Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLP-10/13/2015 LAND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING Minutes & Discussion Notes from Meeting held Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Town Hall Annex Executive Board Room Members Present: John Sepenoski, Chairman Maureen Cullinane Lillian Ball Sam McCullough Eric Keil Anne Murray Members Absent: Peggy Dickerson Also present: Melissa Spiro, Land Preservation Coordinator Scott A. Russell, Southold Town Supervisor Melanie Doroski, Land Preservation Secretary Commencement:  The meeting began at 7:04 p.m. with six LPC members present. Adoption of Meeting Minutes:  Acceptance of LPC meeting minutes from September 29, 2015. MOTION made by Eric Keil, seconded by Lillian Ball, to accept the 9/29/2015 LPC meeting minutes. Motion carried: 4/0/2 (LPC members Sam McCullough and Maureen Cullinane abstained as they were absent from the 9/29/2015 LPC meeting.) Land Preservation Applications and Inquiries:  SCTM #1000-95.-1-11.2 (BIGGANE) Status update Landowner Jack Biggane has accepted LPC offer to purchase a development rights easement on his property known as part of SCTM #1000-95.-1-11.2. Mr. Biggane has met with Planning staff regarding proposed lot line modification of 1± acre at north side of property.  PROJECT STATUS UPDATES \[executive session where applicable\] HOLD – project status updates not discussed due to time constraints. Applications & Inquiries for Uses or Structures on Preserved Property  SCTM #1000-79.-2-7.7 (Town Open Space: Hog’s Neck Property fka Forestbrook) Review of proposed plan to Town Open Space Property At the Town Board’s request, the Land Preservation Committee reviewed the Proposed Trail Plan for the Forestbrook Property. The one page Trail Plan description (undated) and map (dated October 2, 2015) were distributed and presented to the Committee by Chairman John Sepenoski. The Committee supports the concept of the proposal. MOTION made by Sam McCullough, seconded by Anne Murray, to direct Land Preservation Coordinator Melissa Spiro to present the following comments pertaining to applicable bullet points in the undated one page Trail Plan to Supervisor Russell and the Southold Town Board in response to Town Board’s request for LPC review of a proposed horse trail plan on Town Open Space Property at Hog’s Neck f/k/a Forestbrook. In its support for creating a trail system for passive recreational horseback riding on the Forestbrook property, the Committee recommends establishing a dual use schedule for both hikers and horseback riders in order to provide greater public access to the Preserve.  First bullet: Total length of trails will be 0.6 miles. The Committee supports the proposed trail and is not opposed to expanding the trail in the future.  Sixth bullet: The Pond Trail is a short spur that will go to an old irrigation pond. A railing will be installed at the end of this trail to prevent entering the pond. The Committee did not have the benefit of a contour map during review and questioned if the grade of the property had been reviewed for potential erosion impacts from the proposed equestrian use.  Seventh bullet: A dirt parking area for two vehicles will be designated on North Bayview Rd Ext. No guard rail delineating the parking area will be installed unless issues develop with vehicles accessing or attempting to access the property beyond the parking area. The Committee supports this two vehicle parking area; however, only as long as on-street parking is still allowed to ensure that public access to the property is not excessively limited.  Eighth bullet: DPW will handle all expenses necessary for this work from their department budget. No CPF funds will be used, therefore there will be no need to amend the adopted CPF Stewardship Management Plan. The Committee supports including a stewardship budget line for the Forestbrook Property in the 2016 CPF Stewardship Management Plan.  General comment: A concern was raised as to whether or not the horse use, which includes horses traveling from other properties and horse manure remaining on the property, could potentially introduce invasive species seeds from their manure, hair or hooves. Since this is outside LPC members’ area of expertise, perhaps the Board may wish to seek additional advice on the subject. The Committee understands that a revision to the Stewardship Management Plan for the Town’s Hog’s Neck Properties has been drafted. The Committee will review the drafted revisions if the Town Board refers same to the Committee for comment. Motion carried: 5/0/1 (LPC Chairman John Sepenoski abstained from vote) Stewardship and Management:  STEWARDSHIP Appointment with Supervisor Russell (7:05 p.m.) At the end of the 9/29/15 LPC meeting, LPC Chairman John Sepenoski had presented a detailed update in regard to the proposed horse trail on the Forestbrook property. During the discussion, LPC members raised questions pertaining to the proposal. Chairman Sepenoski gave Supervisor Russell an update of the LPC meeting discussion. Supervisor Russell attended the LPC meeting to discuss the update given to him by Chairman Sepenoski and, in addition, to discuss the LPC’s stewardship role. During a lengthy discussion, some of the committee members noted that there was likely a misunderstanding as to the way the Chairman presented the Committee’s discussion points, and also confusion as to the direction the Committee had been given in regard to its stewardship role. Supervisor Russell clarified that the proposed trail system on the Forestbrook property had been discussed at the Town Board work session on 10/6/2015 and that he had recommended that same be reviewed by the LPC before any Town Board action taking place. He noted that the Forestbrook trails had been started several years before but had not been completed, and that this was an opportunity to open the trails for public access. The Supervisor and Committee members discussed the procedure that the Committee was working under in that Stewardship items would be generated and presented to the Town Board by Jeff Standish and/or Jim McMahon of DPW and/or LPC Chairman John Sepenoski, and not the LPC Committee. The Supervisor noted that the Committee always had the opportunity to make stewardship recommendations to the Town Board, and that he felt that the Committee had not fulfilled its stewardship duties. He also pointed out that the LPC could reach out to groups that could provide voluntary stewardship. The Supervisor noted that stewardship plans would be referred to the LPC by the Town Board for review.  STEWARDSHIP GENERAL UPDATE During the Stewardship discussion with Supervisor Russell, Chairman John Sepenoski stated that he will no longer give Stewardship General Updates to the Committee.  EASEMENT MONITORING SCTM #1000-83.-2-9.3 FILIBERTO fka Manzi Trust/Villa Amorosa o HOLD - not discussed due to time constraints General Land Preservation Items:  LIST OF PROPERTIES FOR SALE HOLD - not discussed due to time constraints. Next Regular Meeting:  Tuesday, October 27, 2015. The next regular meeting will be on Lillian Ball will be unable to attend this upcoming meeting. Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. by the six attending LPC members. Respectfully submitted by Melanie Doroski, Land Preservation Secretary