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Board approves one-year extension for Doral Greens leaf‑blower exemption with conditions
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Summary
The Rye Brook Board of Trustees granted a one‑year exemption extension to Doral Greens HOA from the village’s seasonal gas‑powered leaf‑blower ban, with conditions requiring increased use of electric equipment and limits on use areas.
The Rye Brook Board of Trustees on April 8 approved a one‑year extension of an exemption for the Doral Greens homeowners association from the village’s seasonal gas‑powered leaf‑blower ban, subject to conditions originally set in last year’s extension.
The board’s vote clears an exemption through Oct. 1, 2025, and retains conditions that gas blowers not be used on driveways and walkways during the ban and that at least 50 percent of the association’s blowers be electric. Representatives of Doral Greens said they are increasing electric equipment purchases and using electric blowers where feasible, while reserving gas units for areas where current battery technology lacks sufficient power or battery life.
Attorney Ross Jelenich, speaking for the applicant, introduced Henry Valencia, the landscape contractor for Doral Greens, who described the property’s gradual shift toward battery‑powered equipment and said the association maintains a mix of electric and gas machines because batteries currently lack the runtime and power for continuous use across a roughly 40‑acre site. Valencia told the board the association now has four battery blowers and one backup gas unit and is testing multiple manufacturers’ battery platforms.
Board members asked about equipment performance, battery life, the physical burden of backpack batteries and whether push‑style electric blowers were available; Valencia said battery technology has improved but still lags gas in continuous power and runtime for large‑scale landscaping. Trustees and staff noted the extension’s conditions were meant to both reduce emissions and to be practicable for large properties where electric options remain limited.
The board moved and seconded a resolution to grant a one‑year extension with the same conditions as last year. A roll call recorded affirmative votes from Trustee Agustin, Trustee Eiser, Trustee Crom, Trustee Morolino and Mayor Kline; the motion passed.
The trustees clarified that Doral Greens may apply again next year for another exemption or extension; the exemption applies only to the seasonal ban that runs May 1 through Sept. 30.
