CALM Draft Proposal
CALM is a volunteer-led group of Pound Ridge residents focused upon phasing out internal combustion leaf blowers in order to
minimize and mitigate the harmful impacts of their use. Please visit the CALM website at https://www.prcalm.org/ to learn more.
The CALM Draft Proposal is under consideration by the Town Board currently. Join us for an in-person and Zoom meeting Work Session on Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00 pm.
People may attend this meeting at the Town House in person OR by Zoom; no advance registration required. If in person, there will be time allowed for public input. Those on Zoom will be asked to enter their questions/comments into the chat and will be addressed during the public input time.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81067129519
Meeting ID: 810 6712 9519
One tap mobile: 929-205-6099
Please contact TB Liaison Carla Brand at cbrand@townofpoundridge.com with any questions.
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Pound Ridge CALM
February 15, 2022
DRAFT PROPOSAL
Pound Ridge Leaf Blower Ordinance
Purpose: The Town of Pound Ridge finds and declares that internal combustion leaf blowers represent a significant source of environmental pollution in the form of high and low-frequency noise, carbon and noncarbon emissions, and dust particulate, which represent a present and increasing threat to the public peace and to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Town and its visitors. Additionally, leaf blowers displace significant amounts of particulate matter, spreading pollen, mold, chemical pesticides, and other fine particulates. Internal combustion leaf blowers are also recognized as hyper-polluters, emitting significant carbon and noncarbon emissions in greater magnitudes than automobiles over similar operating periods. Accordingly, it is the policy of the Town to phase out the use of internal combustion leaf blowers to minimize and mitigate the harmful impacts of their use.
Operation of LEAF BLOWERS within Pound Ridge.
No landscaper, homeowner, business owner or municipal employee shall operate any internal combustion leaf blower:
A. from May 1 to October 15 and December 1 to March 31 of any year;
from April 1 to April 30 and October 16 to November 30 of any year, before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on any weekday and Saturday;
from April 1 to April 30 and October 16 to November 30 of any year on Sunday or on federal or New York State holidays.
B. For purposes of reducing noise, from May 1 to October 15 of any year, no leaf blowers, regardless of the source of power (gas, diesel or electric) shall be operated on a Sunday.
C. Internal combustion leaf blower use shall be prohibited after November 30, 2023 and the operation of any internal combustion leaf blower for any amount of time after that date, with the exceptions set forth in Section “E”, shall constitute a noise disturbance subject to penalty.
D. The restrictions and limitations set forth in Section “A” hereof shall apply to all properties located within the boundaries of the Town Pound Ridge, including but not limited to golf clubs, tennis clubs, restaurants, and shopping centers.
E. Exceptions:
The restrictions and limitations set forth in this Section shall not apply:
During times of emergency as determined by executive order of the Town Supervisor, provided the use of such equipment which is non-compliant with this Chapter is deemed necessary by the Supervisor or other emergency response official to adequately and expeditiously address the emergency.
The Supervisor or his or her designee, may, in his or her discretion and upon application, grant a temporary permit to allow the operation of one or more gas-powered leaf blowers to accommodate a special circumstance. By way of illustration, a "special circumstance" includes, among other things, the remediation of an abandoned or neglected property, the cleanup of streets and roadways following a severe storm or any emergency situation which presents an immediate danger to public health and safety.
Definitions:
INTERNAL COMBUSTION LEAF BLOWER
Any device powered by a gasoline, diesel or similar fuel engine which is used, designed, or operated to produce a current of air for the purpose of pushing, propelling or blowing leaves, dirt, gardening and grass clippings and cuttings, refuse or debris, whether portable and carried, or walked behind, or attached to a tractor or similar machine.
ELECTRIC POWERED LEAF BLOWER
Any device powered by electric, by battery or by corded electrical power, which is used, designed, or operated to produce a current of air for the purpose of pushing, propelling or blowing leaves, dirt, gardening and grass clippings and cuttings, refuse or debris, whether portable and carried, or walked behind, or attached to a tractor or similar machine.
