Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 1. Recently moved to Dryden and learning about the issues in this area. I was really surprised at the high property taxation and when driving around I see so much “poorness”. Homes not kept up, barns and garages falling down, etc. I believe lack of industry is the reason -­‐ industry that would hire people, pay taxes and support local businesses. Seems to me that we should be encouraging industry not making it harder for businesses to operate here. Open lands do not generate enough revenue needed to run government and government does always to need more money, doesn’t it? Making 65% of the land in the Town of Dryden a critical environment area will really mean more regulation of what people can do with their legally-­‐owned and highly-­‐taxed property. Another writer said the “salamanders and frogs” find refuge in these critical environmental areas. I think these animals will adjust on their own, they’ve been doing it long before we got here. When salamanders and frogs pay taxes then they should have their say. When the last taxpayer leaves, please turn out the light! Needless to say, I am against this land grab. Nancy Werany 2. The issue of Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs) designated for the Town of Dryden has caused me to reflect on our community and respond with some personal observations and thoughts. First some background. As a fourth generation resident of Tompkins County, from a family that has owned land, buildings, businesses and homes in almost every town, village and the city of Ithaca our family and I have had generational experience in all phases of the life of our area and are proud to have played a part in the counties history and growth. The town of Dryden is my (with my wife) home, our land and property are a source of pride and a place of solace where we feel truly blessed to be part of a special community. We feel the deep sense of history and see the unique spirit the town exhibits. Dryden, established 215 years ago, has seen very slow and mostly even growth, careful use of it's natural resources and a generally good record of environmental protection. A history we can all certainly be proud of. With her proud history and a generational record of good management the issue lends itself to the question of CEAs. Generally, the county and specifically Dryden has been well managed by her citizens and their families. The need for large scale CEAs, after a 215 record of success would seem to be counterintuitive. Designating large areas for some measure of greater control in my opinion is unneeded as we have a generational record that is proven and successful, our citizens have done an exemplary job as stewards of the environment and including large areas for further regulation seems excessive and unwarranted, we have 215 of history as solid proof. As the grandson of the former county commissioner of elections, I appreciate the effort you and the members of the town's staff and Drydens town board give to our citizens. It is my hope this issue will be reconsidered for the reasons outlined above. Bob Baker 3. Alan Dedrick Message: 1 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 I do not want my property included in a critical environmental area. There are no endangered, rare, unique, or exotic species of plants or animals. The soil types and terrain of the land are common throughout the town, county and state, as are the parcels adjacent to mine. Most of the proposed CEA's have little or no evidence of any specialty or uniqueness. Please respond specifically and offer some proof or evidence of these claims. You may email the above address, or to my home address at 159 Mott Road. 4. The definition of "critical environmental areas" is so vague, and so encompassing, as the Dryden Board reads it, and as they admitted in their own handout on Jan. 18 vague, that almost every piece of land could be classified as a CEA. Land either is cleared, has trees, etc. so that any land they choose to put in it they consider a CEA. When a statute is this vague and interpreted to cover the vast majority of land, courts may set it aside when challenged. I doubt the legislature ever intended 2/3 of a whole town of about 100 square miles to be CEA. Unfortunately our town board instead of reading such statutes narrowly chooses to read them broadly. Another example is the term "heavy industry," undefined in NY State law and banned without ever defining what it is. So, our residents will be burdened with yet another government restriction on land use. Our town is so busy "protecting" people that it will soon protect them out of all they thought they owned. Henry Kramer Town of Dryden 5. The idea that about 2/3 of the town is "unique" is absurd. It's an abuse of the meaning of the word. This is clearly an attempt to re-­‐create Dryden as The Shire. We're not hobbits and this isn't Middle-­‐earth; if we expect to have the money to pay for such things as municipal services and schools, we had best be prepared to not simply reject almost all development and growth out of hand—and I maintain such rejection is the objective of declaring vast areas of the town as "critical" to the environment with little thought given to how services will be provided in a future in which growth is essentially blocked. Please don't establish CEAs. This is a case of "be careful what you wish for; you're liable to get it." Tracy Marisa Town of Dryden 6. We are writing to voice our strongest support for the proposed designation of key natural areas in Dryden as CEA and watershed designated areas. We own 21 acres of south-­‐facing and south-­‐sloping woods, and our property is entirely within proposed CEA-­‐26. We are both lifetime field biologists who recently retired from Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, where we were both full-­‐time faculty. We spend a lot of time monitoring wildlife and ecological conditions in our immediate area, and have even undertaken several research projects (on catbirds, cardinals, and woodpeckers) on ours and adjacent properties. Our property is part of the former Hotelling farm. While there were some cleared pastures on our site 40 years ago, much of the property consists of natural woods, especially the forest on our eastern boundary that borders a steep south-­‐running gorge whose stream flows into 6-­‐mile 2 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 creek. Smaller brooks on our property also run into that gorge or into 6-­‐Mile Creek at points south of our property. The land includes a rich mix of forest types including some lovely stands of hemlock and ferns along the gorge edge, large adjacent woods with oaks, maples, basswood, and even wild cherry, and secondary forest with swamp maples around a natural spring that we have enlarged into a pond. In fall, the decay of naturally fallen trees and leaves feed an incredibly rich fungus diversity. Our property is home to 5 species of frogs and toads in considerable abundance, indicating good water composition and healthy soil conditions. We also have several species of salamanders on the property. The bird community is rich both in winter and summer compositions, but we are particularly proud of the healthy ruffed grouse population in ours and adjacent properties. Multiple males set up drumming sites around our house each year. A variety of owls and raptors seem to do very well here, including breeding on the property or on adjacent sides of the gorge, indicating healthy small mammal populations. Deer, skunks, raccoons, foxes, squirrels (including flying squirrels), and coyotes are common as they are in much of the region. One or more minks regularly hunt frogs and invertebrates along the pond margins, usually in the fall. The local turkeys favor the open area near our pond as a strutting area every March-­‐
