Proposed Steps Toward a More Sustainable Future

As residents of the Village, we appreciate the work of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee and the Board toward updating the plan.  We would like to see the Village stand out in sustainability - within the limitations of is possible as a small village.  Energy and water efficiency can reduce costs, as well as reducing our climate impacts.  In addition, being a village that prides itself on being green positions us as forward thinking and could be a draw to young families. 

In addition to the comments below, we also recommend adopting light and noise pollution guidelines.

CLIMATE

The Village of Upper Nyack was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy and Northeaster Riley and other extreme storms and flooding in recent years.  We must prepare for climate impacts as much as possible, even as we accept our responsibility to reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions.

Actions to reduce our carbon footprint:

Set the goal of reducing our carbon footprint both in village buildings and fleet and communitywide.  Mitigate our climate impacts by encouraging smart, sustainable environmental practices.

Consider becoming a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Community (CSC).    The CSC program provides guidelines and funding that may be helpful in achieving some of the steps below.  See https://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/50845.html .  Pursue specific first CSC steps relevant to a small village, such as:

Adopt the Climate Smart Community pledge.

Create a volunteer committee of residents to work on an ongoing CSC campaign for the village.  Appoint a Board liaison to the committee.

Consider participating in the New York State Clean Energy Communities program, which also provides technical assistance and funding.

Reduce municipal emissions.  Consider doing a baseline greenhouse gas inventory through volunteers for municipal emissions.  With only two buildings and few vehicles, monitoring energy use and vehicle fuel use should be relatively simple.  Consider applying for NYSERDA funding for a professional energy audit for village buildings and implementation of recommended measures.

Consider steps to maximize the energy efficiency of new construction and to incentivize renewable energy.  Such steps could include a requirement for an Energy Rating Index for new construction and substantial renovation, as some neighboring communities have done.

Lead, inform and educate the citizens of the Village.  One of the roles of a volunteer Sustainability Committee could be to raise awareness of climate and water conservation through emails, a community newsletter, or through public workshops, all subject to approval by the Village.  Public education could focus on concrete steps, such as purchasing efficient EPA Energy Star and WaterSense appliances, furnaces and HVAC systems, efficient or electric cars, light bulbs, and thermostats. 

Encourage residents to use renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power to provide electricity to their homes. Residents could also be encouraged to purchase renewable energy from an ESCO or to join a community solar program.

Take effective steps to reduce idling in the Village.  Measures to reduce idling could include: a public education program focused on parents through the elementary school and enforcement of illegal idling outside the elementary school.  Public awareness could carry over into behavioral changes by residents in other situations.

Make it easier for residents to install solar panels by adopting the New York State Unified Solar Permit to reduce costs and delays for solar projects. Doing so also accrues points in the Clean Energy Community program.  See https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Clean-Energy-Communitie....

Reduce village costs for pick up of leaves and reduce fuel use by encouraging home composting through public education and possibly through a public workshop.

Actions to adapt to a changing climate:

Work to ensure that the Village is prepared for unavoidable climate impacts of extreme weather:  super storms and their consequences, intense precipitation and flooding, drought and extreme heat.

Increase the size of storm drainpipes where needed and consider green infrastructure where feasible.

Reduce impermeable surfaces. Encourage the use of permeable paving for driveways and parking areas.  Consider removing any requirements for pavement on residential driveways to permit gravel driveways.  Consider reducing the requirements for commercial parking where possible. 

WATER

By reducing water use through efficiency and conservation, the Village can reduce costs for wastewater treatment and costs of potential new supply.   Wastewater treatment is very energy intensive, as are many water supply sources, so by conserving water, we reduce both energy use and costs.

Water conservation:

Set water conservation and efficiency as an important value for the village.

Encourage/incentivize water efficient construction standards beyond those required by the state building code for new construction or substantial renovation. Consider adopting EPA WaterSense standards for homes for new residential construction. See https://www.epa.gov/watersense/homes-specification

Use public education to encourage water efficient landscaping, which uses drought‐tolerant grass and plantings.  Encourage water efficient landscaping in new construction, as well as already existing homes.  Encourage preservation of natural areas or planting of native trees and other plantings instead of lawn.

Consider discouraging developers from installing automated in-ground water efficient irrigation systems.   Consider adopting an ordinance to require that any in-ground systems should include moisture sensors and WaterSense irrigation controllers. 

Water quality protection

Protecting water quality is an important step in protecting water quantity.  If water quality is compromised, water quantity can be diminished too. We in Upper Nyack also recognize our responsibility as a river village to protect our streams, which ultimately flow into the Hudson River.

Actions:

Educate homeowners about the need to minimize or refrain from applying lawn chemicals. 

Enforce strict erosion control methods such as the proper installation of silt fences, which can help to reduce siltation of streams.

Ensure protection of buffers along streams.  Review current codes to ensure that stream buffer standards are strong enough to protect streams and that they conform to the specific distance dictated by the best scientific standards.

Review road-salting policies and explore alternative applications.  Reduce excess salting. 

TREES

Trees, especially mature trees, add greatly to the aesthetics and quality of life in the Village, in addition to giving shade in the summer, holding soil in place, and preventing erosion.  Mature trees add to the value of properties and to the overall value of homes in the Village.  As a village on the side of a hill, Upper Nyack experiences ongoing flooding problems.  Trees help to absorb water during and after precipitation. Regardless of whether trees are old growth or more recent, trees are also an important store for carbon. 

At the same time, climate change threatens our trees through extreme storms and more intense precipitation, extreme heat and prolonged droughts, and increased insect infestations.  Climate smart practices can help us plant trees that will be more resilient, while enhancing safety.

Actions:

Strengthen the current tree ordinance or review current planning practices and enforcement to prevent the unnecessary cutting of trees as much as possible.  Minimize the removal of trees by developers unless truly necessary for construction.

Develop sound climate smart tree policies based on recent experience and the knowledge of tree experts.  Raise public awareness of the value of trees and of the importance of choosing less vulnerable trees.  Incorporate these principles into town guidelines.

Encourage the planting of climate smart street trees that are durable and resilient to stronger storms. Consider applying for a grant to plant street trees through the NYS Climate Smart Communities program.

Please also see our earlier document, Remarks to Upper Nyack Comprehensive Plan Committee, dated 1/10/2018.