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Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Kenneth Lynch came to Lansing Wednesday to answer questions and explain the process of turning pproximately 490 acres of landincluding 3,400 feet of shoreline into a wildlife management area or state forest.  Lynch stressed that there is no project at this stage, and there won't be one unless the Town indicates it wants one.  Town Supervisor Kathy Miller says she won't vote to support the project unless all questions are answered about the impact on town expenses, revenues, enforcement and other responsibilities.

"You have to consider everyting going forward," she said.  "Once it's done it's done.  And it's not just the people in this room who think it is a great idea.  Everybody needs to provide some sort of input.  Then we'll decide as a baord how feasible this is.  Even though I think it's a great idea I have a lot of questions."

Last November Fingerlakes Land Trust (FLT) Executive Director Andy Zepp asked the Lansing Town Board to pass a resolution supporting the idea of a state forest in northwest Lansing.  NYSEG owns the land that was designated as the location of the Bell Station Nuclear Plant in the 1990s.  That project never materialized, and NYSEG put the land up for sale.  FLT is acting as a mediary for the possible sale of the land to New York State.  But Town Board members had many questions about expenses the Town might incur, as well as liability and responsibilities for everything from enforcement to toilets.

The biggest concern of board members and residents is that the land remain on the tax rolls.  Currently it is valued at about two million dollars.  Lynch explained that if the land is designated as a wildlife management area the State pays no taxes, but if it is set aside as a state forest New York automatically pays property taxes.

With the decline of tax revenues from the Cayuga Power Plant, additional state mandates and cuts in state and federal funding, nobody wants the land to come off the tax rolls.  Lynch remarked that the minimum size of a state forest is 500 acres, which would mean that about ten more acres of contiguous land would have to be purchased.  Zepp said there are some options for acquiring land that would make the plot qualify for state forest designation.

Lynch said the taxes are based on the fair market value of the property, which would be based on the sale price.  But Tompkins County Assessor Jay Franklin said that the state bases the land value on an average of all its forest lands.  He said under that system some communities gain and others lose.  He said in this case the value could be as much as halved.  But Lynch added that because about half the land would continue to be leased as farm land that it might be possible to make adjustments to bring the value back to its local worth.

Miller has expressed concerns about unexpected costs to the town that might include policing a state forest, creating roads and parking areas, providing toilets, and law enforcement.

Lynch said the Town would have no financial or other responsibilities unless town officials decide to partner with the state for specific projects.  Three Forest Rangers and Environmental Conservation Officers are assigned to Tompkins County for all state properties here.  He said the DEC assigns more resources when there are problems, and in some cases enforcement officials rely on citizens to make them aware of unlawful activities in state parks and forests.

Resident Paul Southard said he believes the land should be put up for well publicized auction to produce the maximum tax revenue for the Town.  But resident Steven Edelman
disagreed, saying that sewer and a town center would compensate for that revenue.  Tompkins County Legislator Pat Pryor added that a state forest would be a boon to tourism, which would also bring more revenue to local municipalities.

Lynch stated there is no money in the state budget at this point, but a town resolution supporting the project would put it on the docket to be prioritized when money becomes available. The state has made a commitment of tens of millions of dollars in the Adirondacks, so it is uncertain whether money for a Lansing state forest would be available any time soon.

For the project to go forward the process begins with Lynch sending a letter of intent to the Town, saying that the State is interested in purchasing the property. The Town then replies with conditions it wants imposed on the project.  A scoping plan is begun, and it takes a few years to develop a Unit Management Plan.  A draft plan is created, which goes to the public before being finalized.

Miller says she will contact other towns and attend meetings on a similar project in Cortland that is in the process of developing a Unit Management Plan, as well as soliciting more input from residents before the board votes.

As a town official I need those questions answered and I need to think about this," Miller said.  "And to chat with other people.  That's the way it should be in a democracy."

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