The Ithaca Town Planning Board granted preliminary and final approval on Dec. 16 for a subdivision at 155 Compton Road that clears the way for a 137-acre public nature preserve. 

The board also approved a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process for the subdivision. The approval under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act is a formal finding that the project will not have a significant adverse environmental impact.  

According to Senior Planner Mike Smith, the town is collaborating with landowner Tessa Flores on an acquisition project that has been several years in the making. The initiative began when Flores approached the town with a proposal to sell a significant portion of her South Hill property to be preserved as public land.

Smith said the project involves subdividing an 82-acre parcel to separate a 34-acre residential lot at the end of Comfort Road from a 48-acre section meant for municipal ownership. This 48-acre acquisition will be combined with other land to form a sprawling 137-acre town preserve, transitioning a portion of South Hill into a public space.

Smith said once the acquisition is complete, the land will be dedicated to passive recreation, ensuring it will remain in its natural state without the development of playgrounds or athletic fields. The town plans to maintain the existing network of walking trails—which the landowner has shared with neighbors for years—by continuing regular mowing while exploring opportunities to eventually expand the trail system for broader public access.

The planning board highlighted that the new acquisition sits adjacent to existing town-owned land at Compton Park, enhancing the area’s connectivity. While the retained residential lot will maintain its primary access via Compton Road, the town’s new portion will be accessible through different points that include Ridgecrest Road, Chase Lane, and East King Road. Although there is currently no formal forest management plan in place for the site, the project will benefit from a comprehensive ecological assessment previously conducted for the town’s parks and preserves through a recent grant.

During public comment,  Darcy Bedore, a resident of Chase Lane, raised safety concerns on the potential use of the street as a primary access point for the new preserve. She said Chase Lane is a narrow, curvy dead-end road that is not designed for increased traffic and is frequently used by small children. She urged the board to carefully consider the neighborhood impact. Bedore worries public visitors could create hazardous conditions on the residential side street if they drive too fast.

Smith said the Chase Lane entrance will be maintained for pedestrian access to the existing trail system. Smith said the town intends to direct any future parking to East King Road, utilizing the property’s four distinct entry points to manage traffic flow.

Board Chair Caitlin Cameron said the approval is for the subdivision rather than a specific site plan. She said the town may hold future public hearings to address parking concerns once those development details are formalized. 

Director of Planning C.J. Randall said the 137-acre preserve is a cornerstone of the town’s long-term vision for the South Hill Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) area. She said by preserving the land in perpetuity, the town aims to curb suburban sprawl and provide a walkable natural retreat for future residents of the South Hill TND, who will be able to access the trails across East King Road.

Philip O’Dell is a news reporter for the Ithaca Times and Finger Lakes Community Newspapers, covering various topics that include local government and crime. Reach him via email at philip@ithacatimes.com.Â