended for private-property enforcement from the public-tree-focused draft and leaving enforcement language to town code lawyers as needed.

Ending: The board agreed to continue edits and to prepare language that the town can submit with a Tree City USA application, including identification of a municipal contact and an outline of responsibilities for a tree advisory committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8/28/2025 Conservation Advisory Board","oneSentenceSummary","Advisers reviewed a working draft of a town tree ordinance, narrowed its scope to publicly owned trees and right-of-way plantings, discussed definitions and a community forestry plan, and recommended forming a tree advisory panel tied to the Conservation Advisory Board to meet Tree City USA application requirements.","taxTitle","Grand Island, Erie County, New York","taxId",54969,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479280,"Grand Island board raises public-safety concerns over rising deer numbers, asks DEC for population data",1094,1180000,2274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6&start=1180&end=2274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6/thumbnail_1180000.jpg","/articles/6479280/Grand-Island/Erie-County/New-York/Grand-Island-board-raises-public-safety-concerns-over-rising-deer-numbers-asks-DEC-for-population-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479280-7d809f151da1a30e768ce44d808a4e1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112404&Signature=SCF8G7~hSV2XlVUnjiaCyNmwZBc4xJ3X0YpJorrJQQBZfjaA~-ejqPewtZHsGuRLnuuPqtwqyxBY8DVD~5qlYD6MNoQUDZIe1Ie7dimpiEXPTlKcDspJw0cswz7QzFl7PtVYjRYf4v85E4FhVcapQ90eWB1jlxKzgr~zrZ~ckj1sq5wnbzDWHfUw23gv0OMJ9aBs4JvSUCUIt8MOnWE48RFnci8yJ5vF4kJzBWER6ezm8DJyUTEHZqBNsyvoRMSKVWA387jrz78wnoK~StAHmpQkzO8zjxruUayr2sHaOECp7xn0JAfM-SmQPzfOU2tDEve3NGFBdtSz1fgor9bDlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supervisor Pete and other advisory board members told the Conservation Advisory Board they have observed a noticeable increase in deer on Grand Island and growing reports of vehicle collisions, property damage and residents encountering deer in neighborhoods.

Pete said he has received multiple calls reporting more deer and that local police report increasing vehicle-deer crash responses. \"We're seeing more and more vehicle accidents and, obviously, property damage,\" he said. Board members attributed the rise to curtailed hunting and possible changes in habitat and recommended requesting population and harvest data from the DEC.

What the board will do: Pete said he had contacted DEC staff and would follow up with a DEC wildlife contact to obtain year‑to‑year harvest and permit statistics (including doe permits) and to learn what management options other island or bounded communities have used. Members discussed options mentioned by DEC staff elsewhere — for example, bait-and-shoots, expanded crossbow or muzzleloader seasons, and targeted harvest programs — and expressed concern about humane, safety and logistics issues for Grand Island's residential areas.

Data gaps and next steps: Diane said the town's natural resource inventory is collecting wildlife information but so far has not compiled trend analysis. The board asked staff to request DEC population estimates or harvest totals specific to Grand Island's wildlife-management unit and to provide any available local trend data.

Ending: The board agreed to follow up with the DEC contact and to share any data with the advisory board for discussion of next steps that balance public safety, wildlife health and resident concerns.","Conservation advisers heard repeated accounts of more vehicle-deer collisions and growing deer presence in neighborhoods. The board agreed to ask the DEC for harvest and permit data and to consider management options appropriate for the island.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479285,"Grand Island officials describe sewer infiltration, pump upgrades and development moratorium in meeting",121,1699000,1820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6&start=1699&end=1820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6/thumbnail_1699000.jpg","/articles/6479285/Grand-Island/Erie-County/New-York/Grand-Island-officials-describe-sewer-infiltration-pump-upgrades-and-development-moratorium-in-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479285-5f5a787570cf1aa8477003662b1a104d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112404&Signature=IDrDDv08Tc5EIWKVFa2PrttlXChgE8rBIpaa8GVoRYVpV4R2FkkUwR0LxH6-rQ9e-ZwYb08qjGeATPGZdTVW9wBB1UhGgBGuRF-LdCl6rl5qVj7DOIIwurHeYCOpx15DnsBoT-lHhkRQHTcvqErfd5T0xYwLMtKSzN160lkBe-wDtiH~-86BOiDpKA9OLkVroScGjecR16NSlp9Z1mxaIJ9ERkYNxicy8AfQoOBftPg3d5rDDaAFODOAtUEWUBB4yg9yKXUhDWW4zE9M59vXR65XkVCBUoXlN5G-cgLcQsKtK9z-9tyw-VoBHf4jLZlf7pMvVBEbZfylLyPUyqxrvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members told the Conservation Advisory Board that heavy rains rapidly increase flow into the town wastewater treatment plant and that the plant and associated pump stations have been overwhelmed on heavy rain days.

