Logo
Home   |  Back

Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Association Board of Directors Meeting
July27, 2009
Bay Club
6 p.m. Review & Comment Period/7 p.m. BOD Meeting
 
Board Members Present: Charlie Moore, Ron Buzzeo, Dave Grahek, Larry Howard, Bill Lord,
Board Members Absent:  Kathy Lawson, Mary Lou Sholl
Others Present: Tomi Moody-CAM; Bill Jackson-Assistant Treasurer; Secretary; Mia Ramsden-Secretary
Residents Present: 46
 
The first hour of the meeting was a review and comment period during which the homeowners reviewed and commented on the results of the Capital Projects Prioritization Survey and the Deer Ad Hoc Subcommittee status report and recommendation.
 
A summary of the audience questions and comments and Board responses follow.  In some instances Board responses, as well as various committee member responses, to residents concerns are noted out of actual chronological order (at the meeting).  This is done for clarity and in these cases Board/committee member responses directly follow a residents comment.  If furnished, residents names are provided.
 
The two presentations made will be included in their entirety as attachments to these minutes as well as links on the Cypress Landing website.  Cypress Landing residents are urged to review the presentations in their entirety either by going to the HOA office and requesting to read the attachments or visiting the community website and utilize the appropriate link.  Each presentation will be summarized below.
 
The review and comment period was called to order at 6 p.m.  Charlie Moore announced the first presentation concerning the web survey prioritizing the Capital Improvement Project will be made by Bill Lord.  The second presentation dealing with the report of the Ad Hoc Deer Control Committee will be made by the Committee Chair, Larry Howard.  There will be an opportunity following each presentation when comments or suggestions can be made by residents.  Charlie then thanked those committee members who worked so hard in amassing and analyzing the information contained in the presentations.  Specifically, Charlie commented that the web survey could not have been accomplished if it were not for Harry Wheaton, the Cypress Landing webmaster. 
 

Results of the Ad Hoc Committee on Deer Control
 
Larry Howard, Chair of the Ad Hoc Deer Control Committee, provided a detailed presentation on the deer control process; the Ad Hoc Deer Control Committee members; the contacts made at various communities experiencing the same type of issues and concerns as Cypress Landing; various deer statistics (deer population, life expectancy, reproduction rates, cost of deer damage, etc.); the four choices we have as a community ([1]-do nothing, [2]-more use of  repellants/plants, [3]-managed thinning and [4]-a combination approach); the specific findings of the initial March request for information and the more recent findings of the almost three-month Spring 2009 community request for information relative to deer sightings/specific locations; and thinning options.  (Attachment 2)
 
Larry stated the first meeting of his committee took place May 14th and meetings continued through mid-June.  The members of the committee were recruited and consisted of 2 members from the security and environmental committee, a conservationist and a hunter.  As a hunter was not easily identified, a resident was utilized as a consultant on several occasions.  The committee met weekly through mid-June and then met last week.
 
Individual contact was made with many individuals, including Robbie Norville; members of the NC Bow Hunters Association/Bow Hunter Certification and Referral Service on at least a half dozen occasions; River Landing (a community of 350 homes on 1500 acres in Wallace NC which recently instituted a deer thinning process and last
year removed 35 deer); the director of operations at Landfall (a much larger community with 1500 homes on 2000 acres in Burlington NC which has had a thinning process in place for twelve years); and the Governors Club in Chapel Hill NC (which has not yet decided how to approach this issue).  Contact was also made with the Outback Outfitters and Guide Service, a guide service located in Washington NC that has a contract with the City of Washington to remove deer at the Washington Airport.  Various internet searches were also conducted.
 
At this point various deer statistics were provided pertaining to the US and NC deer population, life expectancy, reproduction rates and annual deer damage to automobiles, crops and timber.  It was pointed out there are more deer now in North Carolina than at any other time in the past.  Most biologists support a managed thinning process for a healthy deer herd.  Deer are growing at too rapidly a pace to support a healthy herd.  In speaking with local hunters, prior to the development of Cypress Landing, our location was the best spot for deer hunting in Beaufort County.
 
Pros and cons were offered for each of the four choices available to our community.  As stated earlier, the choices are do nothing, repellants and plants, managed thinning and a combination of repellants/plants and a thinning process.
 
The initial request for deer information from our residents came from Kay Graham, Chair of the Environmental Committee, at which time 200 responses were received, of which 173 supported a deer thinning process and 27 were against.  This was followed up with a request of the Ad Hoc Deer Control Committee this spring when residents were asked to provide information relative to specific deer sightings and damage caused by deer.  In Phase 1 there were 250 reports of 1,200+ deer sightings, with the majority along the wetlands and the west side of the property.  Residents in Phase 2 were significantly less impacted with 34 reports of 50 deer sightings, most of these being on the golf course and empty lots.  Larry pointed out these numbers only reflect activity during the past 60-90 days and that this is the slow season for deer activity.
 
Larry now provided the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Deer Control Committee.

Larry indicated in formulating their recommendation the committee reviewed two thinning options (or sources), the Outback Outfitters and Guide Service and The Bow Hunters Certification and Referral Service (BCRS).  The locally based Outback Outfitters and Guide Service is professional, experienced, proven and insured and currently hired by the City of Washington to control deer at the Washington Airport.  There are no costs involved with utilizing this group, but there is one major drawback. While there is no charge to Cypress Landing, this group is an outfitter and guide service and the hunters provided would be composed of their client base (each of whom pays a fee to Outback Outfitters and Guide Service).  This client-based hunter issue caused a large concern on the part of the committee as to hunter competency.
 
