HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013_11_25 Coastal Zone Management Commission Minutes CZMC Minutes
November 25, 2013
A regular meeting of the Coastal Zone Management Commission (CZMC) was held on
November 25, 2013 in the Mamaroneck Town Center, Conference Room D, 1st Floor, 740 W.
Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Marc Godick, Co-Chair
C. Alan Mason, Co-Chair
Howard McMichael
Bill Zelenka
REGRETS:
Rita Murray
Pam Michels
Matthew Teitsch
OTHERS PRESENT:
Peter Fanelli, Liaison, Village of Larchmont
Elizabeth Paul, Environmental Planner, Town of Mamaroneck
Phyllis Wittner, Liaison, Town of Mamaroneck via telephone
1. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the October 28, 2013 meeting were approved as submitted.
2. Stormwater Management Policies Discussion
Marc Godick led the discussion and distributed an outline. The purpose of the discussion
is to develop recommendations for the Town and Village Board on ways to update
current ordinances and policies that deal with stormwater quality and quantity.
The Westchester County Stormwater Advisory Board is preparing a reconnaissance plan
for the Long Island Sound Watershed area. The plan will include recommendations for
local municipalities to follow in order to better manage stormwater runoff in their
communities. This report can serve as a guide for CZMC to follow when preparing its
own recommendations to the Town and Village Boards. Some of the report's suggestions
will include updates to ordinances, adoption of FEMA's Advisory Base Flood Elevation
Maps, protection of wetlands, floodplains and open space and updating design standards.
More information will be available once the report is completed.
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CZMC discussed the current design standards used in our ordinances. The current design
standards are outdated and the use of higher 24-hour rainfall amounts for the 100-year
storm may be warranted. New data is available from recent storms that can be valuable in
making this determination.
Scarsdale has recently updated their comprehensive plan by dividing their municipality
into basins and sub basins. Then, they applied different design standards to each area
depending on localized conditions. This type of practice may be effective as a tool for
the Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont because we are impacted by both
Coastal and Upland flooding. For example, in coastal areas, building standards should
follow FEMA's guidelines for elevation and have the living space located above the base
flood elevation. In areas with rock ledge or high water tables, infiltrators do not function
and detention systems should be used instead. Near the shore, water quality control is
more important than stormwater quantity control, therefore systems should be designed to
reflect this. In areas with high water tables, basements with sump pumps should not be
permitted.
CZMC briefly discussed that better implementation of construction and post construction
practices are needed on construction sites. New opportunities will be available to control
stormwater when properties are redeveloped.
Phyllis Wittner provided an update from the Town Board and provided some advice:
Right now the Town Board is working on Hazard Mitigation with a consulting firm.
There is an upcoming Public Hearing that should interest the CZMC. The Town Board is
also working on revising the Erosion and Sediment Control law as drafted by Elizabeth
Paul and Bill Maker. In her mind, there is an overlap between the 3 topics/laws of
Stormwater Management, Hazard Mitigation and Erosion and Sediment Control. CZMC
should definitely be present when these items are on the Town Board agenda or should
request time to talk at a Work Session.
Wittner continued, as for the County Stormwater Management Plan, there was a time
when there were funds for projects and the County worked with LISWIC to develop their
Plan. I don't know when the Coastal LIS Watershed Reconnaissance Plan surfaced, but I
gather it was after that. Of course it has good points (sounds like Soil and
Water/Doscher), but I wouldn't count on the County to go forward. Hence the Town will
pass its own laws and plans. Note the "Coastal LIS Watershed" etc. Don't you think our
LWRP should be revised to be in the LIS watershed LWRP?
Marc will set up a Google Document that we can share and work on together. The
discussion will continue at our January Meeting.
3. Old Business
No old business to discuss.
4. New Business
Larchmont will work on finding more CZMC members.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
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