Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992_04_02 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes '1C c_ac Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisory Commission APPROVED 740 West Boston Post Road Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 914-381-6133 MINUTES APRIL 2, 1992 A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held on Thursday, April 2, 1992 in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8:30 p.m. Members Present: Martha Kaufman, Acting Chairwoman Charles Bernstein * RELE Susan Cavalieri EO M� Martha L. Gershun 20 1992 PATRICIA A.DICID Others Present: William J. Bruce, League of Women Voters TOWN CCID MAMARONCK Jenny Carter, Tarchmont Reservoir Committee N.y. ir Gerry Goldberg, Larchmont Reservoir Committee Angel Martin, CZMC Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator Kathleen Tracy O'Flinn, Liaison, Town Council Ellen Morse, Recorder ACMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Minutes - The minutes of March 5, 1992 were approved after a minor change was made on page 5. Next Meeting - May 7, 1992. OLD BUSINESS Greenway Trail - Acting Chairwoman Kaufman reported that Chairwoman Perez spoke with County Legislator George Latimer. He is working on the option where the New York State Thruway Authority will move the fence back. He will call when there is any progress on this. Long Island Sound Water Monitoring - Charles Bernstein spoke to Rich, director of the project. They are sending Mr. Bernstein a letter notifying him when he will start training on the equipment, which should be toward the end of this month. The project will begin in May. He has arranged for a boat. Mike Monahan and Bob Hohberg will assist him. Mr. Martin reported this to CZMC who suggested that the studies would have more value if Bob Hohberg's work was coordinated with the Sound monitoring. CAC Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 2 Mr. Bernstein said that whatever reports they make they will send to the CZMC. He has not discussed his water monitoring yet with the Village or Harbor Master. He did raise the point at a Village Board Meeting that this project should be considered as one unit which they agreed to but nothing has happened as yet. CORRESPONDENCE'S (1) Letter from Ellen Stoutenburgh, NYS DEC, Region 3, Public Affairs, acknowledging CAC's application for State aid. It has to be forwarded to Albany for approval. (2) Letter from Phyllis Wittner and application for the Federal Small Business Tree Planting Program for the Premium Marsh area. (3) Letter from Susan Gallian encouraging CAC's and CB's to keep in touch with State Legislators to maintain State funding. (4) Letter to neighbors around the Premium Conservation Area regarding garden dumping went out a few weeks ago according to Ms. Ng. CONSULTANT/LIAISON REPORTS Councilwoman O'Flinn reported on the plans for Beautification Day which is to be held on April 25. She expects a good turnout. last year over 800 people participated. This year large groups will be participating such as Little League and the travel soccer league as well as individual families. An organization called America the Beautiful donated 300 seed packets which will be distributed to all the volunteers. TASKFORCE REPORTS Landscaping/Maintenance Articles - The Tawn newsletter is going out this week with CAC's article which has been somewhat edited. Golf Course Rezoning Study - Nothing new to report. Storm Drain Stenciling - Susan Cavalieri reported that a storm drain was painted outside the Town Center. She also painted two on Boston Post Road at Weaver Street. The middle of the drains were bumpy and not easy to stencil. She has the names of students from Hammocks doing stenciling and needs adults to go with them on a Saturday morning, preferably on Weaver Street away from traffic. Adults could do Boston Post Road. Mrs. Cavalieri spoke to Elizabeth Lehman who suggested the adults practice stenciling before going out. Councilwoman O'Flinn suggested the stenciling be done on Beautification Day when photographers will be around and Mrs. Cavalieri said she would try for that day. CAC Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 3 Premium Sign - Ms. Ng had originally suggested a simple sign for the Premium Conservation Area. The cost would be around $250 for a 10" x 12" outdoor bronze plaque that would be bolted onto a boulder by the Highway Department. The CAC is deciding where to install it. Ms. Ng said it would be nice to have it at the entranceway but it might not go with the landscaping. It could go in the back where the road curves and where the trail starts. That would signify there's a marshland there. It could be put in the front until landscaping in the front is finished and then it could be moved to the back area. Mike Scheffler wanted more description on the sign, but said he would go along with whatever the group agreed on. Acting Chairwoman Kaufman thought Ms. Ng's wording was appropriate which is as follows: "PREMIUM CONSERVATION AREA Dedicated to the preservation of the environment Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisory Commission" The group was in agreement. Ms. Ng will forward this to the Town Council for final approval. Mrs. Cavalieri then reported that the wooden sign for the Sheldrake River Trails on Rockland Ave. was spray painted with graffiti. DI FORIO SUBDIVISION DEIS (707 WEAVER STREET) Ms. Ng reported for Mary Anne Johnson and Ed Hindin. Mr. Hindin reviewed the proposed DEIS and could not think of any additional information that should be requested; however, he could not comment on the factual accuracy of the document. Mrs. Johnson gave Ms. Ng a letter written by Elizabeth Lehman who concentrated on the possible impact due to the runoff pollution. Mrs. Johnson