Afternoon STOMPers, we are working hard behind the scenes today, and as we do so, we urge you to contact local level legislators, the County Executive (516) 571-6000, and the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works. Please cc us on e-mails if you would like. We have included talking points below to discuss, and e-mails at the bottom, for your reference: Some points to include (we will make this a PDF shortly): - There are field-tested, highly successful methods utilized across the country (even by NYC), that can be employed to repair sidewalks and preserve trees simultaneously. These methods were not considered, explored, or exhausted by the Nassau County DPW. Operation STOMP has written confirmation of this important fact which was included in our legal case. - The public was not properly notified (30 day notice/comment period); two residents on our Petition that was submitted to Court (and many more that have been in contact with us) have trees on their property and were never informed in advance of the impending destruction. - The County classified this project as a Type II - highway repaving activity, an activity not warranting environmental assessment. We argued in Court this project should have been classified as Unlisted according to NYS SEQRA environmental law, because it goes beyond simple highway repaving. This project involves the destruction and replacement of sidewalks, and importantly, the indiscriminate removal of 200+ trees--tree removal which will have an adverse impact on the environment, wildlife habitat, the community, and neighborhood aesthetic. - Trees replanted in 2011 on S. Oyster Bay Road in Syosset by the LIE entrances are in poor health and/or dying due to lack of maintenance and appropriate care. Replanting efforts on County Road W. John Street involved replanting dwarf trees that will never restore an environmental equilibrium. Destroying a 60 healthy tree and replacing it with a dwarf tree that will only reach 6 at full maturity is not an appropriate solve. Replanting efforts would have to amount to 10:1 on S. Oyster Bay Road, to even remotely restore equilibrium, and that is not part of any future plan. Pavers are being installed in grass beds / the utility strips to prohibit the planting of multiple trees. - Had the County conducted an environmental assessment, the DPW would have been required to take a hard look at all tree preservation options, and save as many trees possible using the methods we have outlined and advocated. - The Town of Oyster Bay has been deemed a Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation in the past, and has an extensive tree preservation ordinance, yet trees on County Roads within the Town of Oyster Bay are not held to this same standard, they can be indiscriminately removed and destroyed. We are asking the Town of Oyster Bay to support our cause, and we are urging our local legislators with the ability to amend current County-level tree ordinances to do so to prevent any further destruction. - This $8 million dollar plus project is being funded by, amongst other sources, taxpayer dollar. Residents deserve the right and fair say in a project of this scope and scale. Particularly a project that will negatively impact property value and cause irreparable damage to our neighborhoods. We, along with state-level political officials, have urgently requested public forums, town halls, a postponement of the destruction, a chance to review and employ these sidewalk repair methods to save as many trees possible. Our requests have been ignored and denied. This is unacceptable. - Over 3,000 constituents are in vehement opposition to this project. Thousands more in Plainview, Hicksville, Syosset, and Bethpage are unaware. Local and County level officials were elected to serve as your voice. - Residents who have property that abut S. Oyster Bay Road, and who have maintained their sidewalks (which is their responsibility, not the Countys), want their trees to remain. They were not notified of this impending destruction. This is unacceptable. - Tree removal of this scale began on County Road Seamans Neck Road in Seaford, in August 2014, with 176 trees destroyed, the public uninformed. There are over 75 County Roads across Nassau County at risk. This includes, in our immediate area, Old Country Road, Stewart Avenue, Central Avenue, Hicksville Road, Woodbury Road, Manetto Hill Road, Old Bethpage Road. Hundreds of trees are at risk along all of these thoroughfares via this aggressive campaign. This must stop now. - The County Executive, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, along with local legislators, all have the power to intervene, aid in the postponement of this project, reevaluate, and meaningfully involve the public. We are urging them to do so at this time. Ed Mangano, E-Mail: [email protected] Shila Shah-Gavnoudias: [email protected] Judith Jacobs, Legislator: [email protected] Laura Schaefer, Legislator: [email protected] Rose Walker, Legislator: [email protected]
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 16:30:17 +0000
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