April; we can have over 30 birds milling about while separate clusters of male siblings display to coy females. And our property attracts a nice population of foraging bats every summer, with red and hoary bats finishing off the season in the fall before migrating south. As lifelong field biologists, we love it here. We moved to Ithaca from San Diego in 1999 to assume new faculty positions at Cornell after 24 years as faculty at the University of California, San Diego. We have both published numerous papers on avian (and bat) behavioral ecology in both the USA and in the African and New World tropics, so are particularly happy to live in a natural site with such a rich faunal diversity. It is fantastic to be able to buy a chunk of natural and second growth forest where we can actually step out the door to do research, but even just day-­‐to-­‐day, enjoy watching and interpreting what we see the local fauna and flora doing. After all those years in "2 month green, 10-­‐month brown" southern California, we love the change of seasons here. We plan to stay as long as we are able, and have installed geothermal heating and cooling, (using the pond as the heat source and sink), so no longer need gas or propane to control our house temperature. And we are now working on plans to install solar panels to offset our electricity needs. It is a unique place, and a continuing source of joy and interest for us in our senior years. But even after we are gone, we hope that this type of area will have been preserved so that future residents of our home can interact with and enjoy nature the way we have been able to. Besides the wildlife, our hill is a massive rain collector. The rocky but permeable top layer is full of water and the run-­‐off goes directly downslope into Ithaca's main water supply. Fracking or other nearby industrial activities that might corrupt the local ground water would not only make it impossible for any of us on Besemer Hill Road to continue living here, it would totally disrupt what is currently a very healthy ecological system. Where else in the US can you find a place to live in nature and still be only a 10 minute drive from the rich cultural attractions in Ithaca, Cornell, or the Lab of Ornithology?! There is a good reason Ithaca (and Dryden) are repeatedly selected as top retirement and quality of life sites. It has been so for us. So far…. In short, we offer our absolute and full support for the proposed CEA and watershed designations. We would be ecstatic and do whatever we need to meet conditions if CEA 26 is approved. Please let us know if we can provide any further information on our property or its suitability for this assignment. Sincerely, 3 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 Jack W. Bradbury Sandra L. Vehrencamp 7. Dear Dan & Steve, The current CEA plan with approximately 65% of land in Dryden identified as a Critical Environmental Area is just plain ridiculous. The well intentioned folks on that committee have managed to interpret the regulations to mean that most of Dryden should be covered by a CEA and that this will NOT cause the landowners any issues in the future. Please help these folks and the Town Board get their heads out of the sand. This designation will cause immediate review with the possibility of state and town required changes and fees for any building plan or site change. I currently own four acres in the village of Dryden, some of which has been labeled as a CEA “CRITICAL ENVIONMENTAL AREA”. Let’s please keep in mind – CRITICAL = Designating materials and products Essential to a condition or project but in short supply. What I have been told is that I have some RARE pine trees on my land. I am pretty sure if I have rare pine trees on my land they were planted there by the previous owner, and should I determine I need to cut them down, I could plant new ones someplace else. Just how rare is rare? My understanding is that other towns around us either have NO CEA’s or have been very cautious in labeling anything as a CEA. It is my sincere belief that the Town of Dryden has once again gone way beyond what is wanted or needed by the members of this community. STOP the CEA plan NOW! Sincerely Deb Shigley Village of Dryden Resident 8. I live in the Village of Dryden and I support the CEA designations. I saw that CEA-­‐13 is near my house and includes the wetlands but not the stream that passes through the corner of that zone. That creek goes through populated areas and should be considered as well. 9. Over the past two years, I have observed the process by which you and the Planning Staff have searched for and identified Critical Enviornmental Areas withing the Town. You and your Staff have worked diligently and competently to balance designating such areas and the competing, private interests of residents who might wish not to have a specific area designated. I believe you have succeeded, and I know that you have gone about your efforts thoughtfully and conscientiously. Therefore, I thank you and Staff for your efforts, and I support your adoption of the designations now recommended without further modification. Regards, Joe Wilson 10. I have lived in the town of Dryden for nearly 40 years, most of it at my residence on Mt. Pleasant. As a field biologist and ecologist, I am particularly familiar with the CEA areas 22, 23, and 28, in which I have spent many hours teaching, in research, and in just pure 4 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 enjoyment. On one level, each of these areas hold some of the most beautiful scenic vistas and intimate nooks and crannies of natural beauty to be found in Tompkins County and beyond. On another, these elevations are critically important as sources of water for the wells of hundreds of people in surrounding valleys, and for the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca. These areas are also becoming increasingly important as refuges for several species of salamanders and frogs. The forests, fields, streams, small farms, and residences are thus not only of high esthetic value, but also of high economic and health value for residents everywhere in the town. This is abundant reason to take great care in the use and modification of these areas, and I am confident that other designated areas of which I am less familiar are equally of special value. As difficult as times are right now, financially, we cannot behave without thought to the longer term character of our environment and it is commendable that the Town is trying to think strategically for all of our futures and the future of our grandchildren. PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS. Sincerely, Peter H. Wrege 11. As a Dryden resident, I would like to express my strong support of the CEA process: I concur that the 31 land areas and 4 stream corridors identified by the Dryden Planning Dept be accepted for CEA designation. This is a key issue to me and my family as our property on 10 Hunter Lane (Ithaca 14850) borders CEA-­‐23. I therefore support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Best regards, Morten Christiansen 12. I own land and a home at 413 Hunt Hill Rd. I am intensely interested in the passage of this draft of Critical Environmental Area document. So much of Dryden's land is watershed for our drinking water and that of the City of Ithaca that it behoves us to protect it in whatever way possible. Many many thanks to the Conservation Board for their hard work in putting it together. Please give your approval to the creation of the CEAs! Thank you for all YOUR hard work. Sincerely, Martha Fischer 13. I strongly support the CEA (Critical Environmental Area) designation process and the draft report presented by the Dryden Planning Department at the Town Board meeting in December of 2011. Preserving these land areas and stream corridors is of utmost importance in maintaining the character of Dryden. I am particularly fond of CEA -­‐ 28 because of the hours I have spent, over the past almost 30 years, exploring most of the area and enjoying the diversity of its wildlife and vegetation. As stated in the report, "[i]t is a very popular recreation area". Access to the wonderful trails for hiking, horseback riding, birdwatching, and winter sports draws people from many surrounding counties. The Finger Lakes Land Trust is doing its part to make people aware 5 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 of the riches found here through acquisition