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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991_11_07 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes APPROVED C C 4 Town of Mamaroneck CEIVtO Conservation Advisory Commission �A!"f 25 1992 PAT'►ftA A.Dif10CC10 VAM RONECK 740 West Boston Post Road Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 914-381-6133 MIN0TES NOVEMBER 7 , 1991 A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was he0dWont. n Thursday, November 7, 1991 in Conference Room A of the Town Center, Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at. 8:00 p.in. Members Present: Louise Perez, Chairperson Susan Cavalieri Martha Gershun Edward M. Hindin Martha Kaufman Michael A. Scheffler Others Present: Dr. Arthur E. Cillmon, resident , 34 Pryer Manor Rd. Robert Hohberg, Water Monitoring Consultant Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator Ellen Morse, Recorder ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Minutes - The minutes of October 10, 1991 were approved after corrections were made. Ms. Ng noted that no letter is necessary to Steven Goldstein regarding the osprey nest for Crab Island. She explained that he had called her following the meeting and said that he had wanted to give the CAC an opportunity for involvement, but was willing and fully intends to proceed with the project on his own. NEW BUSINESS: CAC/CZMC Coordination Work Session - Mrs. Perez met with Phyllis Wittner, Chairwoman of the Coastal Zone Management. Commission (CZMC) , last month to discuss the duties of CAC and CZMC. Copies of Mrs. Wittner's report were distributed to the Commission members. Mrs. Perez was alsoogiven,aacopymer of the LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitilization Program) . fo member of CZMC, explained that one of the main responsibilities of CZMC involves the Consistency R1e�Teaw�lecl,edPbVtated CZMC toat makwhen surevthepmeni form proposals are submitted, they to the LWRP. Mrs. Perez reported that �iC l� tlike o 1SteveColeman'sresumes, enaturalist with © sharing the cost. Ms. Ngisti� hutedopiesf Mr. the naturalist candidate. In replying to CAC members' questions as to what CAC Ni m„ti's, Nov. 7 , 1091 Page 2 CMr. Coleman could do for CAC, Mrs. Perez replied that Mr. Coleman could do inventories of all the conservation areas, plants and hirds: give advice on types of planting; and examine and explain what. could he done at specific areas like the Premium. Mr. Hindin asked why CAC doesn' t stay with the LIFE Center naturalists who are paid in part by CAC. It was pointed out that LIFE Center is focused on education, whereas Mr. Coleman is experienced in restorative ecology and would be considered the "area specialist." . It was then discussed how •CAC would share in using and budgeting Mr. Coleman's time. Mr. Scheffler endorsed the idea of hiring a naturalist but suggested that CAC not commit to using him on a full scale basis but only to a certain limited extent next year. Mrs. Perez stated that during Mr. Coleman's interview during the last CZMC meeting, some members suggested walking around with Mr. Coleman on the Sheldrake Trail to get his reactions and ideas. Mr. Scheffler suggested that -Mr. Coleman should he taken to the Premium area also. HARBOR ISLAND REPORT - Tabled. BALD MOUNTAIN - was tabled until the next CAC meeting. CONSULTANT/LIAISON REPORTS Water Monitoring - Mrs. Perez read the letter dated October 30, 1991, that Mr. Hindin composed on behalf of the CAC, which she signed and sent to Steve Altieri on the cleanup of two local waterways, East Creek and the Sheldrake River behind the Mamaroneck Village Yard. Since East Creek lies on v the boundary of the Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont, Steve Altieri said he will have to coordinate with the Village of Larchmont but will not be able to get to it until next spring. For the latter area, Mr. Altieri explained that they should write directly to the Village of Mamaroneck. Mrs. Perez suggested using the same letter, changing the heading, and including..in the letter that CAC is anxiously awaiting a reply indicating the schedule for the cleanup. It was agreed to add the following statement in the letter: "We would appreciate it if the situation of the waterways would be monitored on a regular basis so that debris would not be allowed to accumulate" . Chairwoman Perez said that she will also speak to the Administrator about Town responsibilities. Mr. Hohberg reported that he went with his students down to