Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992_09_22 Coastal Zone Management Commission Minutes 7r4- � fi . Town of Mamaroneck — Village of Larchmont COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION � TOWN CENTER: 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 914-381-6133 APPROVED MINUTES SEPTEMBER 22, 1992 A regular meeting of the Coastal Zone Management Commission (CZMC) was held on Tuesday, September 22, 1992 in Conference Room A at the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8:10 p.m. Members Present: Angel J. Martin, Chairman Mary Feldtmose Elinor Fredston Lawrence Lowy C. Alan Mason Howard McMichael, Jr. Richard Metzner Shirley Tolley Phyllis Wittner Others Present: Stephen Coleman, Environmental Consultant Mary Anne Johnson, Former CZMC Member, CAC Emeritus George Latimer, Westchester County Legislator Richard J. Ward, 173 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator Ellen Morse, Recorder Mrs. Wittner began the meeting by thanking Elinor Fredston for hosting the changing of the Chairman and retirement reception for Shirley Tolley and Larry Lowy held prior to this meeting. County Legislator George Latimer gave an update on the county policies/procedures: 1. Positive Action Plan - This has been developed by a number of activist organizations. It is composed of about ten individuals representing such organizations/groups as Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Davids Island, Sound Watch (Shirley Tolley representative) , L.I. Sound Task Force, Jay Heritage Coalition, Sierra Club and the Town of Mamaroneck (Elaine Price representative) in response to County Executive Andrew O'Rourke's approach on the nitrogen cap. It is a positive policy of the direction the County should take to comply with the nitrogen cap. It involves certain governmental actions at the County level as well as some at the municipal level and certain individual things that must be done. In the next two or three months the County Board will work on those documents. The results will be shared with CZMC as soon as it is available. Shirley Tolley noted the importance of CZMC Minutes September 22, 1992 Page 2 having bipartisan support in concept along with the County Board. This issue will be very important and Legislator Latimer asked CZMC to look at the report and make comments which will be very helpful. 2. County Coastal Zone Management Plan - Phyllis Wittner is the liaison for this plan. Legislator Latimer commented that the Town/Village CZMC Plan is the best one along the sound shore area. He stressed the fact that existing plans such as CZMC's should be consistent with the County's new plan which will deal with County owned properties only. As the County plan proceeds, Legislator Latimer wants input from our CZMC. Right now the County is going through the scoping process and he would like CZMC's input beginning now. 3. Jay Estate - The building is in the possession of the Jay Heritage Coalition and 19 acres out of the 23 acres are now attached to the marshland. He would like dedication of the marshland as a formal, passive parkland. The language used for the Read Sanctuary protects it in a way that is unclear and ambiguous. Legislator Latimer stressed the need for specific, unmistakable language to dedicate those parcels of land which should be protected. He would like any attorneys on the Commission to look over the legal language. Legislator Latimer also reported on a side issue coming up in West Harrison where 1/3 acres out of 6 acres were given to the County as parkland, and it is hoped to use the land for affordable housing. He would like a telephone call from any Commission members with comments or insight on this issue. 4. Davids Island - Legislator Latimer stated that whatever development is done on Davids Island, they will have to go back to the County if they require building a bridge. 5. Sewers - The County recently passed a law compelling municipalities to fix all sewers where there is infiltration through the municipal sewer system and also to insure against illegal hookups of stone water runoff into the sewer system. The Village of Larchmont complied before the law came into force. If properly administered this law will eliminate illegal connections and will mandate the improvement of the infiltration due to the deterioration of pipes. It will be an expensive process. Legislator Latimer suggested that as a group, someone should monitor how the law will go into effect. The issue now is how the law will get enforced. Regarding the consolidation of sewer districts, he circulated a copy of this report to the Town and Village Boards. There should be another report in the next 4-6 months on sewer district consolidation and at that point discussions can be held on how to locally fund this project. Legislator Latimer is hoping for matching dollars through federal contributions. CZMC Minutes September 22, 1992 Page 3 6. Drinking Watershed Protection - The southern end of the County is in agreement with having better protection of the drinking water which cones from up County. This reservoir system that feeds Westchester also feeds N.Y. City. If the quantity of the pollutants' runoff is not reduced into the reservoirs, N.Y. City may be required to build a treatment plant which will result in very costly water for the residents of Westchester. This would still not take out all the pollution. This has resulted in draft regulations from N.Y. City on this topic. It will probably be in final proposed form by the end of this year. CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS A. Steve Coleman's Report - Mr. Coleman was present to report on the three major areas he has been working on: (1) creating a detailed working base of the Critical Environmental Areas, (2) updating the inventory list of plants and animals for the Premium and Sheldrake areas, and (3) developing management recommendations which will help the Commission, the Conservation Advisory Commission, and other groups. In