of much land area within the CEA. I encourage you to confirm the value of these 31 land areas and 4 stream corridors and accept them for CEA designation. Marie McRae 14. I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December meeting. I wish that more area up Yellow barn Road was also designated... the forest is important. Thank you. Jane Edwards 15. January 19, 2012 To members of the Dryden Town Board: After looking at all the map pages, reading the Board’s proposal for designation of CEAs, and hearing the discussion at last night’s Town meeting, I feel that the proposal is a very good and necessary measure. I join the others who expressed thanks for the complicated and diligent work that went into its preparation, and I hope that it will be approved promptly. The proposed CEAs include many places I have hiked or skied in repeatedly over the years, and many miles of streams that I am familiar with from paddling canoes on them. These are priceless assets for recreational use, but even more so for their protective role in maintaining the quality of important public water supplies. I was pleased also to note that, in many cases, designation of a given area as a CEA does not preclude all kinds of development; only that proposed developments will be scrutinized carefully to prevent undesirable environmental effects. I served on the Unique Natural Areas (UNA) Committee of the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council (EMC) for one year and in that role learned a lot about how the history of our UNAs. They were first studied at the suggestion of a Cornell PhD candidate who enlisted others to join him in studying the flora and fauna of selected spots that later became the UNAs. They spent many hundreds of hours on this project, and I know that few other counties in the country are privileged to have such a detailed collection of data about their own unique natural areas. It is good to know that our UNAs have been useful in preparing the list of places which will receive the protection afforded by designation as Critical Environmental Areas. Sincerely yours, Martha Ferger 6 Union Street, PO Box 8 Dryden, NY 13053 16. I support the CEA process. Thank you for working so hard to preserve, protect and keep safe in perpetuity these vital areas. Krissy Boys Faust 17. 6 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 My wife, two young daughters and I live in the Village of Freeville. We are very concerned about the future of our community and the potential for damaging development. I ask you to: PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROPOSED CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS IN DRYDEN. Thank you very much! Ben Brotman 18. Thanks for the great job you’re doing on the Dryden Town Board! I’m sorry my CEA comments are late, hopefully they will still count. I think that the CEAs proposed by the Dryden Planning Department are reasonable and appropriate. Especially for protecting Dryden’s abundant and valuable surface and ground water resources from natural gas extraction via hydrofracking, and other heavy industrial development. I respectfully request you to extend the comment period for another month, to give the public more opportunity to familiarize themselves with the proposed CEAs and submit informed comments. It seems to me that the Dryden Town Board was swept into office in November on a wave of pro-­‐environmental sentiment. I think that the majority of the people who voted for you still feel the same way about protecting Dryden’s natural resources. Many may be unaware of the efforts by the vocal minority present at last night’s Town Board meeting to restrict CEA protection. Give the people who voted for you a chance to spread the word, and I think pro-­‐CEA support will grow. I was unaware myself until I read Peter Davies’ email on Tuesday. It would be good if we could work out a way to reassure the local farmers that CEA designation wouldn’t interfere with the way they have traditionally conducted agriculture. Bob Wise 258 Hunt Hill Road 19. I am writing in support of the CEA process. I approve of the land and stream designations presented at the December 2011 Town Board meeting. I feel it is important that the Board considers that there will always be landowners who feel “free to develop my land any way I see fit” without concern for others. The main responsibility of the Town Board is to represent all the people living in the town who may be impacted by these decisions and not just the individuals who speak out in their own selfish interests. While the benefit to a single landowner may be significant, the combined risks to all landowners living downstream or downhill of a development area may be vastly greater. Please weigh all these considerations as you make your decision. Sincerely Richard Crepeau 20. I strongly support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Thank you all for the work you do on behalf of all of us who live and work in Dryden Melody Johnson 7 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 21. I wanted to make sure that this comment was included before the matter is decided. I sent it individually to all the board members. Thank you. I am writing to submit a comment in support of the Critical Environmental Area nominations that were presented at the December 2011 Town Board meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Due to the holidays I did not even realize that the Board was soliciting comments, and I suggest that you keep the comment period open for another month so we can spread the word to other people who may not have noticed this. I am completely in favor of protecting additional special natural areas in the Town of Dryden. It is in keeping with the wishes of most Dryden residents to keep the rural, un developed quality of our town. I support corridor development, nodal development, and restricting “suburban sprawl.” Designating more Unique Natural Areas will help protect us from sprawl and keep the rural character of our town. I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented by the Planning Department. I am particularly concerned about protection of the streams and small creeks that drain into Fall Creek, which meanders at the foot of the hill where I live. I would like to make sure that the dairy farms, Cornell research fields, and George Jr. Republic are monitoring what flows into Fall Creek, and that any future building along the creek or near it be restricted to things that will not endanger it. Any areas that we can protect along the creek will help keep it clean. Thank you all for your good work. Sincerely, Anne Rhodes 91 Ed Hill Rd. 22. I whole hearted agree with the implementation of all the new CEA areas throughout the town of Dryden. I can specifically comment on CEA-­‐05, CEA-­‐15, CEA-­‐06, and CEA-­‐08 which are all very close to my residence north of the village of Freeville. I believe it is important to protect these areas as they are part of a larger parcel of lands that serve as the headwaters for the Owasco creek becoming the Owasco inlet and Owasco Lake. This serves as the drinking water for many in Moravia, houses on the lake and the city of Auburn. Thanks to you and others on the planning board for doing this valuable work. Sincerely David Kalb 171 Groton Rd 23. I am writing to express my support for the CEA process that has been used to designate land areas and stream corridors. Since time has been short since the December 2011 meeting, perhaps it would be fairest to extend the time for comments. I imagine many folks would respond if they knew of the opportunity. Best regards, Thank you, Robyn 8 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 24. I'd like to request that you extend the comment period for the CEA nominations to ensure that myself and others that have been busy and otherwise occupied throughout the holiday and post-­‐holiday period have an opportunity to comment. If extending the comment period is not possible, please know that I appreciate all of your efforts to protect Dryden's natural areas-­‐-­‐ our land, air, water, and quality of life. I own a home on 3 acres within the proposed