Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984_03_22 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes TOWN OF MAMARONECK CONSERVATION ADZ.7ISORY COMMISSION AND WATER CONTROL COMMISSION JOINT MEETING A regular meeting of the Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisory Commission and the Water Control Commission was held on Thursday, March 22, 1984, at the Weaver Street Firehouse. The meeting commenced at 8:07 P.M. 0.5l0 Members present: Dr. C. Alan Mason, Chairman, CAC & WCC 41 Elinor Fredston, CAC & wcc4, RECEIVED �a Jacques DuBouchet, WCC ;* NAY 10 1984 Robert Hohberg, CAC & WCC DOROTHY&MILER Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus VN CLERK mANSusan Amlicke, CAC N Y NECeb K Archie Messenger, CAC \� Kathryn Clarke, CAC )` ; Also present: Clifford Emanuelson, Conservation Consultant Tom Leddy, Beautification Director Elizabeth Stern, L.I.F.E. Center Thomas Amlicke, Town Councilman James Anderson, Village of L.archmont Trustee Elizabeth Imperato, Recording Secretary Administrative Matters: The minutes for the February 16, 1984 meeting were discussed and approved. The next meeting for the Conservation Advisory Commission and the Water Control Commission is scheduled for Thursday, April 26th, 1984, at 8:00 P.M. Environment: Dr. Mason reported on the meeting of the Planning Board concerning the Rockridge Construction Project. Mrs. Johnson has provided a list for environmental emergency telephone numbers which has been incorporated onto the back cover of the Annual Report. Mr. Emanuelson presented a tope map for the new leaf composting area. A general discussion followed concerning siltation basins. A topographical layout is being compiled by Chuck Elfreich; a 30' natural screening of the area will be maintained. Mr. Elfreich will provide specific figures for grading and profiles to see how much rock there is. The County Sail Conservation Service has give,, 4_ts support. 0 Ammommommi (2) Dr. Mason suggested the Village of Mamaroneck be contacted by the next CAC meeting for preliminary discussion. Dr. Mason also suggested an environmental assessment form be filled out for the next meeting. Mrs. Clarke will convey the Commission's feelings to Mayor Oppenheimer. Mr. Amlicke reported the Garfield Project is in a "calm status"; minor changes • to the plot plan were discussed. The next stop is back to the Planning Board when the platt is returned from the County. Annual Report: Mr. Emanuelson presented copies of the Annual Report to Commission members. Mr. Amlicke will make arrangements for the Commission to make a presentation of said report to the Town Board. After Board approval, general distribution of the report will follow. Water courses and water bodies: Mrs. Fredston reported a consultant has been hired for C.Z.M. , Mr. Daniel Shuster. The committee met and discussed five consultant proposals. Wally Irvin is very helpful; a definite proposal will be written. Mr. Shuster will take the coastal zone through the E.I.S. He is aiming for the July 31st deadline. A discussion was held concerning the summer work program at the Larchmont Reservoir. Mr. Emanuelson stated the Friends of the Reservoir have appropriated funds for a conservation apprenticeship program this year. Mr. Emanuelson recommended the Town share the cost with the Friends, with funds provided for in the Town Budget for conservation work crews. This would make the project a Town-wide program for all conservation areas. This was unanimously approved. Dr. Mason reported Mrs. Millstein has made changes in the S eidrake strain bed. Regarding the Cherry Lawn development, the Co .ission will insist on a retention basin. Mrs. Johnson will call the Soil and Water Board to find out about the project and will notify the Commission of her findings. (3) Water courses and water bodies (can't) Mrs. Clarke discussed the Village of Mamaroneck Coastal Zone Management Commission's letter concerning New York State's flood control program. (Please see attached letter). Mr. Anderson stated the Village of Larchmont has been requested to work out an evacuation plan if the dam at the Reservoir should break. Mr. Emanuelson recommended a contractual proce,!Lre for Mr. Hohberg. The Summer 1984 Monitoring Study- July 1983 State Budget request $2,500. 1984 Town Budget $3,000. This will be taken care of by rescheduling funds within the State budget. To be paid in three installments by claim sheet: July $1,000. August $1,000. September $ 2,000. Upon submission of completed written report. A motion was made and carried un:nmo,usly. Solid waste disposal: Mr. Leddy reported we might extend clean-up month for another week due to snow conditions. Mrs. Amlicke suggested her letter be made a matter of record. Mrs. Amlicke agrees with Mr. Kellog that we keep our gravity hopper in case the County's breaks down. The Yard is extremely crowded, the recycling signs are down, there is no metals bin; Mrs. Amlicke has contacted Mr. Kellogg's office. Letters and calls have been received; the general public is tired of glass on the ground and are not enthusidstic about recycling. Dr. Mason stated the Town Board seems aware of the problem and recognizes the overall value of recycling. Mr. Amlicke stated the contract