the up Sheldrake, Columbus Park, the Harbor, and to Warren Park. They picked traces of iron in the water at Mamaroneck Harbor which may be due to construction work going on there. Also, he started on the formal report, had the field notes typed, and is working on the graphs and conclusion of the report . If the presentation is acceptable, he will go to the Town Board and send copies to the County Health Dept. and CAC members. Mr. Hohberg reported that the research students went into the Sheldrake River. They felt that just downstream of the Gardens Lake, underneath the Thruway, the water was really not that had. As they passed the big sewer line that crosses the Sheldrake River by Rockland Avenue, they started getting high counts, which got particularly high at Surhurhan Carting and also by the Village Yard. CAC Minutes Nov. 7, 1991 Page 3 IC:, Mr. Hohherg asked if the Premium Marsh is going to he dredged, would the CAC want him at the Pine Brook River and the Premium River to do baseline tests before the dredging is done. He also asked how long it will take to get a permit to start removing debris from the Premium River and if CAC would want him to get in there first to get baseline data which they can refer to later. Mrs. Perez commented that there's a short window of time not to disturbe the nesting wildlife. Ms. Ng reported that the dredging is being held up by complications with certain agencies, high bids, and excessive capping requirements. In view of this uncertainty, Mr. Hohherg suggested getting some students to gather some base data before the dredging starts so that it can be compared to later on. He will start coordinating with Dr. Thomas, but will need to know when the dredging will begin so that he can coordinate with the students. Mr. Hohberg asked that he be put in the Sheldrake for next summer. No date has been set yet- for the dredging. Originally it was to be March 1, then it was moved up to February 1 , 1992. Mr. Hohberg needs to have the date first before he can coordinate with the students. East Creek - County Followup - Mary Landrigan has not reported on her progress with the County. Councilwoman O'Flinn spoke to Steve Altieri who went directly to the County Health Dept. So far he has not heard hack from the County. CAC felt that Steve Altieri should follow up with the County and instructed Ms. Ng to request that he do so. It was suggested that Bob Hohberg make official contact with Bill Schneider, who is with the Dept. of Health, and Mrs. Perez is to contact Mary Landrigan to see if she has Qfollowed up on the problem. TASRFORCE REPORTS Landscaping/Maintenance Articles - Mr. Hindin reported that they are working on the next landscaping article, and it will be ready for the next "On The Town" newsletter. Golf Course Rezoning Study -• The Taskforce met last week and decided that Attorney Silverberg's explanation of the issue should go out to the populace. They talked about following the scope of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SETS) and thought of having a panel discussion maybe in February but not when the scope or the SETS comes out. Because of the implications to LIS, they will coordinate with the CZMC, and felt they should have someone from Chesapeake Bay on the panel because it's a multijurisdictional situation and this is similar. Mrs. Perez suggested picking a topic and including the water problem as there probably is a lot of information available. It was also suggested getting some other knowledgeable people (ex: LIFE Center) to discuss the subject and also someone from the County. Mrs. Perez mentioned the EMC (Environmental Management Council) has a newsletter and publications at the office in White Plains. She suggested that a Taskforce member go over and see what publications would be relevant to the topic, and also, one of the members could read the hydrological study CAC Minutes Nov. 7 , 1991 Page 4 summarize it for the public. Mr. Hohberg was then asked to do this. Before firm topics are chosen, it should he understood what the Town is going to ask for in the Supplemental EIS and focus on information meetings around the findings. The CAC is going to want issues that are not going to be addressed by the Supplement . It will be useful to get that information out to the public. Mrs. Perez summarized by stating that we have to follow up on the scope and that panel discussions are public information. CAC is concerned about keeping the public informed on the results of any supplemental reports. Martha Kaufman