CEA 28 and I fully support this designation. Our house sits adjacent to scrub-­‐shrub wetlands in a drainage at the bottom of Hollister Road. Our land is full of natural seeps and springs. There are several species of migratory birds that annually nest here. A stream winds across our property on it's way to Six Mile Creek. My 3 year-­‐old son wades in it's shallow pools and collects salamanders and frogs along it's banks. More importantly, he drinks and bathes in a plentiful supply of clean water from a shallow well that services our home. We have chosen to live here, and invest here (by renovating our 1830's plank house), specifically because we value the clean air, water, and beautiful landscapes that are emblematic of the region. Thank you for taking the steps necessary to protect them and us. I feel genuinely proud to live in Dryden knowing that you and so many others residents value our environment (and thereby our health, safety, and quality of life) above industrial development. Warmest regards, Eric Liner 12 Hollister Road 25. I want first to compliment the Town Board members and the Conservation and Planning Boards for their thoughtful and thorough work on the important project of Critical Environmental Area designations. The result demonstrates your collective expertise and conscientiousness as well as the incredible richness of the land we live on in Dryden—the variety of habitats and the surprising number of rare species. In studying the maps and remembering some of the places I have been and others that I have heard about, I was aware again of how we human beings are situated in ecosystems that we don’t fully understand, yet which support us and constitute our home as well as the home of countless other species. I was also aware of how inextricably we are all tied together in a web of earth, air, and water. I was most aware of the water. Most of the CEA’s are environmentally “critical” because of their water resources, both as the medium in which so many organisms at the base of the food chain originate and ALL organisms depend on for their lives—us included, obviously. I was happy to see that most of my land at the base of Mount Pleasant, and that of my downstream neighbors, is in CEA designation #28, one of the many areas of headwaters of Six Mile Creek. Six miles doesn’t seem like a very long creek (maybe it is in fact longer), but it is crucially important as the drinking water source for Ithaca. I am glad too that this process of CEA designation has made citizens more aware of where drinking water comes from and for those living near streams and wetlands, where it goes. Our downstream neighbors depend on us to keep it clean. We don’t own the water and don’t control the natural processes we all depend on. The only thing we can do is try our best not to interfere too much with the natural world that sustains us. We ignore to our peril the mistakes that have been made elsewhere through contamination, disturbance, and overuse—places where the local ecology no longer sustains life, where residents are no 9 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 longer able to sustain themselves locally on their own water and soil. In CEA’s, we have a chance to protect our most important resources. In reading the descriptions of the CEA’s, I was struck by how many rare flora and fauna we have in Dryden, in part because of the many wetlands and unusual geology. The rarity of so many species is also in part because so many other areas have been overdeveloped or have let their sensitive ecological areas become disrupted by chemical contamination or siltation. The reason we can have what are designated “trout streams” is that the quality of the water has not been allowed to be degraded and still supports the needs of fish and the organisms that in turn, support them—down to the tiniest in the food chain. But most of these cannot tolerate chemicals and other toxins, disturbance causing habitat change and silting of the water, or changes in the amount of water and rate of flow. I thank Dryden for taking this important step. I am satisfied that the CEA’s you have designated will make it more likely that sensitive lands will be properly assessed before development occurs and less likely that they will become contaminated by spills or leaks, most particularly if gas drilling should occur in Dryden. Yours truly, Judy Pierpont 26. I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Please keep the comment period open one more month to ensure that concerned residents who were otherwise occupied during the holiday period get the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns. We don’t need any more “developments” in the town of Dryden! Evelyn S. Cook 82 Genung Road 27. I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Being a resident on Ellis Hollow Creek Rd., I see evidence of the tremendous amount of runoff from Mt. Pleasant and surrounding hillsides that runs through our lands and enters Cascadilla Creek. I laud all of you on the town board who have the foresight to take such action to protect such an environmentally sensitive area. Brian Dewart 350 Ellis Hollow Ck Rd. 28. I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department Elizabeth McMahon 383 Ferguson Rd 29. We are writing to urge you to approve the establishment of the Critical Environmental Areas presented by the Planning Board in December. We are very familiar with three of 10 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 these proposed CEAs. Our house stands between #19 and #21, and we lived for 10 years near #28. Area #19 contains very valuable bird and wildlife habitat, mature woodlands, and wetlands. Because it is at the edge of intense development and a major highway, it is crucial to take what steps we can to protect what is left of this natural area. It drains into Fall Creek, as does area #21, and these wetlands help prevent catastrophic flooding as well as providing clean water to recharge Fall Creek, which is such an important stream. Areas #19 and #21 contain Tompkins County Unique Natural Areas (106 and 108), which could easily be wiped out by development. Area #28 contains a total of 6 Unique Natural Areas (166, 117, 118, 120, 121, and 122), and is adjacent to another (119). It consists of steep slopes and streams and upland swamps, and provides clean recharge for many private wells and Six-­‐Mile Creek. The wildflower preserve, the old-­‐growth forest within the state forest land, all the trails, make it extremely valuable for its headwaters, its recreational uses, and its wildlife habitat. Judging from these areas we know, the Planning Board seems to have done a careful study of what makes all of them especially valuable and at the same time especially vulnerable to encroachment and development. We support these designations, and ask you to finalize them as soon as possible. Sincerely, Robert and Nancy Morgan 30. To reiterate, I accept and support the CEA Designations set out by the Dryden Planning Dept. This is the largest town in the county, and, so, deserves a large selection of natural areas. The areas by East and West Malloryville Rd.'s and at Lime Hollow have nature preserves, and designating protected areas nearby will benefit their wildlife. Rather than narrow corridors for movement, there will be larger tracts of nature for them to move through.We don't need no stinking edge effect. We are in no short supply of buildings and roads, or businesses that build them. Please preserve these natural areas, for us and for the animals. