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Tompkins County clears $1.31 million appropriation to protect wetlands on Schneider parcel in Caroline
Summary
The county approved $1,313,425 to the Finger Lakes Land Trust (to be transferred to Wetlands Trust Inc.) to protect 18 acres within the 6 Mile Creek focus area; staff said the acquisition stops potential infill and contributes to a connected wetlands complex.
The Planning, Energy & Environmental Quality Committee unanimously approved a negative declaration and then an appropriation of $1,313,425 to support permanent protection of 18 acres of wetlands on the Schneider parcel in the town of Caroline. The Land Trust plans to transfer the parcel to Wetlands Trust Incorporated for long-term stewardship.
Planning staff said most of the parcel is covered by DEC informational wetlands and that protecting the site would preserve a large wetlands complex that extends north into the Cascadilla Creek focus area. "The Schneider parcel... the land trust is requesting $1,313,425 dollars for the protection of 18 acres that they will transfer to the Wetlands Trust Incorporated," staff said. Committee members asked whether other parcels along the creek remain private and whether this acquisition will help connect and protect the whole corridor; staff said outreach to adjacent landowners is ongoing and landowner incentives vary because wetlands appraise low compared with developable land.
The committee approved the procedural negative declaration (ID 14191) and the appropriation (ID 14192) without recorded opposition.
