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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991_02_26 Coastal Zone Management Commission Minutes Town of Mamaroneck — Village of Larchmont COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TOWN CENTER: 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 914-381-6133 4 RECEIVED MAY; 7 1991 MINUTES PATRICIA A.DiCIOCCIO FEBRUARY 26, 1991 A TOWN CLERK N.Y. A regular meeting of the Coastal Zone Management Commission (CZMC) was held on February 26, 1991 in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck. New York. The meeting commenced at 8:05 PM. Members Present: Phyllis Wittner, Chairman Mary Feldtmose Elinor Fredston Larry Lowy Angel Martin Howard McMichael Richard Metzner Shirley Tolley Richard A. Young Others Present: Stephen V. Altieri, Town Administrator >-. Mary Anne Johnson, former member Cheryl Lewy, liaison, Larchmont Board of Trustees Elaine Price, liaison, Town Council Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of January 22, 1991 were approved. The Chairman responded to several remarks and questions from the last meeting: (a) With regard to securing the manhole cover in the Premium Marsh area -- the Town Highway Superintendent and Westchester County are aware that the cover is readily removable. They prefer to keep it this way because of the difficulty in working in this area. (b) The NYS Significant Habitat designation has some regulatory confines. It is hoped that agencies will pay more attention to runoff control and vegetation. (c) Hommocks boom -- the Town has appropriated the funds for installing a boom at the outfall of East Creek. Stephen Altieri noted that Jack Taylor of Blasland, Bouck & Lee will be submitting a proposal : 'r.. to him soon. CZMC Minutes 2/26/91 ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES Amendment to TOM Urban Renewal Plan and Proposed Zoning Ordinance - Mr. Altieri explained that the Town of Mamaroneck is currently underway in the planning of affordable housing at the site of the Larchmont Motel at the corner of Boston Post Road and Weaver Street. However, in order to make the rents affordable, additional units are needed. The amendments would permit the development of 60 units, whereas 35 are presently allowed. The zoning amendment would be specific to the site; another project wishing to do the same would require a separate approval. He further noted that there are many federal and state restrictions on the Town-owned land which would prevent private exploitation of this variance. The proposed development would result in less lot coverage than existing. Seventy-five parking spaces were originally planned, but the Planning Board has asked for 1 spaces per unit, which would amount to 90 spaces. The Planning Board will be holding public hearings on this at its next meeting. Premium Marsh Restoration Project - The proposed dredging has been delayed because of additional permit requirements that were placed on the Town after its initial permit review. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) required that the Town obtain a SPDES (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Permit in order to discharge the decant water from the sediment holding barge into the Sound. At the recommendation of Cesare Manfredi, the Town approached Westchester County about discharging the effluent directly to the New Rochelle Sewage Treatment Plant. The County denied the request because it would exceed its DEC SPDES permit and possibly foul up the system. The Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) began reviewing the proposal. Originally, the ACOE had required a 3: 1 ratio of clean/contaminated sediment. It is now considering a 5:1 ratio. More sampling will be conducted along the stream to find the transition point from cleaner to contaminated sediments. The Town hopes to be able to send the cleaner dredge spoils to the closer Western Long Island Sound dumpsite and then the rest to the Central Long Island Sound dumpsite. The County Health Department will also be involved in the reviewing of the dredge spoils. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will be advised through the ACOE permit process. Approval for extending the time schedule has already been obtained. Pryer Manor Road Bridge - The City of New Rochelle has submitted plans to restore the "Red Bridge. " The road deck and obelisks will be replaced. The arches will be repaired and the concrete and parapets will be maintained. Vandalism of the obelisks may be minimized by using thicker rods. The design will be more modern. The gas pipe lines that cross the bridge will continue to be encased in concrete. The Town is responsible for 50% of the costs. Construction is scheduled to begin in April and to finish by June. The bridge will be closed during construction. Mrs. Wittner asked the Town to check whether there will be any change in size. Mr. Altieri replied that the Town engineering aide is reviewing the plans. Sheldrake River Watershed Hydrologic Study - Mr. Altieri stated that the progress report, dated February 1991, had been reviewed by C. Alan Mason who seemed pleased with it. Dr. Mason felt that the data was accurate and noted that one of its findings was the need to expand current flood boundaries. The hydrologic study is being conducted by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. , who will -2- • • CZMC Minutes 2/26/91 provide the results to Ferrandino & Associates to incorporate into the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed conservation/ recreation rezoning of the golf courses. • CHAIRMAN REPORTS • A. Correspondences - Incoming: • 1) Dated 1/10/91 (received end of January) - from Carol Coggeshall, • Chair of Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District, Re: County Budget. et. 2) 1/24/91 - Notification of Project Application Agency and Lead A PP g y Establishment: Amendment to TOM Urban Renewal Plan & TOM Zoning • Ordinance for the proposed urban renewal zone. • • 3) 2/5/91 - from Robert Phelps, Chairman VOL Centennial Parade Committee, requesting CZMC participation