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but the birds there need protecting, as song birds and other species are dwindling in number. Asthma is up, so please work to limit roads, traffic and the resultant air pollution. We need the carbon sequestering capabilities of these forests. Why do we have to keep making these arguments? Anyone who takes a walk at Rabbit Run, or Ellis Hollow Preserve knows its benefits firsthand. Our home water supply is a well, and we cannot afford to change that. Please preserve these areas and keep them off limits to gas companies if they continue to use polluting, wasteful, sickening hydrofracking which will ruin our water. Thank you, 11 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 L Hogan 31. Thank you very much for this opportunity to comment on the Critical Environmental Areas (CEA) proposed for designation at last month’s Town Board meeting. The list, of 31 land and 4 stream corridor candidates, forms a wonderful supplement to the new town ordinance, and provides a necessary additional layer of protection for our beautiful town and its stellar natural characteristics. I wholeheartedly support the CEA process and all of the areas proposed. In a rapidly crowding world, with many pressures being brought to bear upon our town, our descendants will be able to enjoy the near-­‐pristine natural qualities that we do today, thanks to this visionary action. I know that a lot of time and hard work went into designating, characterizing, and mapping these proposed CEAs by the Dryden Planning Department and associated committees. An indicator to me of the truly comprehensive nature of this process is the designation of CEA 21, which contains small headwaters streams that rise on the north side of Hanshaw Road and run south across Cornell fields to Fall Creek. This detailed attention to keeping ecosystems intact and healthy is admirable, and demonstrates a deep wisdom I have not often found in government agencies. CEA 21’s continued protection will also benefit from the re-­‐designation of the north side of Hanshaw and Lower Creek roads as rural residential in the recent zoning ordinance process. I do feel however that more could be done to monitor and protect the wetlands on the north side of Hanshaw, which drain to the CEA 21 streams on the south side of the road. In the past twenty years, the SPCA and Mailbox property development has led to infilling of wetlands in this area. The infilling process has been accelerated recently by a landowner who has built several pads and buildings in these wetlands for “agricultural” uses, including building a pad or road across the northern end of the pond at the Hanshaw/Lower Creek/Monkey Run intersection, which drains via a high-­‐quality stream along the Monkey Run trail south to Fall Creek. I hope that this accelerated pace of wetland conversion on the north side of Hanshaw Road can be slowed, stopped, and monitored more carefully, in order to truly protect the area designated as CEA 21, and the Fall Creek corridor directly downstream. Thank you so much for this opportunity to comment in support of the excellent CEA process and proposed list, carried out by hard-­‐working Dryden employees, experts and volunteers on behalf of all present and future human (and other!) residents of the Town of Dryden. Hilary Lambert 1676 Hanshaw Road 32. I support and accept the CEA designations presented by the Dryden Planning Dept.The areas by Midline, Irish Settlement, and Route 38 are recreational areas used by myself and many other cross country skiers, mountain bikers, hikers, snow mobilers and hunters. Please preserve these areas and Hammond Hill. Not only are they recreational, but they provide respite from the crowds, and have lovely scenic vistas from the hills, as well as hidden glens in the lower areas. I live in the areas between Besemer Hill Rd. and Ellis Hollow Rds. There are spotted salamanders here that are indigent to NY, and I would like to see these and the leopard frogs survive here, not only because they are a good litmus test for the health of the natural 12 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 area, but because they are unique, and in the case of the frogs, and other peepers, vocal. I prefer their calls to the disturbing sound of traffic. I also recommend that the comment period be open for at least another month. Thank you, Laura Hogan 186 Besemer Hill Rd. 33. I support both the Critical Environmental Area process and the products so far. It is heartening to see our town officially recognizing the gifts all the residents of this town share: The water I use to bathe my children, wash our clothes and dishes, water our garden, and drink comes from a well on our property in the town of Dryden. Our waste is filtered through our own septic. This water self-­‐sufficiency would not be possible if the regional watershed were compromised. Similarly, I see many people fishing in the local waterways; some of these folk may plan to eat their catch-­‐-­‐an activity directly tied to the safety of our watershed. The hunters I hear all around us rely on these Critical Environmental Areas to provide habitat for their targets; their game, both numbers and species, will change if we as a town fail to protect these habitats. As a person of faith I thank you for your environmental stewardship. As an American I thank you for "promoting the general welfare" and identifying our "blessings" for both ourselves and our posterity. As a mom, I thank you for serving a town in which my children can watch a snake eat a frog (over a couple of days), a deer carcass decay to bones (over a whole winter...sorry hunters, you missed one), cowbirds take over a nest, fish sparkle in streams, and all without ever getting in a car. (mostly in the Etna Nature preserve) All things change with time, but this is a good time to live in Dryden, and your work is a large part of the reason. My relatives in Ohio (where the ground shakes) are watching our little town with interest and hope. I echo the pleas for extended comment period. Yes, we should have been paying closer attention, but I only heard about the end of the comment period today and this is rather hastily composed as I have to get my kids in 10 minutes. Thanks again, -­‐Laura 34. We are writing to you ahead of tonight's meeting to inform you of our support of the Critical Environmental Area nominations that were presented at the December 2011 Town Board meeting by the Dryden Dept. of Planning. The areas around our property: SC 1&2 and CEA 25 & 26 are certainly worthy of such designation and deserve to be protected. Thank you for considering our comments in making your decision. 35. My wife, Nancy, and I strongly support all the Critical Environmental Area nominations that were presented at the December 2011 town board meeting by the Dryden Department of Planning. We were especially gratified to discover the inclusion as CEA 23 of the area surrounding our property at 705 Ringwood Road. As you know, this is an area of significant environmental value because of wetlands, breeding grounds for the four-­‐toed salamander, 13 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 and rare flora. Streams In this are directly feed Fall Creek. We appreciate the various controls suggested, especially the limitations on road building, but would prefer an outright ban on "projects…involving chemicals, or the transportation of chemicals." Thank you for your efforts on behalf of this designation. Sincerely, Vic Koschmann 705 Ringwood Road 36. My family and I own our home on Ringwood RD and fully support the Dryden Planning Board’s proposed CEA land sites and water corridors in order to protect our water and environment. We fear that fracking would destroy our rural way of life with industrial noise and water and air pollution. Thank you for supporting the CEA site designations. Sincerely, Nancy Cornwell 395 Ringwood Rd 37. I understand that the Dryden Planning Dept is asking that 31 land areas and 4 stream corridors be accepted for CEA designation. I fully support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Thank you very much for your hard work in relation to this important process. Holly Payne, Town of Dryden resident 398 Ellis Hollow Creek Rd 38. My home is located on six acres at 395 Ringwood rd and I’m very much in favor of all the proposed CEA land and stream designations as proposed by the Dryden Planning Dept. in order to protect our environment and rural way of life. Say hi to Mark Holton for me. Thank You, Stan Downs 395 Ringwood Rd 39. My name is Jennifer Burger and my Husband, John, and I live across the street from a proposed Critical Environmental Area (CEA 21) and I strongly urge you to approve the designation of this natural area, and the others