the Spring Mr. Coleman added number (4) conduct a breeding bird survey of the Premium River-Pine Brook Wetlands complex. Mr. Coleman said some of the items have been completed, and he will appear before the Commission when the other items are completed. He distributed copies of his breeding bird survey (item 4) and discussed the results. A total of 70 species of birds were observed and a total of 466 individual birds were counted within the study area. Some species (26) are just summer residents. Mr. Coleman requested that this type of work should be done over years and more than three times a year in order to get good accurate data. When he did the study, Mr. Coleman focused on a general area and then concentrated on the salt marsh area. The following are Mr. Coleman's recommendations: (1) the Premium River Pine Brook Preservation Association (PPPA) should continue their educational work on the coastal area; (2) post a sign at the Premium Conservation Area path with the nesting times and admonition for people not to walk in the marsh; (3) complete a winter bird survey to provide data on the use of the area by winter species; (4) continue the study to document trends over the years; and (5) get local bird watchers to record what they see giving trends throughout the year. Mrs. Wittner asked for an estimate of what Mr. Coleman thinks the cost could be for further bird survey work. Mrs. Wittner feels both CZMC and CAC would consider it and PPPA might contribute funds. Mr. Coleman will give Ms. Ng copies of his two outstanding reports for next months' meeting at which he will be present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of August 25, 1992 were approved after minor changes on page 4. CZMC Minutes September 22, 1992 Page 4 CHAIRMAN REPORTS A. Correspondence - Outgoing: 1. 8/27/92 Consistency Letter for 61-65 Woodbine Ave. to VOL, Planning Board. Mrs. Fredston commented that the Planning Board asked the builder to provide calculations for the runoff at Woodbine and submit them to the Village Engineer. Depending upon what the Village Engineer wants, they would put in an 8" pipe and culvert and the Village would maintain it. The other recommendations were ones that CZMC had discussed, e.g., keeping the street clean and using Best Management Practices. 2. 8/31/92 Letter to Jacqueline Gerry, NYS Energy Research & Development Authority re: Con Edison failing to use Best Management Practices. B. Correspondence - Incoming: 1. NOAA Award Notice that CZMC is being nominated. Ms. Ng later received a letter stating that CZMC did not get the award. 2. 9/9/92 Letter from Con Edison's Assistant General Council. Mrs. Wittner read the letter which is in response to Mrs. Wittner's 8/31/92 letter. It was decided to have Ms. Ng send copies of this letter to those copied in Mrs. Wittner's letter. Mr. Martin will invite Mr. Richard Brand, Con Edison General Manager of Gas Operations, to attend Octobers meeting to discuss Con Edison's Best Management Practices. 3. 8/20/92 from the Coalition for the Bight re: a survey on watershed issues. Mrs. Wittner felt it was not applicable to CZMC, therefore, she did not intend to respond. 4. Notice from the Town Clerk re: Village of Scarsdale's Planning Board on a public hearing for an application for Mr. & Mrs. John Alderman, 25 Grand Park Ave. At this juncture, the Chair was turned over to Angel Martin. REFERRAL - From Town Planning Board for Beachmont Bus Service, 633-635 Fifth Avenue - Postponed since the Planning Board does not have the proper paperwork to proceed. Chairman Martin noted that the corner property which is a service station needs a lot of cleaning up and could be in violation. It was noted that this referral could improve the aesthetic looks of the area. The automotive building at that site is going to use part of the area to repair buses. Any discharge/spills will drain into the Pine Brook. Chairman Martin suggested that the Commission visit this site to get a better idea of what the area looks like. Ms. Ng stated that this referral will not come back before the Planning Board until November. CZMC Minutes September 22, 1992 Page 5 MEMBERS' REPORTS/MINUTE Scenic Views - Chairman Martin inquired haw or who might use the photographs taken of the Sound Shore area. He thought other Commissions could use them for their own evaluation purposes. Ms. Ng was asked to keep the photos on file. Mrs. Wittner suggested reviewing what CZMC wants to achieve with these pictures. It was questioned if there is a local regulation to which Mr. Metzner replied there is a policy to protect the visual sites. Ms. Tolley commented that under Policy 25 an update could be added explaining the policy by stating that the "VOL and Town of Mamaroneck will preserve their public views" and use that as an example. This could then be used for referral purposes. Mr. Martin suggested using this procedure when reviewing the County CZM policy. Ms. Tolley suggested listing the scenic views which must be kept open to the public in the LWRP. NEW OR OTHER BUSINESS 0 Shirley Tolley commented that she will stay on as liaison with the Planning Board until a replacement is found. She will also be willing to train her replacement. Ms. Tolley reported that she is still waiting for the States manual before upgrading the Town's freshwater wetlands map. Mrs. Wittner reported that the aerial work has been done on the tidal wetlands map and someone is walking through the area. Mrs. Wittner also reported that the Premium Conservation Area entranceway off Dillon Road has been planted with a variety of upland marsh plants with funds from a small Grant and a $500 contribution from PPPA. There will be a ceremony on Thursday, October 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the Conservation Area. Dr. Mason reported that the Friends of the Reservoir authorized $500 toward an experimental approach to trap sane of the debris caning into the Reservoir. NEXT MEETING: October 27, 1992. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.