HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020_08_18 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Notes, August 18, 2020
(Meeting at Memorial Park)
Attendees: Jeffery King, Mitch Green, Sue Odierna,June Wallach, George Roniger, Elizabeth Poyet, Karen
Khor, Mark Kramer, Karin Weisburgh, Matt Thomas, Kristin Andersen, Kevin Crowe, Laura
Wertkin,Jason Rudolph and Eliza Pertz, Nicole and Stella Gassman, Ellen Martin, Lisa Owen,
Kristin Andersen, Beth Radow,Jim Call, Frank Owens. Also from the VoM Committee for the
Environment(CFTE) Ellen Silver, Maria Karsou and David Styler. We also had a guest from New
Rochelle; if anyone has her name and contact info, please let me know
Notes of July 9th meeting were accepted.
2020 Sustainability Ambassador Internship Program
Karen explained the internship program she,Arlene, Elizabeth P. and Luke Brussel ran this summer. Because
interns could not work at Town Center this spring/summer due to the virus, Karen and Arlene organized a
program where students could work outside.
The main effort was with Luke Brussel in Sheldrake Meadow. This is to be a multi-year project removing invasive
species and also planting "natives"in the area of the lower reservoir. Elizabeth P. mentioned how fascinating
she found it to learn about the different plants.
Other projects the students worked on were promoting Love Your Food and Healthy Yards through marketing at
a table in front of Larchmont Library and one of the students,Stella G, went door-to-door in her neighborhood.
Karen mentioned that she had provided certificates to the students and Mitch thought perhaps we should list
interns'names and include a description of the ambassador program on our website.
Leaf Blower Legislation
Kristin, representing Larchmont Environmental Committee(LEC), updated us that the VoL Board approved a draft
of the leaf blower law and will vote on it on September 15th but VoL Board has not yet shared their draft
resolution with LEC,so the public won't know until the VoL Public Hearing on Sept 15t". LEC hopes that VoL will
ban gasoline-powered blowers completely, effective January 2022 with electric blowers only allowed in the fall
leaf season (Nov/Dec). Kristin mentioned a company called "MowGreen"(Mow _reen.crn.) which Dan
Delventhal is the founder of. Dan is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. MowGreen is a carbon
neutral company founded in 2006 and focused on sustainable lawn care technologies and services. It's based in
Fairfield, CT. Dan agreed to speak on behalf of LEC's gas-powered leaf blower ban proposal. Kristin
first interviewed Dan by email and he also spoke as part of LEC's first presentation on May 18 to the VoL Board.
LEC now agrees that blowers should be allowed for a period of time after a storm.
LEC would like to register and train gardeners and landscapers at no cost to VoL, but proposes that the Town pay
for it and run the administrative tasks as the VoL doesn't have the budget or manpower. Kristin mentioned that
Irvington has registered gardeners for two years. Ellen S.from the VoM CFTE said registration was a good idea.
Re promoting the ban, Ellen mentioned that Village Manager Jerry Barberio placed a robocall about the Village's
leaf blower ban. Liza mentioned the concern for the health of the landscapers, regarding the particulate matter
as well as the noise. This could be part of the education/training for them. LEC volunteered to present to CFTE or
the VoM Trustees if CFTE is interested.
There was spirited discussion on whether or not electric blowers could do the job, how residents would react to
the new,stricter rules, how we could change perceptions about what makes an attractive yard, outreach to
landscapers, etc.Jeff mentioned that discussion of leaf blower law revisions were on the Town Board's August
work session agenda.
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The Collab is interested in advocating landscaper registration, outreach & education, tighter restrictions on when
blowers of any kind can be used, and moving to a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers after at least a two-year
ramp-up period. The Collab advocates having one Landscape Registration list for ToM, VoM and VoL, if the Collab
and the Town can find a way to pay for it.
Update: The Town Board met the next night(Aug. 19). They have questions regarding Mitch's memo to them
revolving around the efficiency and expenses(for landscapers)of not using leaf blowers and will follow up
with Mitch later this month.
