HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992_05_07 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes -��-
1:: c_ac
Jilt' 15.1992
PATRIRIATOWN ACLERK
DiClOCCID �
�!r4,`4ARONE' Town of Mamaroneck
N.y. APPROVED
Conservation Advisory Commission
740 West Boston Post Road
Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 914-381-6133
MINUTES
MAY 7, 1992
A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held
on Thursday, May 7, 1992 in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740
West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The mooting commenced at
8:15 p.m.
Members Present: Louise Perez, Chairwoman
Charles Bernstein
Susan Cavalieri
Edward M. Hindin
Martha Kaufman
Others Present: Robert P. Hohberg, Water Monitoring Consultant
Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus
Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator
Judy O'Gorman, Larchmont Village Liaison
Shirleyan Price, Ad Hoc Member (Hammocks Property
Owners Association)
Ellen Morse, Recorder
ALMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Minutes - The minutes of April 2, 1992 were approved after a minor
change to page 4.
Next Meeting - June 4, 1992.
Notice - On Tuesday, May 19 at 8 p.m. in the Court Room, the League
of Women Voters, the LIFE Center, and the Citizens to Promote Recycling
will have a community meeting on the recycling law. Town residents are
invited to attend. It will be a live broadcast on LMC-TV, Channel 36.
Representatives will be Town Administrator Steve Altieri, Supervisor
Caroline Silverstone, Mayor Cheryl Lewy (VOL) , Environmental Coordinator
Claudia Ng, and Jim Hogan from the County.
OLD BUSINESS
Letter to Honmlocks Conservation Area Neighbors - Shirleyan Price told
the CAC that she had read the original letter to her homeowner's
association group at their annual mooting and they were very receptive to
it. She also told her group that they will be receiving their own
personal letter soon. Ms. Ng suggested some minor changes to the letter
CAC Minutes
May 7, 1992
Page 2
which was approved by the Commission and will be signed by Chairwoman
Perez. Ms. Price mentioned to the Commission that there are only sixteen
members in her Association, excluding the neighbors on the left at the
beginning of Hammocks Road. It was suggested that someway be found to
include them in this particular project.
Beautification Day - Follow-up - Chairwoman Perez reported for
Councilwoman O'Flinn that aver 1,300 people participated as opposed to
800 last year. She felt more participated this year because it was
better organized. She and Janet Day, Murray Ave. School LIFE Center
Rep. , went around and preplanned which areas the classes would clean up.
Shelley Hcansy's group were instrumental in getting a privately-owned
vacant lot cleaned up next to Burbank Whittemore Real Estate on Boston
Post Rd. The organizers will follow-up with the volunteer groups as to
categorizing the kind of debris found. Thank you letters are expected to
be mailed out today. Each school class that participated will receive a
certificate.
Long Island Sound Water Monitoring - Mr. Bernstein attended the task
force meeting in Norwalk. They are preparing a boat which should arrive
in about 10 days with the equipment and he will then be able to start the
work. Because of the dredging done in the Harbour last year, the large
survey which had been done a few years ago has now been made obsolete.
They would like to get a new base data this year because next year the
new sewage treatment plant will be in operation and they can make
comparisons. Mr. Bernstein has been in contact with the Harbour Master
but not anyone in the Village of Mamaroneck. Mr. Bernstein reported that
they will determine the oxygen content which will determine haw much
nitrates are coming into the harbour. Readings will be done once a weak,
twice in one day at the same times (in the morning and late afternoon)
until late September. A Rye group is also participating. The statistics
will be sent to the Long Island Sound Task Force.
Reusable Dry Cleaning Bags - Martha Kaufman wrote a letter which will
be sent to all the dry cleaners in Larchmont and Mamaroneck. She is
preparing the list.
Tree Grant for the Premium - was approved.
OORRESPONDENCES
Incomirng:
4/3/92 - Memo from Wallace Irwin, Jr. offering suggestions on how to
gain compliance with the mandatory recycling law.
4/3/92 - Copy of CZMC's memo on the Town of Mamaroneck's SEIS
regarding the golf courses.
® CAC Minutes
May 7, 1992
Page 3
4/13/92 - Ellen Stoutenburgh, NYS DEC re: 3rd quarter vouchers
approved.
4/14/92 - Notice from the Planning Board and Draft EIS on the DiForio
property.
4/21/92 - Copy of Supervisor C. Silverstone's letter to residents
re: dedication of parkland Lots 124 and 579 on
Block 105 adjacent to Conservation Trails.
4/21/92 - Premium River-Pine Brook Preservation Assoc. , Inc.
Newsletter.
Outgoing:
5/92 - Westchester County Dept. of Health re: R. Hohberg's report.
5/92 - Letter to Planning Board of TOM re: DiForio DEIS.
CONSULTANT/LIAISON REPORTS
Chairwoman Perez reported for Councilwoman O'Flinn that the Town
surplus lands will be put on the books for appraisal. A list should be
ready by next month's meeting in June. CAC will then review it.
Water Monitoring - Bob Hohberg reported that the research students
will be working with him and Dr. Thomas this summer in the Sheldrake and
the Premium Marsh. He would like a letter from Steve Altieri stating as
such. He has continued the regular station rounds and has finished with
Harbour Island beach and the launching pier at Harbour Island. He
noticed that some cleaning up has been done in the VOL at East Creek. A
number of large replacement pipes are being installed around the Town.