in parade from the railroad • • to Village Hall to be held on September 28, 1991 at noon. Members • expressed interest, but no commitment was made at this time. • Comment: Chairman would note same in a letter to Mr. Phelps. • • 4) 1/28/91 - DEC Notice of Complete Application: Premium Project (based • on New Rochelle Sewage Treatment Plant Disposal) . • 5) 2/21/91 - Transmittal of final draft of Erosion & Sediment Control Ordinance by Richard Young. • Correspondences - Outgoing: • 1) 1/22/91 - Phyllis Wittner to Terry Backer, Soundkeeper, Re: Premium • Marsh Dredging Project. Transmitted packet of information at request • of Elaine Price. • 2) 1/25/91 - Consistency letter to VOL Mayor & Trustees, Re: Westchester • County Sewer Easement at the Premium River. • • 3) 2/15/91 - Phyllis Wittner to Senator Oppenheimer with copies and • Assemblyman Tocci with copies, Re: Budget Bill and NYS Department of • State (DOS) . • • 4) 2/15/91 - Phyllis Wittner to James Townsend, aide to Nita Lowey, Re: Press release of Premium Marsh Restoration grant and Significant • Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat desingation narrative at request of • Elaine Price. Correspondence - Copies: • 1) 1989 CAC Annual Report. • .�. 2) 2/11/91 - Mayor Miriam Curnin to Governor Mario Cuomo, Re: Removal of • Coastal Zone Programs from DOS. • • -3- CZMC Minutes 2/26/91 3) 2/13/91 - Mayor Miriam Curnin to Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine, Re: (:: '; Governor's Task Force recommendation regarding Coastal Management Program. 4) 2/9/91 - Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. , to S.V. Altieri, Re: Premium Dredging Project and further tests for SPDES application. 5) 2/13/91 - Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. , to S.V. Altieri, Re: Premium Dredging Project and further tests for disposal for ACOE. B. Other 1) Listen to the Sound Conference - Shirley Tolley, Mary Anne Johnson and Phyllis Wittner attended parts of the two day conference. The Conference urged the implementation of recommendations from the Citizen's Agenda, i.e. , mandatory limits on coastal development, authority over state and local approval process, LIS greenway. The Conservation Office has copies of the Citizens's Agenda document. 2) Congresswoman Nita Lowey's Environmental Committee - Phyllis Wittner and Mayor Curnin attended a meeting on February 13. Jim Townsend chaired the meeting for Congresswoman Lowey. 3) LISS Public meeting - The Long Island Sound Study held one of its public meetings on the "Status Report and Interim Actions for Hypoxia Management" in Rye on February 13. Shirley Tolley and Phyllis Wittner were in attendance. Comments can still be submitted. Copies of document are available from the Conservation Office. 4) VOL Board meeting 2/25/91 - Request by Livingstons on Sheldrake Lane in New Rochelle to lower the Larchmont Reservoir in order to remove silt and repair wall. VOL Engineer Morgan visited the site and found that the Livingstons had already repaired their wall and would now backfill up to it. Request withdrawn from Village. Mr. Morgan was to inquire about whether a permit is required by New Rochelle. MEMBERS' REPORTS/MINUTE Village of Larchmont Zoning Board - Mary Feldtmose reported that there were two cases that were referred informally to the CZMC for advice, an addition on Woodbine Avenue and a sea wall construction at 7 Bay Avenue. Neither warranted concern. Mrs. Feldtmose noted that zoning board members never raised any questions regarding environmental issues. Village of Larchmont Planning Board - Elinor Fredston reported that it was a very light agenda. After signing off on the Volvo application, the Planning Board spent much of its time reviewing itself, i.e. , planning procedures, interagency relations, and budget. NYS Budget/DOS - Mrs. Tolley informed the Commission regarding the Governor's report which contained one small line that could result in the relocation of the Coastal Zone Program from the DOS to an agency to be determined by the Governor's Task Force. She passed out a sample letter -4- • • CZMC Minutes 2/26/91 • • • opposing relocation and urged individual letters to be sent to State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer and Assemblyman Ron Tocci with a copy to Lt. Governor Stan Lundine. • • Erosion & Sediment Control - Richard Young reported that the draft • ordinance that he has been working on is in need of professional advice now. • The Town's Engineering Consultant, Gary Trachtman, and the Town Attorney • should be given a copy for their review. Questions that need to be answered • include who should be the main authority for its implementation, what kinds • of waivers should be allowed and how much the fees should be. Penalties that are enough to discourage violations also need to be determined. The Commission will review and discuss the draft ordinance at its next meeting. • Mr. Young will consult with Mr. Trachtman, the Consultant Engineer, in the • interim. • • ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR REPORTS • In response to a query last month about the residential lot on Premium Point, • Ms. Ng reported that the latest applicant, Dr. Leaf, had not returned to the • Town Building Department for a building permit. It, therefore, appears he • has withdrawn the proposal entirely. • • NEW OR OTHER BUSINESS Soundkeeper Watershed Awareness Campaign - Signs have been designed by the Soundkeeper Fund to be installed on roads near waterways for their • protection. The Chairman asked the Commission if it was interested in • obtaining them for our area. She agreed to pass along this information to • the Supervisor and Mayor. • Seminar: Issues in Wetlands Protection & Mitigation - Sponsored by • Westchester County Soil & Water Conservation District, this seminar is being • held on Saturday, March 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • "Long Island Sound Dead or Alive" - February 27 at 8 p.m. at Central • School. Cosponsored by LIFE, LIST, SoundWatch, Soundwaters. • Next Meeting: March 26, 1991. • Meeting adjourned 9:50 PM. • • • • • • -5-