also provided handwritten notes of her own comments. Ms. Gershun questioned the low numbers throughout the report. One area she questioned was where it states that only 19% will be covered or paved over (by buildings, roads, landscape areas or other similar site disturbances) . Without appendices, Ms. Gershun felt it was hard to make a definitive judgment. In a number of cases, there are conclusions reached but with no real basis, for example, page 1-4 where it states "impacts to the Sheldrake Lake will be unchanged". On page 1-7, regarding mitigation of short-term impact on construction, Ms. Gershun said someone should look more closely at that paragraph. On the coliform bacteria, Ms. Gershun does not know what tests they had done nor how they reached their conclusions. On page 3-3, it states that only an average of 21/2 feet of fill is required to create Lot 1 and an average of 3 feet for Lot 2. Ms. Gershun feels this is a large amount of fill and wants to know the impact on drainage, in general, and particularly to the Q surrounding homes as well as to the reservoir. It was questioned whether there will be silt or erosion as a result. On page 3-5 she questioned whether the descriptions of the designations given to the water bodies CAC Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 4 are complete. She feels that all designations should be taken into account in this section. On page 3-6 under the description of the pond, she feels the habitats could be described in more detail. Under "Trees", it mentions that only a couple of trees would be removed which seems inconsistent to the proposed fill and grading changes. Also, three trees are described as evergreens and Ms. Gershun thinks we should know what types they are. Acting Chairwoman Kaufman reported that a letter from the CZMC says the proposed subdivision contemplates the construction of two, several hundred feet, long private sewer lines. She feels the whole impact of that construction should be addressed. Ms. Ng reported that outside sources xeroxed the DEIS, gave a copy to Chairwoman Perez to have CAC review it to see if anything is missing, and give their comments. Chairwoman Perez asked that any comments be submitted by Wednesday, April 8 which is the Planning Board Meeting date. The DEIS is not open for public comment until after the Planning Board certifies it. Mr. Bernstein noted that as this is the same geographical area as Bonnie Briar, they should proceed the same way they did for Bonnie Briar. Both developments should be considered together as the lower section of Weaver Street is subject to flooding now and an added three or four more acres of development will have a real heavy environmental impact. Ms. Gershun mentioned that a fuller discussion is needed on a number of different sections. Acting Chairwoman Kaufman asked Ms. Gershun to draft a letter on the DEIS to be addressed to the Planning Board, including Mrs. Johnson's continents and her awn (Mr. Hindin did not have any specific comments) . ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR REPORTS Naturalist Consultant - Ms. Ng reported that CZMC is retaining Steve Coleman to look over the Leatherstocking-Sheldrake-Reservoir areas and the country clubs to try to determine ways to protect them and see if they need improvement. He will also be doing a botanical and biological inventory of critical environmental areas. Ms. Ng asked the CAC for approval to use the consultant for trouble spots such as the Hummocks Road area where vines are choking the brush. His retention fee is $40/hr. The CAC approved the expenditure. Recycling Survey - Ms. Ng reported that the State has mandated recycling of glass, plastic, small metals, and cardboard by September 1, 1992. Volunteers organized by the League of Women Voters will randomly call about 300 Town and Village of Larchmont residents to ask their opinions on alternative recycling procedures. She asked if anyone present at the meeting would like to volunteer to help with the survey. There's to be a training session on Tuesday, April 7 at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. to explain the questionnaire. The deadline for returning the questionnaires will be April 28. CAC Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 5 Tree City USA/Arbor Day - April 24 - Ms. Ng reported that the Town of Mamaroneck will be receiving a "Tree City USA" award for the first time through the efforts of Councilwoman O'Flinn. It will be held at Memorial Park with a tree planting ceremony on Friday, April 24 at 1 p.m. Chairwoman Perez previously mentioned that certain requirements are attached to the award, such as, forming some type of tree planting program, having a tree ordinance and tree committee, celebrating Arbor Day each year, and spending a certain amount of money each year on trees. Councilwoman O'Flinn said they would like to do a tree inventory and that they would assist. They need volunteers to identify the trees, do an inventory, and give the condition of the trees. There is a tree planting program but no inventory has ever been done. Chairwoman Perez asked Acting Chairwoman Kaufman to share with the CAC that she feels additional volunteers are needed to work on the tree inventory. OTHER BUSINESS Reusable Dry Cleaner Bags - Acting Chairwoman Kaufman showed a newspaper article on the subject. Chairwoman Perez thought the local dry cleaners should be aware of what some cleaners are doing for recycling and suggested a letter similar to one sent to the nurseries be mailed out. Acting Chairwoman Kaufman volunteered to write the letter. Martha Gershun suggested giving out awards to those people in the Town who have recycling or waste reduction programs in place. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.