volunteered to discuss this with Liaison O'Flinn. Mrs. Perez repeated again that one topic might he about water since people between Bonnie Brier and the Sound are concerned about water in their basements and other residents are concerned about the water quality, • Mrs. Johnson reported that the Sierra Club is starting a group called "Wetlands Watch" which is meeting on Friday, November 15 at 8 p.m. at Irene Saltzberg's home in Bedford. She asked if anyone would he interested in attending. No one volunteered to attend. With regard to acknowledgements of receipt of DGEIS comments, Ms. Ng replied that they have gone out . Storm Drain Stenciling —Cheryl W. Lewy presented the proposed project. to the Larchmont Village Board and they approved it so it's set to go. Mrs. O'Flinn is going to present it for the Town, but Mrs. Cavalieri has not been able to reach her to get the status. Mrs. Cavalieri spoke to John Zappala, a teacher at Hommocks School, but has not discussed with him how he's going to paint the 'drains. She thinks he will take care of the Village of Mamaroneck so that every municipality area will get some storm drains painted. Mrs. Cavalieri and Ms. Ng went over some of the Town maps and decided that the drains most people see should be painted (e.g. , along the main roads rather than away from the center) . For the Village, Mrs. Perez thought that some of the church and synagogue youth groups should get involved. Mr. Scheffler said that Jack Strassburg wants t.o get the Boy Scouts involved. Mr. Scheffler asked that CAC contact Mr. Strassburg. Mrs. Cavalieri mentioned that the temperature has to be above 50° before the drains can be painted. All volunteers should be contacted now so that they can make plans to be ready t.o start when the weather warms up in March or April. Mrs. Kaufman has two classes at Chatsworth School who want to get involved but will need parental help due to their young ages. Also, the "Don' t Dump" sign was received very negatively, and drains have a narrow metal plate so there's no way to install the sign on top. Mrs. Cavalieri said the signs for Larchmont Ave. would have to he put on the sidewalks. Ms. Ng said that someone from the Highway Dept. suggested a cardboard replica be made up of the stencils, making it easier to use rather than the thin plastic original stencil. It was discussed what color of spray paints to use with consideration of visibility: white, yellow, caution yellow, bright red, orange, florescent green or blue. Ms. Ng suggested the color blue to Liaison Kevin Ryan. She also suggested that Mrs. Cavalieri call him and coordinate it with him. Ms. Ng will purchase the paint once the color has been decided. Since Eastchester's Dept. of Public Works has been stenciling drains, Ms. Cavalieri will call them to find out how they physically did the job. Mrs. Kaufman 0 LAC Minutes Nov. 7 , 1991 Page 5 said a model of a storm drain has been built and will be brought into the first grade classroom this week to show the children how it works. Mr. Hindin suggested getting the high school environmental group tohelp organize or supervise younger kids as well as paint. Mrs. Perez suggested that when the groups involved get organized, there should be newspaper publicity but that a couple of weeks' lead time is needed. Ms. Ng informed the group that there is no problem with publicity since there is now more newspaper coverage locally. Mrs. Perez commented that publicity was needed in order t.o let the public know this project was going on and when they see the drains they will know what it 's related to. ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR REPRTS Premium Conservation Area Entrance - Dr. Gillmon attended as a private citizen concerned with the status of the area because he lives adjacent to this area at 34 Pryer Manor Rd. He was given the following background information. The Open Space Taskforce had found a lot of pot holes and ditches in the dirt road which is the entranceway to the Premium Conservation Area and is also used by area residents. The goal is t.o make the whole area more presentable by narrowing the road to prevent. public parking, but making it wide enough for fire trucks to get through.. A boardwalk is to be built over 3 years' time with budgeting for each year, and a sign with a map of the area will be erected showing the public that it's a conservation area. At present, the appearance of the area discourages people from going there and Q enjoying it, while also encouraging others to use it as a