Monday
About Sapsucker Woods
In 1909, Ithaca’s master of bird art, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, gave Sapsucker Woods its name after his discovery there of the first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker nest found in the Cayuga Lake basin. Cornell University took ownership of part of that land in the early 1950’s. Since then, much of the surrounding woodland has been developed for housing subdivisions and apartment complexes. The remaining privately-owned woodlands adjacent to Cornell’s property are again in danger. These woods have grown into an established forest, home to numerous species--birds, mammals, plants, trees, and many other forms of life. Although portions of these remaining woods have been disturbed, they are now all part of one forest, on which much life is dependent. For this reason, we consider Sapsucker Woods to extend beyond Cornell’s property boundaries.
Sapsucker Woods: Questions and Answers
Is Sapsucker Woods really in danger of being destroyed by development? I thought it was owned by the Lab of Ornithology.
This development threatens woodland adjacent to the Lab of Ornithology's Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, a wonderful nature preserve in the corner of the town of Ithaca. The history and ecology of the woods in this area are complex. Louis Agassiz Fuertes named these woods "Sapsucker Woods" nearly half a century before the Lab of Ornithology established its sanctuary, and the woods slated to be developed are part of the same, contiguous woodland corridor as the sanctuary. For an article about the history of Sapsucker Woods, click here. To visit the Lab of Ornithology's Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary webpage, click here.
Isn't the land proposed for development all privately owned?
Yes, the woods slated to be razed are on private property. However, the scale and impact of this development on local residents, human and nonhuman alike, will be so profound that community-wide concerns (about storm drainage, loss of woodland habitat, natural and scenic qualities of our neighborhood) should be taken into consideration.
The Planning Board studied the environmental impact of this development, didn't they?
On June 20, 2006 the Ithaca Town Planning Board voted that the Briarwood II development would have no significant environmental impact. However, we believe that some of the details about the Environmental Assessment should be reconsidered: some of the developer's claims were taken on faith by the Planning Board, while other determinations ignored the profound loss of woodland habitat.
On July 18, 2006, the Ithaca Town Planning Board granted preliminary approval for the Briarwood II development. Even so, we believe the concerns of residents in the area have yet to be adequately addressed, and are urging the Planning Board to reconsider its approvals thus far.
But the developer is donating 25 acres to the Lab of Ornithology, right?
True, the Lab of Ornithology is slated to receive a gift of twenty-five acres from the developer, while eighteen acres will be destroyed. The land to be donated to the Lab is unlikely to be developed in any case because it consists mainly of wetlands. We believe that the loss of 18 other acres of woodland, in an area already burdened by suburban sprawl, would significantly impair the remaining woods' and wetland's ability to sustain diverse wildlife.
What does the "Unique Natural Area" designation mean?
Along with the Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, much of the woodland slated to be developed, located north of Hanshaw Road and west of Sapsucker Woods Road, was designated a "Unique Natural Area" by the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council. For the UNA brochure, click here. This designation does not afford legal protection for the land, but is an important tool for helping landowners and town officials make informed decisions regarding land use. The Briarwood II developer has dismissed the "Unique Natural Area" designation as a mistake, but given that these woods are contiguous to the bird sanctuary and are of special significance, we feel the Ithaca Town Planning Board ought to take this designation seriously.
What will happen next?
The developer will return before the Ithaca Town Planning Board sometime in the weeks or months ahead, seeking final subdivision approval. We anticipate this request will come in November, perhaps as late as December. Our efforts are focused on persuading the Planning Board to reevaluate its preliminary approval.
How can I help?
You can help our cause by joining our mailing list and attending our next meeting (10/11). For other ideas, click here.
This development threatens woodland adjacent to the Lab of Ornithology's Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, a wonderful nature preserve in the corner of the town of Ithaca. The history and ecology of the woods in this area are complex. Louis Agassiz Fuertes named these woods "Sapsucker Woods" nearly half a century before the Lab of Ornithology established its sanctuary, and the woods slated to be developed are part of the same, contiguous woodland corridor as the sanctuary. For an article about the history of Sapsucker Woods, click here. To visit the Lab of Ornithology's Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary webpage, click here.
Isn't the land proposed for development all privately owned?
Yes, the woods slated to be razed are on private property. However, the scale and impact of this development on local residents, human and nonhuman alike, will be so profound that community-wide concerns (about storm drainage, loss of woodland habitat, natural and scenic qualities of our neighborhood) should be taken into consideration.
The Planning Board studied the environmental impact of this development, didn't they?
On June 20, 2006 the Ithaca Town Planning Board voted that the Briarwood II development would have no significant environmental impact. However, we believe that some of the details about the Environmental Assessment should be reconsidered: some of the developer's claims were taken on faith by the Planning Board, while other determinations ignored the profound loss of woodland habitat.
On July 18, 2006, the Ithaca Town Planning Board granted preliminary approval for the Briarwood II development. Even so, we believe the concerns of residents in the area have yet to be adequately addressed, and are urging the Planning Board to reconsider its approvals thus far.
But the developer is donating 25 acres to the Lab of Ornithology, right?
True, the Lab of Ornithology is slated to receive a gift of twenty-five acres from the developer, while eighteen acres will be destroyed. The land to be donated to the Lab is unlikely to be developed in any case because it consists mainly of wetlands. We believe that the loss of 18 other acres of woodland, in an area already burdened by suburban sprawl, would significantly impair the remaining woods' and wetland's ability to sustain diverse wildlife.
What does the "Unique Natural Area" designation mean?
Along with the Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, much of the woodland slated to be developed, located north of Hanshaw Road and west of Sapsucker Woods Road, was designated a "Unique Natural Area" by the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council. For the UNA brochure, click here. This designation does not afford legal protection for the land, but is an important tool for helping landowners and town officials make informed decisions regarding land use. The Briarwood II developer has dismissed the "Unique Natural Area" designation as a mistake, but given that these woods are contiguous to the bird sanctuary and are of special significance, we feel the Ithaca Town Planning Board ought to take this designation seriously.
What will happen next?
The developer will return before the Ithaca Town Planning Board sometime in the weeks or months ahead, seeking final subdivision approval. We anticipate this request will come in November, perhaps as late as December. Our efforts are focused on persuading the Planning Board to reevaluate its preliminary approval.
How can I help?
You can help our cause by joining our mailing list and attending our next meeting (10/11). For other ideas, click here.
