Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County approves conservation easement support for Guy and Sutcliffe parcels in Ulysses, votes 4–1 on negative declaration
Summary
The committee approved a negative declaration and appropriated $41,705 from the Natural Infrastructure Capital Program to cover project costs for two Finger Lakes Land Trust conservation easements totaling 45.8 acres in the town of Ulysses; the negative declaration passed 4–1.
The Planning, Energy and Environmental Quality Committee on March 10 approved two resolutions to support permanent conservation easements on adjacent properties in the town of Ulysses.
The committee first approved a negative declaration of environmental significance for the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Guy and Sutcliffe conservation-easement project (Resolution ID 13158). Rich moved the negative declaration, Amanda seconded, and the committee approved the declaration 4–1. The chair recorded Greg as voting against.
Committee members then considered and approved an appropriation to provide financial support from the Tompkins County Natural Infrastructure Capital Program to cover project costs (surveys, baseline documentation reports, recording fees and related transaction costs). The funds requested for project support were $41,705. Rich moved the funding resolution (Resolution ID 13159), Veronica seconded, and the committee approved appropriation of the requested amount; the committee recorded the measure as approved (vote recorded in committee as 4–1 on the related items).
Finger Lakes Land Trust staff said the project would protect 45.8 acres that include perennial stream frontage and two wetland types. Andy (last name not provided), speaking for the land trust, described how the easements are structured to combine conservation protections for high-priority stream and wetland areas with retained areas for limited agricultural or residential use. "So what you see there is forested area on Ticana Creek…that is our highest, you know, most restricted zone for environmental protection zone," Andy said, describing mapped zones that will be formally surveyed and incorporated into recorded easement documents.
The county’s funding contribution will not purchase the land; the landowners are donating the easements. County money will cover transaction costs that enable the easement to be recorded and monitored — for example, legal fees, land surveying, baseline ecological documentation and recording fees. "The county funds will allow…these are donations, but while they're donated, the county money will cover the costs of our legal fees, land surveys, property title research, and then two different…baseline documentation studies," Andy said.
Committee members discussed the application materials and asked that future easement proposals include brief additional background (a project narrative) to make clear the transaction mechanics and how county funds will be used; staff and land trust representatives agreed to consider that addition in future applications. The committee vote to approve the negative declaration was 4–1; the appropriation was approved by the committee as recorded during the session.
