ECC Minutes – Sep. 2016

Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission
Meeting Agenda Sept 8, 2016

Facilitator: Laura
Recorder: Chris
Attendance: Rick Jones, Judith Karpova, Angela Dorris, John Messerschmidt, Laura Finestone, Chris Hewitt
Guests: Carl Chipman, Larry Dewitt, John Mickelson and Dave Church speaking about Natural Heritage Plan, David Stoltz

I. Call to Order
II. Business and Logistics
A. Minutes approved
B. New members
III. Reports
A. Riverkeeper
B. Natural Heritage Plan report/ECC
C. EMC
D. Planning Board Report
E. Climate Smart Communities (Angela)
-We’ve looked into the report, requirements and benefits. The planning tools are a valuable resource. They offer guidance and measuring tools. There are different levels that can be achieved. We’re already half way to qualifying with the work that’s already been done in town. Screened all of the requirements to see where we qualify already and where can make progress next. Carl would like to meet with Angela and Judith to take next steps. Being a Climate Smart Community allows the town to get additional funding. Over 170 communities are now moving forward on qualifying. Kingston was one of first six communities, and they’re rated Bronze. CSC likes to publicize qualified towns.

IV. New Business
A. Creek Week Planning
B. Natural heritage spread sheet
-Carl discussed some of the progress that we’ve made already in this town, for example larger zoning acres around from downtowns that allow space to be preserved. The carrot is better than the stick, and the spreadsheet doesn’t have a carrot. John mentioned that sometimes tighter development can be a good thing if done well. Continued to discuss the code audit matrix spreadsheet and some of the sections that are missing code information. Mike Baden may be able to fill in some of those blanks. There is a close date for feedback on the plan, but it doesn’t mean that things can’t be added or changed later. Right now doing prioritization and what may have been left out. During the September meeting, there will be a lot of prioritization and summarizing, which will allow the content, structure and tone of public meetings to be created. Carl suggested looking at the types of zones (scheduled uses) in town and consider the components of the plan in relation to them. John and Dave used the state open space plan and the county open space plan to see what related to the Town of Rochester to be included in our plan. Dave made the point that zoning tells people what not to do but doesn’t suggest smart things to do with their land. We all have another week to give feedback on the matrix.
C. Who is doing what courses?
-There may be some ECC members going.
D. F/U on Golf course. No time.
E. Spraying (Joe Britt). No time.
F. Citizens for local power. No time.
G. Meeting with John and Dave
-Discussed Purchase of Development Rights versus Transfer of Development Rights. We have two PDR farms in Rochester (Arrowood Farms and Domino Farm). This meeting is to find what the role of this ECC is and to review progress on the Natural Heritage Plan. The goal is to get the plan done by next April or May. Presentation: Project Overview (General), Project Overview (Codes and Policies), Review of Conservation. The next meeting that they’re presenting at is at the Wawarsing Town Hall on September 29 at 8am. John is going to send us a link to the map overlays that have been put together. As a wrap up, ECC: ads long-term stewards. Can bring both short and long-term oversight, insight and guidance; ecological and moral character to development trends; and can ensure that TOR maintains a vision within adherence to a plan, feature and system by feature and system, so that each parcel developed becomes integrated within a larger, contextualized Plan. Our ECC could become a Conservation Board, which would mean that our commission would be working more closely with the other boards in town. John will send us additional links related to the subject of Natural Heritage and Open Space planning. After the plan is done, our town will need a group of citizens, like the ECC, to champion what’s in the plan. Judith suggested that it will help us to get guidance on this from John and Dave, and they agree.
-How do they involve us next? John and Dave will keep us informed during the process to let us know items in our town code and practices that can be updated or focused on. Laura suggests that we all attend the committee meetings, and that we’ll need some guidance moving forward. Carl suggested that some of us attend a Planning Board meeting once in a while to get a sense of the meetings.
I. Old Business
II. Action Item Review
III. Adjourn: 8:06pm