listed on the Dryden Interactive CEA Map, as official CEA’s in an effort to protect them from irresponsible and inappropriate land use and development. For the years that we have lived in Dryden we have enjoyed walking along the Cayuga Trail and swimming in Fall Creek that is fed by the streams that flow through the proposed CEA 21. We are fortunate to live so close to this beautiful, undeveloped and unpolluted spot in nature. It is not only invaluable to us and the other residents that drive and park in the lot at ‘Monkey Run’ to walk their dogs, but also to the many native animal & plant species. Although I am addressing the CEA 21 in this letter, we spend lots of our free time enjoying hikes all around Dryden and would also like to encourage you to establish the other locations highlighted on the map as protected CEAs . Besides marring the scenic beauty of these natural areas in Dryden, unregulated development in a watershed could potentially impact residents’ water supply and/or could increase the occurrence of flooding 14 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 in our homes (a problem that we have been struggling with). Thank you for taking the time to read this and please vote to approve the establishment of Critical Environmental Areas in Dryden. Sincerely, Jennifer Burger (1686 Hanshaw Rd.) 40. We are writing to you today in support of the Town of Dryden's plans to designate the 31 land areas and 4 stream corridors proposed as Critical Environmental Areas for protection in our town. Protection our natural environment is very important to us. Years ago we donated $1000 towards a stewardship fund to protect the Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve, an important forested stream corridor near our home of almost 20 years. We were fortunate that our children were able to grow up with nature at their doorstep. The natural areas of Dryden have meant a lot to us, and we would like to see these preserved for future generations. We would also like to request that more time be granted for review of potential CEA's for the the Town of Dryden, as many people may have overlooked the process during the busy holiday season. Thank you for all you have done to try and make our town a better place to live. Sincerely, Louise Raimondo James Gaffney Julia Gaffney 2 Sunny Slope Terrace 41. Greetings, and many thanks for all your efforts to protect the current high quality of life in Dryden. This message is to express our strong backing for the CEA process and to say that we enthusiastically accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden Town Board meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Sincerely, Nerys and Peter Gregory 14 Hunter Lane 42. Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend tonight's meeting. On behalf of my family and myself, I would like to add our strong support for the CEA process and for the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden Town Board meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. Protection of our water quality resources is of the utmost importance to the long term health of the community. Thank you for your continued vigilance and protection of these critical natural resources. Marlene Barken 125 Genung Road 43. 15 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 I request that the comment period on CEA be kept open one more month to ensure that commenters who were otherwise occupied during the holiday period get the opportunity to comment. Carol Chase 52 Yellow Barn Rd. 44. I am writing to let you know that I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. It is important that we do what we can to protect these critical areas. Sincerely, Kevin McMahon 383 Ferguson Rd 45. Good morning, all. I could attempt to write something akin to what Tonya has already done, but suffice it to say that I agree entirely with her. Those of us who spend a great deal of time outside in these areas, particularly as runners and bikers, greatly appreciate that they remain in their natural state. cheers... -­‐Adam 46. I would like to let you know that I strongly support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. We need to protect these valued and fragile landscapes from development for now and for future generations. Thank you for all the hard work you all do! Very much appreciated. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Schmidt 47. I would like to let you know that I strongly support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. We need to protect these valued and fragile landscapes from development for now and for future generations. Thank you for your attention and the hard work you all do on this and many other matters! Respectfully submitted, Oskar Schmidt 48. I am writing in support of the Dryden Critical Environmental Area Designations. As a 24-­‐
year resident of Etna, I am very pleased to hear of this proposal. You all have my full support as a resident of Dryden. I support the CEA process, and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden Town Board meeting. Protecting our waterways and immediately adjacent sensitive environmental areas is of the utmost importance, especially with the potential for High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF) to be allowed in New York State. This practice has too high of a risk of forever 16 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 damaging our drinking water supplies and our natural areas. Anything we can do to protect our water is essential. Finally, I ask that you keep the comment period open for one more month to allow everyone to comment. -­‐-­‐Diane Diane Tessaglia-­‐Hymes 49. I am writing in support of the Dryden Critical Environmental Area Designations. As a 15-­‐
year resident of Etna and a native of Ithaca, I am very pleased to hear of this proposal. You all have my full support as a resident of Dryden, if this can go forward. Protecting our waterways and immediately adjacent sensitive environmental areas is of the utmost importance, especially with the potential for High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF) to be allowed in New York State. This practice has too high of a risk of forever damaging our drinking water supplies and our natural areas. At the least, we can create buffers to help buy some cleanup time, in the event of a catastrophic HVHF well failure. The only additional comment I have is to increase the buffer around several of the larger creeks, or expand the buffer in the direction of feeder streams, at least an additional 500-­‐
2000 feet. Thank you for pushing this forward and I look forward to hearing about the results. Most Sincerely, Chris T-­‐H Chris Tessaglia-­‐Hymes 8 Etna Lane 50. I'm writing to express my complete support for the support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. It's so important that we protect our natural areas, and protect each other from the risk of development -­‐ particularly hydrofracking, which is an environmental disaster. There are know toxins in the fracking fluid. Pumping such toxing under ground at high pressure is crazy, and I don't trust for a minute that the gas companies can control where those toxins go. If you haven't seen it, please review http://www.gaslandthemovie.com . It's quite enlightening. I only now became aware of tonight's meeting on this matter. I will review the document posted at http://dryden.ny.us/Planning-­‐Department/CEA/CEA-­‐FinalDraft8-­‐18-­‐11.pdf and submit more specific comments at a later date. Please, help keep Dryden a frack-­‐free town. Thank you, John Behler 562 Ellis Hollow Creek Rd. 51. I have lived in the town of Dryden for nearly 40 years, most of it at my residence on Mt. Pleasant. As a field biologist and ecologist, I am particularly familiar with the CEA areas 22, 23, and 28, in which I have spent many hours teaching, in research, and in just pure enjoyment. On one level, each of these areas hold some of the most beautiful scenic vistas and intimate nooks and crannies of natural beauty to be found in Tompkins County and 17 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 beyond. On another, these elevations are