is too general; the contract will be rewritten regarding recycling programs. Support, input and knowledge are requested from the C.A.C. Mr. Amlicke further stated the CAC should request the Town Board contact a CAC member Then these discussions are held. Mrs. Amlicke requested Archie Messenger's assistance with solid waste efforts; he agreed to this proposal. (4) • Mr. Anderson gave a full explanation of the County's plan and he stated that realistic conditions will be worked out for all concerned. Mrs. Amlicke reported she has spoken with Steve Altieri concerning the reception for the Highway Department and Sanitation Commission; after discussion, this project was tabled. Air and noise: Dr. Mason stated air and noise is not treated under coastal zone management. Gary Serschberg has been added to the committee; emphasis will be on thruway noise. New business: Mrs. Amlicke discussed the construction debris at the Hommocks; she will contact Mr. McDevitt. Mrs. Stern presented a rough draft of the Larchmont Reservoir Walk Book which the Friends of the Reservoir have approved funds for. Steve Tomechek will add his input. The book should be out by this summer. Mrs. Stern also reported the County is working on Pesticide Clean Up Day to be held on Saturday, October 13th. The general public will bring in chemicals • and pesticides up to a collection point; this will be extended to businesses. Definite plans will be forthcoming. This will cost the County $20,000.00 for this one day. A motion was made and unanimously carried to rectify Mr. Hchbarz' fee (2500 vs 3000). There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Dated: March 22, 1984 • C. 'LL VILLAGE OF �. � ;IROI��ECK Village Hall Mamaroneck, N. Y. 10543 COASTAL ZONE TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT AREA CODE 914 coMMissIoN March 22, 1984 698.7434 MEMORANDUM TO: ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION FROM: VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION RE: NEW YORK STATE'S FLOOD CONTROL PROGRAM Gentlemen: The Coastal Zone Management Commission of the Village of • Mamaroneck strongly endorses the proposed legislation and, in addition, urges that it be expanded to address the cumulative impacts of stormwater ++; runoff in small watersheds. 1 STRUCTURAL FLOOD CONTROL METHODS The Commission is familiar with flood control methods available to local communities and has carefully reviewed the proposed legislation which is the subject of today's hearing. This legislation would enable the State to provide much-needed financial assistance to municipalities which are unable to protect them- selves from flood damage. Very unfortunately, the Village of Mamaroneck is one of those many communities throughout New York State which are unable to protect themselves against flood damage--despite rigorous local efforts. Mamaroneck suffers recurrent and increasing flood losses which directly threaten the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens and the economic base of the community. Other speakers have already eloquently spoken of the very distressing human and economic impacts of uncontrolled flooding in our community, so I will not repeat their testimony here. THE FRIENDLY VILLAGE NON-STRUCTURAL METHODS OF FLOOD CONTROL The Coastal Zone Management Commission concurs with the legislative findings contained in the proposed legislation--particularly with the State's finding that localities often fail to consider the need for flood plain manage- ment. And we endorse the proposed State policy of encouraging municipalities to give consideration to flood plain management. However, as a form of non- structural flood control , flood plain management is inadequate to address a flooding problem based on a natural topography which crosses municipal jurisdictions. Such is the flooding problem faced by the Village of Mamaroneck. The Village of Mamaroneck is especially vulnerable because of its location at the bottom of a 23 square-mile, funnel-shaped watershed. This watershed, bounded on three sides by high ridge lines, forms the inflexible natural basis of surface water flow. Stormwater runoff accumulates through- out the watershed, runs into the various tributaries, and from there into the rivers which traverse our com unity and empty into our harbor, frequently causing severe flooding of the Village 's riverine flood plains. Ours is an "urbanizing watershed"--which means that more and more building and paving projects are being accomplished in the upland areas of the watershed. Each such project reduces the amount of natural land which can absorb stormwater runoff. Therefore, each project adds incrementally to the overall accumulation of stormwater which must exit our watershed through the Village of Mamaroneck, Since the sources of stormwater are largely beyond our own municipal boundaries, it is painfully obvious that our own flood plain management practices will not adequately address our needs for better non-structural flood control measures. - 2 - t . 1 >;:,: the cumulative impact of stormwater runoff is not }sf`. The problem of it is shared by ,- means. Indeed, land to the Village of Mamaroneck by any n^r , unique well as by several adjacent up .