Additional Info from LEC's Kristin Andersen: FYI attached notes from Kristin regarding LEC's work on the leaf
blower topic and also her interview with MowGreen's Dan Delventhal
Town Comprehensive Plan
This discussion contrasted the "big picture"concept of Collab member Tony Gelber's Net Zero Energy,
Environment and Infrastructure Impact Plan with the "immediate crises"of generators,flooding, and the "zero-
sum"game between trees and power lines. There was much discussion about the many ideas to include within
the Town's Comprehensive Plan but the overriding feeling was that the zoning should be designed such that any
development increases will not increase impact on our environment. Zero impact.
There was discussion from Collabs regarding the importance of flooding, that it should be a "top three"issue in
the Comprehensive Plan.
The future of the Boston Post Road is another topic of interest;the Collab discussion included considering multi-
family housing instead of retail, adding bike lanes and trees, and a proposal focused on "school commuters"that
would organize bike riding on one sidewalk, while making the other sidewalk pedestrian-only. Jeff mentioned
that there are so many stakeholders in our community, those who want bike lanes balanced with increased
number of generators.
When asked about the timing for the start of Community Engagement for the Comprehensive Plan,Jeffery King
noted that the Board continues to feel that due to COVID-19, residents have too many unknowns in their lives at
present for the Town Board to start Community Engagement now. However,Jeffery encouraged the
Collaborative to continue its discussions and submit our thoughts to the Town Board as they are ready.
5G—Environmental Health Issues
After discussion, the Collab recommended that we send along to the ToM Board the "model code"prepared in
the last month based on Rye's updated code of 2019. Eliza P. reported she worked with a New Rochelle
environmental attorney in preparing the "model code", and creating a summary note which outlines the key
changes between the current Town of Mamaroneck code and the model code. This model code updates the
Town's 1995 code and provides many new useful protections and procedures that could be helpful to the
Planning Board re:Bonnie Briar proposal currently on the table.
This evening's discussion was not specific to environmental health, although of course that is a big concern. But
the focus was to get the model code from the Collaborative to the Board,so that the Collab could look more
effectively and impartially into environmental health issues while the Board considered the idea of updating our
current regulations.
The VoM CFTE members stated that the VoM has updated their code and that it is similar to Rye's; VoL has not.
Update: based on its August meeting,the Town of Mamaroneck Planning Board has requested that the
Sustainability Collaborative review and comment, before the Planning Board's next meeting,on a proposal by
Homeland Towers to construct and operate a 125-foot tall Cell Tower to be located on the grounds of the
Bonnie Briar Golf Course.
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Sue 0 obtained electronic copies of the Planning Board application,and distributed them to the Collaborative
members. Mitch G has asked all Collaborative members to contribute to the review and to submit comments
by email to Sue and Mitch by Friday,September 4.
Pryor Manor Marsh
(Late-breaking addition to the agenda)
Kristin A. reported on a new opportunity to potentially extend Pryer Manor Marsh Preserve by buying the
property adjacent to it at 30 Dogwood Lane, and possibly the property next to that as well. She explained that
the property will be going on the market soon, and that there isn't a lot of time to act.
In a conversation with Mitch prior to our meeting,she suggested that the Collab could write a letter of interest
that could be shown to the seller and his real estate agent. Kristin said the agent agreed that such a letter would
be helpful. Also, Collab volunteers would be needed to work on the project.
The first step would be to assess the project, to understand its value and see if it is cost beneficial. The numbers
would have to be run and surveys of the property done, but Kristin believes the answer should be "yes!" Given
that the Marsh is within TOM, and was successfully developed as a preserve twenty years ago by TOM,perhaps
this project could be championed by TOM as well.
Update: Nancy said the Town would be open to exploring opportunities to expand conservation areas but that
there is a lot of due diligence work that needs to be done before determining if the Town is interested in
pursuing this. Nancy suggested Kristin, Mitch, etc. could start with some legal research, such as the legal status
of the property, legal location, and to which municipality taxes are paid. Those who would like to volunteer to
help with this project should please contact Kristin Andersen at kristin.andersen@bejani.com
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm.
The next meeting will be held on:
Tuesday,Sept. 15 2020,details to come
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