critically important as sources of water for the wells of hundreds of people in surrounding valleys, and for the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca. These areas are also becoming increasingly important as refuges for several species of salamanders and frogs. The forests, fields, streams, small farms, and residences are thus not only of high esthetic value, but also of high economic and health value for residents everywhere in the town. This is abundant reason to take great care in the use and modification of these areas, and I am confident that other designated areas of which I am less familiar are equally of special value. As difficult as times are right now, financially, we cannot behave without thought to the longer term character of our environment and it is commendable that the Town is trying to think strategically for all of our futures and the future of our grandchildren. PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS. Sincerely, Peter H. Wrege 452 Ringwood Road 51. I am writing in strong support of the Critical Environmental Area (CEA) nominations that were presented at the December 2011 Town Board meeting by the Dryden Department of Planning. As owner and resident of 266 Ed Hill Road, Freeville, I'm pleased that approximately one-­‐
third of my family's 27-­‐acre property falls within proposed CEA-­‐06, due to the substantive environmental protections afforded by such designation. This land area, located at the bottom of a hill on the west side of Ed Hill Road between Hile School Road and Ocean Drive, features a large spring-­‐fed pond, streams, and extensive marsh and wooded areas, including several 200-­‐plus-­‐year-­‐old hardwood trees. As noted in the Town of Dryden CEA inventory of August 18, 2011, this unique natural area provides ecologically significant habitats for numerous species of rare and scarce fauna and rare flora. As a conscientious steward of this beautiful habitat, I am hopeful that CEA designation will offer much-­‐needed protection from potential residential overdevelopment, irresponsible timber harvesting, and gas drilling or other industrial projects involving chemicals that would threaten its ecological viability. I urge you to please vote in support of the land area and stream corridor designations recommended by the Planning Department. Sincerely, Robin Tropper-­‐Herbel 266 Ed Hill Road 52. I very much support the idea of including the stream corridor into Dryden's extensive net of CEA. Keeping our waters clean is crucial for the future of our town. Please, go on with this process. Sincerely, Angelika St.Laurent 53. I am writing to show that I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden Town Board meeting by the Dryden Planning Departments. I would also like to ask that the comment 18 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 period be kept open for one more month. Sincerely, Andrea Edwin-­‐Russo 162 Dryden Harford Rd. 54. I live on Ringwood Rd. in the Town of Dryden. I wish to add my voice to the support of the Critical Environmental Areas draft being considered. So much of the land in Dryden is a watershed to important water ways. Please pass the Critical Environmental Area nominations. Sincerely, Thomas Gudeman 55. I am writing in support of the CEA process. I accept and support all of the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. In particular, the SC-­‐2 and CEA-­‐25 sites which are located near my home. We purchased this home and moved here specifically because of the beauty of the natural environment, and wish to have it and the natural resources in it protected. I ask that you do everything you can to get all proposed land areas and stream corridors accepted for CEA designation. Sincerely, Joleen Multari 21 Hartwood Road 56. I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. I am delighted to see that protection as CEA 28 and CEA 21 is proposed for the area encompassing Hammond Hill -­‐ the State Reforestation Area east of Irish Settlement Road. The recreational and environmental significance of this incredible natural landscape is unsurpassed in Tompkins County -­‐ from its natural habitats to the walkers, hikers, cross country skiers that populate it, and above all Camp Earth Connection that serves a critically underserved youth of Tompkins County. Additionally, the area of CEA 27 to the west of Midline Road serves a unique local culture of walkers, hunters and snow mobilers -­‐ each contributing to the collective rural identity of our community. I strongly and enthusiastically support this designation for each of these areas and ask that it be strengthened by requiring careful monitoring of any nonconforming commercial or environmental uses of these properties. Sincerely, Andrea Simitch 286 Midline Road 57. I am writing to say that I support Dryden's CEA process, and I support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden Town Board meeting 19 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 by the Dryden Planning Department. These designations will help to protect the natural ecosystems and human lifestyles that give our town its character and make it a place worth calling home. The designated areas that stand out to me are the stream corridors. Fall Creek (SC-­‐3) and Cascadilla Creek (SC-­‐2). These ought to be protected not just as important biological/natural components of our ecosystem, but also to support the health of Cayuga Lake. And, the bit of Dryden (CEA-­‐26) that touches Six Mile Creek (SC-­‐1) should be considered carefully because that creek feeds the Ithaca City water supply as well as into Cayuga Lake. Of course, most of Dryden drains into those streams, so we must care not only for Dryden but for ourneighbors downstream. The portions of Dryden that are in or adjacent to Cornell's Sapsucker Woods are also standouts for a CEA designation, because Sapsucker Woods is a world-­‐class birding facility, with nifty hiking trails. Good for tourism. The "Monkey Run" area between Hanshaw Road and Fall Creek (CEA-­‐21 ) has a high recreational value, as it is a popular hiking area. Thecreek (SC-­‐3) does a great deal of meandering and eroding here (and has dramatic high cliffs), and it's neat that it's allowed to move around,and probably great for the environment in that area. Also, the "Flat Rock" area slightly downstream of CEA-­‐21 is a popular wading/swimming spot in the summer. I am quite familiar with CEA-­‐24, which adjoins or overlaps the eastern border of the Finger Lakes Land Trust property that is directly east of my own property (50 Hickory Road). Just west of CEA-­‐24 (in the Land Trust property) is a stream. A close look at the map suggests that the stream's headwaters are in neither CEA-­‐24 nor the Land Trust property; this seems an odd oversight, given the protection afforded other hillsides feeding into Ellis Hollow Creek. The entire hillside (on myproperty, in the Land Trust, and in CEA-­‐24) percolates down toward Ellis Hollow Creek during wet weather. Thomas Road (between CEA-­‐25 and SC-­‐2) is well-­‐known for the salamanders that try to cross it in spring -­‐ SC-­‐2 isn't so much a creek at this point as a big swamp. I am under the impression that it drains into both Cascadilla and Six Mile Creek. In general, the Ellis Hollow valley (Cascadilla Creek valley, SC-­‐2) has an important recreational/commuter value for cyclists. Its roads comprise an important recreational (and commuter) cycling route from Cornell/East Hill Plaza to Hammond Hill/Brooktondale/Slaterville. The overall scenery is excellent, thus enhancing the recreational value of biking. In particular, the stretch of Ellis Hollow Creek road as it passes Ringwood Road, looking across the fields toward SC-­‐2 and CEA-­‐25 is my favorite view. Activities that bring more traffic to these roads would harm their use for biking. I learned of the comment period just before it ended, and I expect that many other people would have something to say, but were not aware of the opportunity. I am also in support of extending the comment period. Sincerely, -­‐Tonya Engst 50 Hickory Road 58. Please know that I fully support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and 