A board member summarized the operational problem: when the plant reaches capacity two wet wells fill and flows bypass to the river. He described much of the inflow as rainwater from sump pumps and infiltration through manholes rather than direct sanitary sewage. \"It's not like right out of your shitter kind of water. It is a lot of rainwater... because we have people that have their sump pumps hooked up to their sewer system,\" the speaker said.

Funding and upgrades: the board discussed pump-station projects identified by station numbers (referred to as stations 8, 11 and 5) and mentioned roughly $7,000,000 for pump-station work. The town member said developers contributed to at least one project (Southpointe contributed funds for one station), and the town is seeking funds for upgrades.

Moratorium on development: board members said a moratorium on new development is in place until the stormwater and infiltration problem is addressed. The moratorium was cited as linked to infiltration concerns and the town's efforts to avoid state fines by demonstrating progress on corrective measures.

Options discussed: members suggested inspection and enforcement measures (for example, checking whether homeowners have sump pumps discharging to sanitary sewers) and engineering solutions such as bubblers, revised sump configurations, and additional pump-station capacity. One speaker proposed examining fines paid in recent years as a potential funding source for future improvements.

Ending: board members asked staff to continue tracking pump-station projects, provide details on the $7 million funding and prepare updates on the moratorium and any anticipated timelines for construction.","Board members discussed infiltration into the sanitary system that increases treatment plant volumes during rain events, recent funding for pump-station work, and a reported moratorium on development tied to unresolved drainage issues.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479290,"Grand Island officials press DEC for clearer permitting as Woods Creek, Buckhorn silt up",973,217000,1190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6&start=217&end=1190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701913-e02dd909a608250d53e1873dec154da6/thumbnail_217000.jpg","/articles/6479290/Grand-Island/Erie-County/New-York/Grand-Island-officials-press-DEC-for-clearer-permitting-as-Woods-Creek-Buckhorn-silt-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479290-d450a7eaf59337a844826cd4f07e4d50/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112404&Signature=I~FKRAmdB8VrgQ7LOV84NT4qVdN6dfaDqmakQu4mIQydoT5b8ZJ1db17Oc0zuo3Nrgy6AnMb3eBi-NNk-stovzPJ54tYHL281q89ARWFEgylaTgxIScdQYQvJ617IlSSXeETNfXJcexpeBYw-c99egn0j25Bvy5Ak-n86Hrad-dv7WdDq0uuOa0WcywS-YPyM2l6-e8cFIm8wmxWMI0t~IeG5-IEcF1ZpWTohXs0wukSDp9InxGlpeTgqVOOdbPeemUStIxc~dcVfeAyNBwcydqJ42lGjEtltgFGFvS9bGtl04~x8h4Du8YOVZWgJmqZglUCZ3LI5VxK~HpI-5ArmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supervisor Pete briefed the Grand Island Conservation Advisory Board on August 28, saying the town's creeks are silting and that the last-mile stretch through Buckhorn is largely impassable, worsening flood risk for neighborhoods.

Pete said crews and volunteers have documented trees rooted in creek beds and extensive sedimentation that prevent flow. \"We're trying to at least restore it to where it used to be because we based all our stormwater models and all that on those things working and now they're not,\" he said.

Why it matters: board members said the clogged channels reduce the island's ability to drain during storms and raise the likelihood of yards and streets flooding. Witness accounts and drone video were described as showing water overtopping banks, submerged vehicles and isolated properties with several feet of standing water.

What officials say they have done: Pete said the town has engaged the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and State Parks staff, and has filed multiple permit applications including stream-disturbance and wetland permits. He told the board the town has three permit submissions in process and initially sought local permits for 100-foot restoration segments but that those short reaches would not address the broader downstream constraint that prevents drainage.

Board discussion and obstacles: board members and Pete described mixed messages from state reviewers. Pete said that at least one DEC representative told the town \"you guys got a real problem here,\" while other responses reportedly suggested the agency would not permit work in some areas. Town members noted DEC staff have requested restoration plans that show proposed dredge elevations and replanting prescriptions; those restoration requirements — and the cost to replant after sediment removal — are possible hurdles to approval.

Next steps: Pete said he would continue to press State Parks and DEC, provide drone footage to the advisory board, and work with local contacts, including a person named Bob Westfall, to prepare permit-quality engineering and restoration plans intended to address DEC concerns starting at the river and working upstream.

Ending: Board members asked to receive Pete's video and supporting documents and expect future updates on permit status and any formal DEC responses.","Town supervisors and conservation advisers described advancing siltation, blocked channels and repeated permit delays that they say are worsening flooding on Grand Island. Officials say they have submitted multiple permit applications but lack a definitive response from the state DEC about a downstream restoration strategy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Conservation board revises tree ordinance draft and plans advisory panel to pursue Tree City USA designation

Grand Island board raises public-safety concerns over rising deer numbers, asks DEC for population data

Grand Island officials describe sewer infiltration, pump upgrades and development moratorium in meeting

Grand Island officials press DEC for clearer permitting as Woods Creek, Buckhorn silt up