NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com. (We will publish referendum-related letters through July 22.)
***
Dear Editor,
New Canaan should approach the leaf blower referendum with respect for everyone involved.
Supporters of the ordinance have valid concerns about noise, health and the environment. Opponents have equally valid concerns about fairness, enforcement and the impact on local businesses. The referendum gives the town the opportunity to reconsider the rule thoughtfully because a one size fits all doesn’t apply. In town residents have different concerns than those living on larger parcels of land. And, what about the families who maintain their own property.
Enforcement is one concern. A gas powered blower may be used only briefly, making violations difficult to verify and creating conflict among neighbors not to mention police resources, too.
Transition is another. Commercial landscapers face greater challenges than homeowners when converting to electric equipment including battery capacity, strength, charging, storage and costs.
A better approach would be to review the broader noise ordinance, landscaping hours, and other practical measures while allowing time for technology and potential state incentives to improve for the landscaping business that would be enduring this additional expense which is ultimately passed onto the consumer.
New Canaan has an opportunity to adopt a balanced solution by listening, refining the policy and respecting all members of the community including the landscaping companies that service New Canaan.
Denise Luccarelli
So right! We are a community, not blood rivals in the World Cup. Thanks for the reminder, Denise.
Thank you. There is a lot of information and some mis information circulating that there needs to be more time to shuffle through this process. It’s really not a one size fit all for New Canaan. I’m a mile and a half out of town. And, we don’t have the same concerns at all.
‘We don’t have the same concerns at all’ is exactly the problem with this reaction. People are saying they’re suffering–from noise, from fumes, and from a genuinely disruptive way of moving debris around–and the answer is that you live a mile and a half out and it doesn’t bother you? How is that being a good neighbor?
I live a mile and a half from downtown too, and the noise is relentless and inescapable. Even if it weren’t, I’d take my neighbors’ concerns seriously rather than demand that we kick the can down the road some more.
Also, I can’t believe I have to say this, but the needs of the community take priority over the needs of commercial landscaping interests. Full stop. My landscaping team has managed the transition to electric equipment without incident.
Wow. I feel so much better knowing Laura would never pit neighbor verse neighbor….as long as they agree with her opinion
Nicely put, Denise. Thank you.
Perfect letter and thoughts. Thank you Denise 👍👌🇺🇸
Great letter Denise.
You know people are passionate when
they start spending money on signs.
Was surprised to see them for both sides.
Denise – all of your points are spot-on. I agree more time is needed for New Canaan to adopt / make changes that work for all parts of town and all parcel sizes.