TASKFORCE REPORTS
Storm Drain Stenciling - Susan Cavalieri suggested writing letters
front the CAC to the first and sixth graders who helped with stenciling.
Almost all the drains have been painted on Chatsworth and Larchmont
Avenues between the Post Road and Palmer Avenue. Some were also done on
the streets between Chatsworth and Larchmont Avenues, and on Vandenburgh
and Wendt Avenues. On Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. some Hammocks School
service clubs will paint around Gardens Lake and along Brookside Drive.
The rain date will be Saturday, May 16. Miss Ng will call the Daily
Times reporters to do a story and to take pictures. As there was no
newspaper coverage for the previous stenciling, Chairwoman Perez will
write a letter to the Editor if coverage is missed again on May 9. Some
scout groups will go out near the end of May or beginning of June to
paint. Mrs. Cavalieri reported that the Village of Tarchmont has so far
CAC Minutes
May 7, 1992
Page 4
only approved painting on Chatsworth and Larchmont Avenues. The Town has
permitted painting anywhere, and John Zappala will handle painting in the
Village of Mamaroneck.
Premium Sign - Ms. Ng reported that the 10" x 12" bronze plaque sign
has been ordered and will arrive in six weeks.
DIFORIO SUBDIVISION DEIS (707 WEAVER STREET)
This subdivision will leave the house remaining on a big lot in the
back and subdivide the front into two ' separate lots. There are two
drains, one draining into a little pond and the other draining through
the Paley property. They intend to build drainage basins. There is
concern of silting into the lower Reservoir from construction which will
take away the buffer for the Reservoir. Mr. Hohberg noted that there are
drains already coming in f um New Rochelle from the Bayberry Country
Club, and that everything that comes into the Reservoir flows into
Gardens Lake. He feels there is a potential for point pollution from the
pipe which is to be installed.
Other concerns noted are: the report states environmentally safe
products are to be used on their lawn, but these measures cannot be
guaranteed or monitored. Also, some of the recommended products
mentioned contain ingredients which are not good for the Reservoir or for
the wildlife and people. Mr. Martin reported that the 48" pipe which is
to be installed in the lower part of the property is to act as a
retention basin. At CZMC's last meeting, calculations were done on
various amounts of rain fall, and it was decided the pipe would not have
enough capacity to hold the water. Since CZMC is not mentioning the
retention problem of this pipe in their response, it was decided that CAC
will put it in theirs.
Ed Hindin recorded CAC's list of concerns: Accuracy of the
elevations; why so much fill and effects on trees, the need to protect
against silting into the lower Reservoir and silting during construction;
include a statement that the CAC and the Town's objective is to protect
areas surrounding wetlands and areas as buffers; there's no guarantee
that suggesting mitigation measures will be accomplished; concern about
runoff into the small stream; question whether or not the 48" pipe can
handle a five-year storm and what is the control release mechanism and
how will it be maintained; existing flooding conditions have not been
identified by DEIS; who will maintain the catch basins and oil separators
in the future; information about water table not complete; conclusions
drawn are based on area data not site specific data; suggestion that
there be a review of a proposed plantings plan as part of the DEIS. The
main questions are: what happens to run off, drainage, trees in the
existing site, and how is the Reservoir protected. Martha Gershun had
told Chairwoman Perez that she would help draft the letter. Ms. Ng
stated that the deadline for written comments is May 26, 1992.
•
CAC Minutes
May 7, 1992
Page 5
ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR REPORTS
Trap Shooting - Ms. Ng spoke to Steve Goldstein a former CAC Chairman
who is concerned about lead shot being used for trap shooting at Flagler
Drive in the Village of Mamaroneck by the Sound. He asked if CAC could
have testing done for lead shot. Some members suggested speaking to
Terry Backer and John Cronin who recently did a report on lead problems
in the Housatonic.
Conservation Areas - Vandalism - Ms. Ng reported that the bridges in
the Sheldrake Trails area and part of the Leatherstocking Trail had the
railings torn off some time between Saturday and Sunday afternoon
following Beautification Day on April 25.
Recycling Survey - Update - Ms. Ng had a response from JoAnn of
Larchmont Nurseries concerning plastic recycling. She would be happy to
participate but when she called the Company she was told she needed 8
pallets worth of plastic in order to get free delivery. As she can only
store two pallets at a time, she would like storage assistance from the
Town. Chairwoman Perez will mall the other local nurseries to see if
they would cooperate in a coordinated effort and inquire as to whether
any nursery organizations could help.
Naturalist Consultant - Ms. Ng met with Steve Coleman for 2 1/2 hrs.
and he gave advice on several areas including the Hammocks. He said that
the vines should be cut from the roadside and to allow brush to expand on
the meadow side.
Ms. Price asked if the Highway Department would go in on Hammocks
Road and cut down overgrown vines. Also she would like large logs
removed which is debris from trees that were cut down. Chairwoman Perez
suggested that someone be present when the Highway Dept. goes in to make
sure the correct debris is removed.
Ms. Ng reported that there will be an FCWC Annual Meeting on June 3,
1992 for anyone interested in attending.
NEW OR OTHER BUSINESS
Chairwoman Perez announced the Westchester Municipal Planning
Federation Annual Dinner and Awards in Peekskill, N.Y.
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.