- watershed other Sound Shore communities as neighboring communities a common need for ,'' communities. We share with these ne ;- As a matter of fact, the need for watersd matade entes. watershed manag all over the entire VT is recognized by numerous government agencies consideration be : Our Commission urgently requests that strong n�zes l the proposed legislation so that it (1 ) recog given to broadening together with a lack of 4 impactrt- of stormwater runoff, and (2) that localities that cumulative :, watershed management, are a major cause of flooding; �,s cumulative impact and the need for watershed be encouraged to consider this illation be enacted � p and further, (3) that additional leg cities, towns, etc.) r . management; municipalities (villages, permit all types of munic�p necessary to p ement projects. to participate in watersheo d manag { � .t is a vitally important non-structural -.- Without Watershed management and its neighbors. y od not presently available to the Village regulationsb flood control mesh even the very strictest of flood plain management, and with them, VI Without watershed floodwaters,w111 be hopelessly inadequate to stem the rising the rising costs of flood control projects. SUMMARY ------ e of Mai,aroneck Coastal Zone Management Commission of then Village it will The ro osed legislation supports the enactment of the proposed needed flood control projects--funding strongly upp c for urgently provide essential funding which is not available elsewhere. anding that serious consideration be given to exp We further suggest P as a recognized method of s them,, this legislation to include,and strengthening flood plain management but watershed manage- ment number of New non- structuralentaswell .flood control ,management ent is essential if a large meat as Watershed _ York State' s communities are to address the root causes of their flog problems . - 3 - The problem is not new. The solution has been long in coming because of the legislative hurdles which must be overcome in order to achieve the needed co-ordinated intermunicipal action. • We need the money to cope with the floodwaters which are already upon us , and we are grateful that this bill can provide it. But we also need the legislation which will allow us to prevent even higher floodwaters in the future. Please help us . Thank you. Respectfully submitted, COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION //e62,4_. Kathryn H. Clarke, Chairman cc: Mayor Oppenheimer & Board of Trustees Joseph P. Fraioli , Village Manager Frank Thiede, Village Engineer Washingtonville Neighborhood Assoc. The Daily Times • /$ FR ity c .) WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS 808 COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK 10601 (914) 682-7650 DIANE A. KEANE Chair Legislator, 7th District Committee on Health &Hospitals 290 North Street Member Rye, New York 10580 Committee on Community Affairs Tel: 967-0589 Associate Director W. C. Soil &Water Board STATEMENT OF DIANE KEANE - MARCH 22 , 1984 Trustee Council for the Arts in Westchester I am County Legislator Diane Keane , a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. I represent four low-lying , flood-prone communities on the Long Island Sound Shore. These communities- The City of Rye , the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck and the Town of Mamaroneck have been severely water damaged over the years through poor stormwater management on upstream developments. We have applied to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Soil Conservation Service of the Department of Agriculture under Public Law 566 for help and federal aid . As yet, we have not received the federal aid and we have been waiting for. decades. We still believe these federal monies will arrive. I guess we are optimists - people full of faith. However , and in the meantime , we need assistance with our flooding problems that , as I just stated , are brought on us from on high and outside of our jurisdiction and our control . I believe the State of New York should assist us , since our flooding problems are for the most part not our doing. To • repeat - they are the result of project after project upsteam being built on valuable absorbent land . We support and urge the passage of this bill No. 3625 and A4554 which will assist local governments such as those that I represent with the expenses of flood damage . I believe that if the State pays 75% of the costs for • construction of flood control projects , the communities I represent will be able to assume the remaining 25% and thereby stop the economic, emotional and environmental damage caused by flooding in our communities. Let me further add that this particular legislation is but a small answer to our flood-control problems . . . but it is a very significant answer in that it will be a first-time 0 recognition by the State of New York that flooding is a multi-jurisdictional problem and that it is unfair that the upstream communities get new development and a greater tax base and the downstream communities get stormwater which washes away their tax base . It is also recognition that flood-control is in the public interst and an appropriate responsibility of New York State government .