20 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 stream corridor designations that were presented at the December, 2011, Dryden Town Board Meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. In fact, these designations should be be expanded; we have a solemn obligation to protect the land and water. Also, in light of people's various preoccupations during the holiday season, please consider keeping the comment period open for another month. Thank you, George Taber 1529 Ellis Hollow Rd. 59. Let this email serve as confirmation that I support Dryden's endorsement of the CEA's as proposed in the final draft. Colin Raymond 60. My wife and I support the CEA designations proposed by the Dryden Planning Department. Our residence is at 479 Midline Road and our land is entirely in CEA 28 (if I read the map correctly). I believe our UNA is 117 but I can't be sure if that's accurate. At any rate, we are very appreciative of your past and current efforts to protect our pristine area and look forward to your future stewardship. Sincerely, Jay Harvey 479 Midline Road I strongly support the Dryden CEA designated lands, as per the plannning department map that I recently reviewed at http://dryden.ny.us//Planning-­‐Department/CEA/Final_Dry-­‐
CEA-­‐Analysis.pdf Thank you all for your good work in keeping Dryden a healthy community, and a safe and beautiful place to live. Debra A. Castillo 60. I just wanted to register my support for the Critical Environmental Areas nominations. I live in this area solely for it's natural beauty and I feel strongly that those areas should be protected. It would be a great tragedy for development of natural resources to once again trump environmental preservation. I'd like to live in a different kind of world. Dr. Mark Holton 395 Ringwod rd 61. I support the CEA process and accept and support the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. J. B. Heiser 420 Hunt Hill Road 62. I am writing in support of the CEA process. I accept and support all of the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 Dryden TB meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. In particular, the SC-­‐2 and CEA-­‐25 sites which are near my home, an area I know well. In fact, I bought my home and moved here specifically because of the beauty of the natural environment. 21 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 Sincerely, Eddie Sieradzki 21 Hartwood Road 63. Thanks for what you’ve done and said to help protect our environment here in Dryden. I’m writing to you in support of the Critical Environmental Area nominations that were presented at the December 2011 Town Board meeting by the Dryden Dept. of Planning. As many of us know protecting our water and air is critical for our future as residents, young and old, plants and animals. Please do whatever you can to help us protect our town, county and state from the pollution of natural gas fracturing (fracking). Thank you, Glenn Hughes 64. I strongly support the proposed designation of streams and land in the Town of Dryden as Critical Environmental Areas. The whole of Ithaca and its surroundings is critically dependent on its rural character. The two largest factors driving our local economy are our Universities and our Tourism. Both would lose much of their appeal if we won’t steward our environment in a manner under which we can present ourselves as guardians of our environment. The appeal to many employees of my company (Transonic Systems Inc, locally grown to a healthy 140 employees with far more growth ahead) is very related to the same rural character: I can attract new employees to our current rural environment, but not to an environment where new hires will be worried whether they should need to look into potential health risks for their family and pets because of controversial land use practices. Companies like mine would have moved to other cities where seasoned business executives can be recruited from a business across the road (in our case: biomedical business communities like Boston, Minneapolis, the Research Triangle) long ago if it were not for the local quality of life here in the greater Ithaca community. Please do not make us regret our solidarity: Businesses like ours, and the work force in general, vote with their feet. Your vote to be prudent stewards of the land is critically import! Cornelis Drost 10 Hickory Circle and 129 Hickory Circle 65. I wish to state my very strong support of the Critical Environmental Area nominations that were presented at the December 2011 Town Board meeting by the Dryden Dept. of Planning. I was a member of the conservation Board that drew up the proposals. The proposals are needed to preserve certain unique areas of Dryden for the sake of the environment, and to hand on our legacy to future generations. I regret that I am out of town and therefore cannot appear at the hearings in person. However please consider that I would in fact be there presenting a strong plea for the adoption of these sensible conservation efforts. Thank you. 22 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 Peter J. Davies 755 Snyder Hill Road 66. I am writing in support of the CEA process concerning the land area and stream corridor designations presented at the December 2011 DrydenTown Board meeting by the Dryden Planning Department. In particular, I am glad to see the area bounded by CEA-­‐26 included in the land to be protected. I spent many hours a kid playing in the gorge between Snyder and Besemer Hill Roads. I watched the area below our house return to partially wooded wetland from what was once a farmer's field, and saw the wildlife return along with it, including birds, salamanders, beavers, wild turkeys, and even a flying squirrel. Although I do not currently live in the area, I am still registered to vote in Dryden, and I hope to return one day with my children. I would be heartbroken to come home and find that wild gorge and wetland I grew up with gone in favor of roads and drilling rigs. Please vote in favor of preserving these and other critical environmental areas at the upcoming meeting. Thank you, Caryn Davies 67. I am writing to voice my support of the Critical Environmental Area (CEA) nominations that were presented at the December 2011 Town Board meeting by the Dryden Department of Planning. I grew up and lived in an oil and gas drilling state until my mid-­‐30s. My family is/are farmers and ranchers. I saw first hand the incredible damage to property and environment that occurred when drilling. Entire stands of trees were demolished; ponds were polluted and left with iridescent oil films; native grasslands were turned into mud pits; drilling service roads were laid out everywhere at the expense of the landscape, flora and fauna. They called it "ramming and cramming". My dad always said, "if you lease your land to the drillers, they will own your land". There could not be a simpler and more accurate view of what was reality with drilling and pumping operations. Part of my property lies within the proposed CEA. I only wish that all of my property lay within the proposed area. It sickens me to think about what this area would look like if we do not protect areas from the scourge of drilling companies. Sincerely, Justin Herbel 266 Ed Hill Road 68. We have lived in the Town of Dryden for 28 years. We have looked at the recommended CEA boundaries. We are against adopting this proposal; to indicate that the majority of the town is "exceptional and unique" and needs governmental protection is absurd. 23 Proposed Critical Environmental Area Comments via e-­‐mail Current through 2/30/12 Draft for Town Board Abstract and Agenda Meeting: February 9, 2012 Dryden has become a bedroom community and lost most of its agricultural heritage. Now it appears local government would like to regulate that open private land which is left. Except if it belongs to Cornell. Much of the areas that are private land are listed as "threatened by encroaching development". Increasing the imposition of government entities over private land use will have an inverse effect on the tax base. Sincerely, Jay and Deborah Miller 24