dumping area. The Taskforce submitted a memo to the Town Highway Dept. to install telephone poles and shrubs to narrow the entranceway. Unfortunately, there was miscommunication, and the poles were placed horizontally with mulch added behind it . Dead trees were removed which then opened up the view of Dr. Gillmon's house. Dr. Gillmon stated that he would like to have the area planted with evergreen trees as a screen for his house and also to enhance the area to the Premium entrance. Dr. Gillmon also commented that he has had more flooding after the last most recent storm. Since the area there had been raised, tidal water is coming down the street and back around. Mr. Hindin suggested that Ms. Ng go over the plans again with the Highway Dept. and have the Town Engineer look at the site relative to the type of soil and runoff problem before a plan is resubmitted t.o correct the work already done. It was agreed that it should he "spelled out" that the wood chips are to be removed from the center area along with all the debris underneath, also plantings be put in that will take to that type of soil, and the telephone poles are to be staked into the ground, not laid on top. Mr. Scheffler said he would go with Ms. Ng some Saturday to the area to work out exact details. They will ask Dr. Gillmon to join them. OTHER BUSINESS Town Lands/Locust Ridge Properties - the Town Board has decided to dedicate the Locust Ridge Road properties but needs a formal survey done CAC Minutes Nov. 7, 1991 Page 6 first. Mr. Scheffler asked whether other Town properties discussed several meetings ago had been sold. Mrs. Perez thought they had been put on hold. Mr. Scheffler thought there were some properties they were considering putting back on the tax rolls. Ms. Ng was asked to check on the status of the other Town lands. Mr. Scheffler suggested that. Councilwoman O'F1inn be asked to attend the next CAC meeting and report on what is being done with regard to setting procedures for referring such Town Board actions. Greenway Trail - Ms. Ng reported that a looping trailway has been establihed which hooks up the Leatherstocking Trail and the Larchmont. Reservoir with Ward Acres Park and Saxon Woods, Weinberg Nature Center and back over the Hutchinson River Parkway to Ward Acres. There's one problem piece which is the connection with the Leatherstocking Trail and Saxon Woods. It has to cross either private property (backyard or driveway) , go alongside the Thruway, or it can go up on Old White Plains Road which is the least favorable of the options. The gentlemen instrumental in putting this all together, John Varvayanis, is from New Rochelle. He needs help in getting cooperation with either the Village of Mamaroneck or with the residents where the property is located to get permission. Originally, there was permission to cross the property where the backyard is located but it was • later retracted. Ms. Ng felt the best tatic to take is to use the private driveway which is shared and is off Rock Ridge Rd. However, only one of the owners gave permission. Mr. Varvayanis has written to the Village of Mamaroneck, State Senator Suzy Oppenheimer, and State Assemblyman Ronald Q Tocci without getting any real support. He asked Ms. Ng to talk to the County , the Village of Mamaroneck and the Town of Mamaroneck and have a meeting to try to resolve this. Ms. Ng felt the best approach would he to have CAC just try to get permission for the remaining residents in order to go across the driveway. It was suggested that John Varvayanis be invited to the next CAC meeting to discuss the matter fully. Mr. Hindin brought up the possibility of liability being an issue when using a private driveway. It was suggested that all three neighbors sign a letter to prevent future problems (ex. the sale of one of the properties) . It was also suggested that the property owner with the backyard link be reapproached to reconsider use of that property. Hommocks Conservation Area -Mrs. Perez handed out copies of letters from Caroline Silverstone. Included was a letter from Phyllis Gaughran to Caroline Silverstone regarding the Hommocks' ballfield being extended into the Conservation area. Mr. Scheffler suggested he call Ms. Gaughran and go down there with Ms. Ng to see the area. He will discuss it at the next meeting. They will try to visit the area on Saturday, November 23. They will inform the Commission members of the exact date and time for those who wish to join them. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. C