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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989_03_15 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes 'Y- APPROVED C4C A , RECEIVED Town of Mamaroneck V( 15 1989 Conservation Advisory Commission PATRICIA A.DICIOCCIO TOWN CLERK MAMARONECK N.Y. 740 West Boston Post Road Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 914-381-6133 MINUTES MARCH 15, 1989 A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held on Thursday, March 15, 1989, in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8:10 P.M. Members Present: Steven Goldstein. Chairman Charles Bernstein Susan Cavalier Douglas Gould Joan Heilman Robert Komitor Michael Scheffler Irma Volk ® Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus Others Present: Robert Hohberg, Water Monitoring Consultant Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator Dorothy Rainier, L.I.F.E. Center Caroline Silverstone, Liaison, Town Council Gladys Sherak, Volunteer Rene' Rathschmidt, Recording Secretary Members Excused: Kevin Ryan ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Approval of Minutes - The minutes of February 16, 1989, were approved with no additional corrections. Next Meeting - The next meeting was scheduled for April 27, 1989. CHAIRMAN REPORTS Jay Property - A meeting was held with County Executive, Andrew O'Rourke. Proposals of use for the Jay Homestead were discussed. The chairman's feeling on the outlook of the proposal were not hopeful. In his opinion, Mr. O'Rourke wants to achieve a buffer between the Marshlands and the development. If the project was not going to be self-supporting, requiring funding, he expressed disinterest. CAC Minutes - 3/15/89 • The Chairman reports the Jay Coalition has pledges approximating 2 million dollars for renovation. However these pledges are based upon ® acquiring the whole property. Under the Federal Grant Program the full 2 million is needed in order to achieve any historical grants. Another option is to turn the homestead into a multi-use facility which would require, approximately, 1 1/2 million. Uses would include: marine research, ecological research, conference rooms, and restoring the first floor for historical purposes: Sandra Marraffino is composing two letters. One to distribute to potential users, asking for input, and one to potential supporters. OPEN SPACE SUBMMITTEE REPORTS Michael Scheffler in conjunction with Mary Anne Johnson reported that they had surveyed the Hommocks, the Reservoir, and Premium Conservation areas. A video tape was produced with narration by Mary Anne Johnson. Visits to the remaining trail systems will be scheduled soon. Goals of the Committee were stated. Summarization of observations and recommendations are to be submitted in writing. Target date for report is set for next meeting. Caroline Silverstone reported that the concern of citizens in the area appears to be focused upon the overgrowth of poison ivy on the trails. Her suggestions included educating residents of the goals set forth by the committee and to recruit them as watchdogs over the areas. Robert Komitor suggested getting the local high schools involved, such as producing a video program of the conservation areas. Steve Goldstein, Caroline Silverstone, Robert Komitor, and Joan Heilman expressed interest on attending the next • trail walk with Michael Scheffler and Mary Anne Johnson. Events - Mary Anne Johnson reported to the Commission that the birdwalk led by John Moyle, sponsored by the Premium River - Pine Brook Preservation Association (PPPA) was a successful event. Attendance of 17 people was noted. Development: 746 Mamaroneck Avenue - The Chamber of Congress informed Mary Anne Johnson that the stream which drains into the area involved is Gedney Brook. Mrs. Johnson stated to the commission that the Village Coastal Zone Management Commission (CZMC) is in favor of the development. The development proposes to have 3 separate buildings, in which 11 units (out of 137) will be affordable housing. Some concerns expressed by Ms. Ng and Ms. Johnson included extensive lot coverage, the lack of a proposed oil trap system for the parking area, and also its reliance on the yet nonexistent Army Corps of Engineers flood control plans. Mr. Goldstein suggested drafting a letter to the Village of Mamaroneck Planning Board expressing the above mentioned concerns and also concern over lighting. He also suggested a statement commending the proposed landscaping, and endorsing the use of existing wells for non-potable use. RECYCLING SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS The results of the last subcommittee meeting was reported by Susan Cavalieri. © Signs - Discussed was the possibility of placing a recycling sign at the Chatsworth Avenue and Myrtle Boulevard intersection in Larchmont to better direct the public to the recycling depot. -2- CAC - Minutes 3/15/89 Tin Cans/Aluminum - A suggestion was made by Ms. Ng to have a monthly o collection of tin cans/aluminum at the Maxwell Avenue depot. Mrs. Cavalieri agreed, stating the market is greater for cans than mixed paper. She also mentioned that an aluminum drive is scheduled for April 28 at elementary schools and the 29th at Maxwell Avenue. Plastics - Susan reported Rye is utilizing the services of Suburban Carting. Upon investigating the facilities she discovered they actually recycle only 45% of the materials they pick up. Their main recycling focuses on corrugated cardboard which is shipped to Japan. Suburban Carting informed Susan that the