The Bow Hunters Certification and Referral Service (BCRS) is a subsidiary or sub-group of the NC Bow Hunters Association.  They are professional, experienced, certified, proven and insured and have experience with deer removal and disposal.  Feedback from River Landing and Landfall, communities utilizing their services, is extremely positive.  Additionally this group is linked to the Department of NC Wildlife Resources.  On the downside, they are a public service organization and donations are accepted.  This cost might materialize in the form of reimbursement of some travel costs as they are based in western NC.  This group is also highly in demand and it is likely there will be availability issues.
 
It was noted the hunting season starts September 10, 2009 and runs through January 1, 2010.  If we are to continue, Larry noted Robbie Norville urged the community to start the thinning process during the hunting season this year and that a permit is not needed during this time.  Prior to or after hunting season, a permit would be needed through an application process from the NC Wildlife Commission and no assurances were given that such a permit would be granted.
 
Lastly, Larry indicated a single, quick; fix-it-all solution does not exist.  Bow and arrow hunting will be a multi-year program.  The current situation will not be fixed this year or the next.  The process has to be tracked, coordinated and managed.  It was emphasized the objective is a healthy deer herd, not one which is eliminated.  Other communities have successfully, effectively and safely conducted similar thinning efforts.
 
Following the presentation from the ad hoc deer control committee, questions and concerns were solicited from the residents in the audience.
 
One resident asked what number (or percentage) of the Cypress Landing deer population would possibly be removed each year?  The answer was given that this information is simply not known.  When approached for this type of information, Robbie Norville said it is not readily available. This information can be obtained in areas where there are open farm lands, but it is difficult to determine in a densely populated, residential areas.  The resident then asked, in this case, what mandate would the Bow Hunters group be given.  Larry commented we can provide the Bow Hunters group with a specific number of deer.  However, at this point it is anticipated we would ask the group to come into Cypress Landing, see how they do and then make a determination as to a plan going forward or the number of deer to be targeted.  It is also likely we would only have 3-4 hunters here at any one time.
 
One resident was under the impression the Ad Hoc Deer Control Committee was to forward all information developed to the Wildlife Commission and they, in turn, would make the determination as to what percent of the herd would be reduced.  It was pointed out this is not the case.
 
One resident asked if the deer venison would be made available to feed the hungry in Beaufort County.  Bill Staton, one of the members of the committee in the audience, stated there are a few issues impacting this topic.  It is the desire of the BCRS that deer meat is utilized to feed the hungry; however, there are only two state-approved butchers, the closest being in Raleigh.  An internet search revealed there are sources identified (soup kitchens, certified charities, churches) to whom we could bring the deer and the deer would ultimately be utilized to feed the hungry.  Such groups/agencies/individuals are not located in Beaufort County but in nearby counties.   Another possible source discovered was a local shooting range and, for a fee of $35 per deer, the deer will be dressed and packaged.  It was emphasized it is the committees intent that all deer meat be put to good use and feed the hungry in our area.
 
Dan Bergbauer inquired how prevalent lime disease is in North Carolina.  The answer to this was not known.
 
One resident asked if any thought was given to the safety of the community insofar as communicating where and when hunting will begin.  Will the hunters roam wherever they want?  Bill Staton noted specific direction to the hunters and location of areas to be hunted will be provided by Cypress Landing to the BCRS.  They, as hunters, can suggest where the best hunting locations are, but our community would provide the ultimate direction.  Relative to safety, it was emphasized Robbie Norville stated there has never been one accident reported by the BCRS.  Also, deer hunters only hunt during specific times of the day, usually early morning and dusk.   Larry stated his discussions with representatives of River Landing revealed the residents in the community hardly knew the hunters are even there.
 
One resident pointed out bow hunters utilize deer stands are clearly visible and it was confirmed dogs are not utilized.  Bill Staton stated that tape of some sort could be placed around those areas designated as specific hunting locations.
 
It was asked what happens when a deer does not fall immediately upon being hit with an arrow, will the hunter go after the deer?  In this situation Bill Staton responded a professional hunter will leave the deer alone, as the deer will only proceed a very short distance.  This is why it is so important that we obtain the services of professional hunters, not those who would pay a fee to hunt.
 

A question was asked as to the specific number and duration of the hunters while at Cypress Landing and how many deer are taken at one time?  Will the hunters stay a month, a couple of weekends?  Bill Staton replied the number of deer taken regulates itself.  This would depend on the density of the hunters and the traffic going through the hunting areas.  The number of hunters would also be impacted by their availability.  The BCRS is a select group of hunters and are in demand.  It was felt each group of hunters would come on a scheduled basis, stay three to four days, and then another small group of hunters would arrive.  This would continue through the hunting season.
 
One resident commented that the hunting season lasts September through December and ends January 1st.  Most of the damage which occurred this year at Cypress Landing occurred December through February.  Is it anticipated that by January next year there will be a sufficient number of deer removed or would we continue the hunting into 2010 through the use of a permit?  Again it was stated hunting during the deer season does not require a permit.  If we, as a community, decide to extend the hunting into 2010, the application process needs to start December 1st.  Additionally the Department of NC Wildlife Resources will need additional data, such as the number of deer actually thinned up to that time, the number of deer sightings and the damage caused.
 
The last comment concerned fencing within Phase 1 and Phase 2 and was it considered.  Larry commented this approach would be cost prohibitive and not feasible. 
 
As there were no further comments, the review and comment period ended at 7:05 p.m.  It was announced the formal board meeting will commence shortly and that there will be a short break where those residents, who only came to hear the presentations, may leave.