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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988_04_21 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes � RECEIVED .catSIM 7 1988 PATRIOCIAN A.C�I IOCCTIO Town of Mamaroneck MAMARONECK N.Y. Conservation Advisory Commission Area Code 914 740 West Boston Post Road 444.4009 Mamaroneck, N. Y. 10543 MINUTES A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAJ) was held ori Thursday, April 21,1988, at the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, N.Y. The meeting commenced at 8: 10 P.M. Members Present: Robert Komitor, Chairman Charles Bernstein Elinor Fredston Others Present: Robert Hohberg, Water Monitoring Consultant Wallace Irwin, Friends of the Reservoir P. Thomas Leddy, Beautification Director Cheryl Lewy, Larchmont Trustee C. Alan Mason, Coastal Zone Management Commission Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator © Barbara Cleary, Recording Secretary Administrative Matters Approval of Minutes - The minutes for the meeting of Marci. 24, 1988 were approved pending correction of a typing error on page 4, rewording on page 2 and an insertion on page 6. Next Meeting - The next meeting of the CAC was scheduled for Thursday May 19, 1988. CAC vs. CZMC Duties - Robert Komitor advised the couuuission chat a joint - meeting of the CAC and the CZMC will be held on Thursday April 2.8, 1988 in the Senior Center of the Town Center. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the coordination and designation of various responsi.i- il.ities and duties. Robert Komitor also requested that the Supervisor of the Town of Mamaroneck, Mayor of the Village of Larchmont and all LiaisonS be informed of this meeting. Environment Griffen Ave (Winston) Property - Claudia Ng advised that she, Mary Anne Johnson and Irma Volk participated in a tour of the Griffen :-.venue property. () The- discussion revealed that it is important for the Town of Mamaroneck to protect this area because of its impact on flooding. Wallace_ Irwin informed • the Commission that it 'slows down the flow of water during ri y periods. CAC Minut. s - 4/21/88 © Ms. Ng advised that right now there is a dispute as to wherher this area should be classified as State Wetlands. The classification woald give this area additional protection from development. Ms. Ng was told that the Nei. York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) had 'il.ready classified it as Wetlands, but it was being contested by the Village. of Scarsdale. She further informed the commission that DEC will he sending out a notice for a public hearing scheduled for May. Robert Fomitor suggested that Mary Anne Johnson and Irma talk draft a letter based on their knowledge of this matter. Appeal to Residents - A discussion about a letter written co instruct residents of ecological concerns in regard to the use of the Caiiservation Areas followed. Each committee member received a copy of this letter to . review and there was no opposition to this draft. The major question was how extensive the mailing .of this letter should be and the most efficient method of delivering it. It was suggested that the letter be include-1 in the Town mailings. •This would reach all households within the entire T..wn of Mamaroneck (i.e. , including the villages) . Mrs. Fredston commented that a three page letter was a lot and suggested that each page bear rhe CAC logo. Mr. Komitor questioned if the allocated budget could subsidize this mailing. - Ms. Ng informed him that it could be taken from the budget allocated to the printing of the CAC historical/background pamphlet. Ms. Ng -presented a modified map taken from the Towu/Villags Local Waterfront Revitalization Program which would be included in the mailing to show the location of the Conservation Areas. All felt the magi was satisfactory. • Development Projects WHS Harbor, Inc. -• Ms. Ng updated the Commission on the proposed project to construct a residential/commercial building at 115-133 Mamaroneck Avenue. The Village of Mamaroneck Planning Board has made its finding' pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regualtions and the project is now in Site Plan review. Ms. Ng presented the blue prints for the project to the C .;. One of the problems discussed was. that there was still very little space ,vrovided for between building and the Mamarneck River. Another major point of the- discussion was whether the prosed project will install .oil traps. Elinor Fredston felt oil washing; into the river to he a major objection.• Alan Mason warned that if oil traps are not included in the plan the developers may be able to get away without installing them. The current plans did not. show oil traps. Mrs. Fredston was also interested • in finding out what kind of landscaping will be done. Ms. Ng said a few suggestions by the CAC have already been submitted to the Planning Board and the CZMC of the Village of Mamaroneck.las also issued •comments. Ms. Ng was requested to draft another letter to include the - additional comments made at this meeting • Davids Island Project - Elinor Fredston reported that the Coast Guard published a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and that ® a public hearing on it is scheduled for May 10 and 11, She su; gested that the CAC respond and noted that she has already written a letter to the Coast Guard--the lead agency reviewing the project--requesting the placement of CAC on. the agenda. -2- • CAC Minut - 4/21/88 © She suggested that the CAC should address such concerns as swage treatment, height of the bridge and buildings and their effect on the scenic values, noise pollution caused by the helicopters, and raking of county lands for the bridge. Written comments may be submitted until May 31, 1988. Mrs . Fredston volunteered to draft a letter on behalf of the CAC and submit :.ta to Chairman Komitor for approval. Elinor Fredston further informed the Co4mission that she is researching the facts regarding whether New Rochelle ca:► sell land without consent of New York State legislature. Wallace Irwin Laterjected that the present plan cuts off public access to the Island. Water Courses and Water Bodies Gardens Lake Dredging and Related Projects - To guide the discussion, Robert Komitor instructed that the Gardens Lake dredging project and the Larchmont Reservoir projects were interrelated and could be discussed concurrently. He also informed the CAC that he received a copy of Mayor Cumin's letter dated April 20 indicating the conditions that she Village of Larchmont has attached to its consent to allow the lowering of the Reservoir for the dredging project (copy on file) . Wallace Irwin is very concerned with the ecological aspects of the dredging project. He instructed the CAC of a 2-page ant.lysis of the impact of lowering the reservoir on fish and bird life written by Barbara Dexter and her colleagues from SUNY Purchase. He discussed some of the main points of this study. Dr. Mason commented on the benefits of installing a silt and trash trap upstream from Sheldrake Lake. He also counseled that proper sucking out of Dickerman's pond would prevent a lot of future problems and noted the pond was accessible for the sucking apparatus. Mr. l:'win said the City of New Rochelle must grant permission and expressed concern as to where to put the silt. Stephen Altieri was requested to begin commuaications with New Rochelle about such a project. Tom Leddy noted that the silt would be considered screened top soil and there should be no problem ge..ting rid of it. It. was suggested that perhaps the owners of the adjacent lot on Pine Brook Blvd. would be able to use the fill for the large hole cinat exists there. Mr. Irwin advised that proper installation and maintaL ence of a silt trap is essential or the tremendous pressure could cause it to burst . The status of the automated valve was mentioned. Di . Maso.i said that the valve has been received and can be operational by July 1st. The system can be hooked up to three terminals. The police station and the fire house were noted as appropriate receivers of such terminals. Mr. Irwin proposed that an effort be made to organize people in the Gardens Lake area to capture wildlife and bring it to the Reservoir. He also discussed long-range consequences of the proposed draining. He mentioned that the siltation process has been accelerated because of development upstream and, therefore, it is important to coordinate efforts- with neighboring municipalities for the development of a comprehens ;ve watershed plan. The importance of Bonnie Briar lands was discussed. Bob Hohberg informed the CAC that Bonnie Briar is a very important setup because it purifies the river. Alan Mason suggested the formation of a contour map and explained the Q mechanics of it. He noted that four years ago he and Steven Tnitcek took a transit and a surveyor pole and mapped out the bottom of the lower reservoir. Mr. Komitor agreed the map should be done now and that we should seek the support of the Town. -3- CAC Minut.:s - 4/21/88 © Charles Bernstein reviewed the Satterthwaite Study which identified water pollution problems .in the Village of Mamaroneck. His summation revealed that the natural configuration of the Mamaroneck Harbor renders it more like a lake, where the narrow neck prohibits the flushing out of the water. The concentration of pollutants was mostly linked to chloroforms and chemical pollution such as pesticides and lawn chemical and the washing of chemicals into storm drains. Another source is heavy metals which come from the paint on the bottom of boats. Boatyards sand the boats and wash the waste directly into the sound. These problems are difficult to police. It. wa proposed that each member try to come up with some solutions to this problem. Bob Hohberg read a copy of a memo, dated March 24, 1988, t:J the Mamaroneck Village Mayor and Board from Les Zakarin, the Village Engineer . which focused on solving the some of the water pollution problems. He noted that they had incorporated the data from his water monitoring . eports.. Solid Waste Disposal Recycling Market - Ms. Ng informed the Commission that the contract for arranging the paper recycling change to A & R Lobosco has been drafted and is currently being revised by the Village of. Larchmont Attorney. Ms. Ng also mentioned that we would be acquiring a new trailer, with the help of State funding, to accomodate the new additional paper separation of corrugated cardboard. Tom Leddy estimated the cost of the trailer to be approximately $40,000-$50,000. A matching county grant is available, under the new recycling plan, which would cover publicity and education costs. • New or Other Business- Annual Report - The date of the presentation to the Town E and and Village Boards concerning the Annual Report has not been scheduled yet. East Creek - Mr. Irwin mentioned that Mr. Flynn, the owner of Crabtree Ford has offered his help in the keeping clean of East Creek. Oil Spill - Mrs. Fredston reported that there was evidence of an oil spill last Sunday in Spanish Cove. Odor was noticeable and re .idue was left on the banks, but she does not know where it originated. . Kluge Subdivision - Mrs. Fredston informed the CAC of a current subdivision application located on Premium Point. She questioned whether the CAC should comment based on it being a nonconforming to the Ton zoning regulations. The Chairman felt that the CAC need not be involved since it would be overlapping duties with the Town/Village Coastal Zone Management Commission. Coordination - The need to coordinate more with Village of Mamaroneck organizations was reemphasized. Meeting was adjourned at 10: 10 P. I. -4-