plastic recycling market is currently in flux. In investigating whom Scarsdale utilizes, the name Pascap was mentioned. Pascap informed Susan they collected only homogeneous plastics. In further discussion among the commission Caroline Silverstone suggested approaching supermarkets and encouraging the use of biodegradable plastic bags. Paper - Claudia Ng reported the paper market is currently unstable and that the mixed paper market is virtually nonexsitent. Therefore, Steve Goldstein suggested having the recycling committee open the discussion of finding alternatives for mixed paper at the next meeting. Publicity - Ms. Ng informed the Commission of the receipt of the Local Resource Reuse and Recovery Program (LRRRP) Grant. She reported the amount received to be 50% of what was originally applied for. The committee agreed upon the following cutbacks to the proposed plan in order to meet the monies received from the grant: 1) the Recycling Fair was cancelled; 2) cost of the • video decreased by utilizing the first half of an existing County Video tape and narrating the second half to include pertinent points pertaining to the area; 3) Cutting out half of the newspaper ads and the postcards. Another recycling grant could cover the newspaper ads and postcard mailings. ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR REPORTS Annual Report for 1988 - Ms. Ng informed the Commission the report will be smaller in context than the last report. She is still waiting upon submission of outstanding articles. Upon the receipt of these articles the report will be completed. EDUCATION/LEGISLATION REPORTS Pesticides - The Chairman expressed the need for a timely meeting upon this subject, since there has been two new mandates since the last discussion. He asked for the following to be results of this meeting: 1) notification of any applicators of the Pesticide Law; 2) revision of the Tree Preservation Act (Claudia Ng informed the Commission that a letter had been sent to Tree Service Companies notifying them of the existing law) Mr. Komitor reported that the Education/Legislation Committee has drafted a letter to be sent to pesticide applicators which will also include the distributed article, for approval at the next meeting. Caroline Silverstone would like the Town Board and Attorney to review it before sending it out. Charles Bernstein will compose a list of gardeners to be contacted. -3- CAC Minutes - 3/15/89 CONSULTANT/LIAISON REPORTS Water Monitoring: East Creek - Robert Holberg has completed the report and copies were distributed. Through cooperation with Richard Doran of the County Health Department, and Fred Kellogg, Larchmont Engineer, 400 linear feet of old sewer line were replaced. This will result in an improved environment for East Creek and all the harbors. Mr. Holberg noted that he had given a presentation of his past work at the School's Superintendents Conference. A presentation to the Town Board of Mamaroneck and the Village of Larchmont will be scheduled. Mr. Holberg expressed the need for continuance in monitoring the Reservoirs nitrate level. The Sheldrake River has been showing its highest nitrate readings thus far. Mr. Holberg felt it was important to renewals the Reservoir also because of the major drop in the water level done this past summer to accommodate the Gardens Lake Dredging Project. He recommended raising the water level in increments to prevent nitrogen level increases in the water that would result from rotting vegetation. Historical/Background Pamplet of CAC - No report. ONGOING Golfball Litter - Ms. Ng stated letters to all golf courses in the area and to the Mamaroneck Village Chief of Police were completed. They were ® signed by the Chairman for immediate release Tree Preservation Law - Charles Bernstein and Robert Komitor to review law. Trapping - Claudia Ng reported that a map showing Town owned lands and conservation areas has been requested by Ed Lieberman, the Town Attorney. His purpose is to show that the open spaces are, in fact, actually small. The chairman stated that Mr. Lieberman has been in contact with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and reports that the DEC has said that even though they feel its not allowable they would not contest it. Livingston/Hilltop Road - Mr. Goldstein reports very little progress. Inventory of Streamside Properties - No report. Sheldrake Water Study - Ms. Ng reports that the Town has made a formal request to the Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District for them to conduct the computer analysis section of the study. Beautification Day - Dorothy Rainier, L.I.F.E. Center distributed a list of clean-up areas to be targeted on beautification day. (April 29, with a rain date slated for April 30) . She reported cooperation from the Boy Scouts and other groups such as the Mamaroneck Village Board. She encouraged CAC to become involved by picking an area and participating in the clean-up. Safety ® precautions for children and adults alike were discussed as to the concern of discarded needles, tides, and the such. -4- CAC Minutes - 3/15/89 NEW BUSINESS County Critical Environmental Area (CEA) Designations - Claudia Ng informed the Commission that Westchester County will be designating areas as critical environmental areas (CEA) pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) . She said that the Coastal Zone Management Commission (CZMC) and Friends of the Reservoir (FOR) have submitted suggestions from our area. • Meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M. C 0 -5-