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Rye Brook grants one-year exemption for gas tow-behind blower used on golf course fairways
Summary
Trustees approved a one-year extension allowing a gas-powered, tow-behind leaf blower on golf-course acreage through Oct. 1, 2025, citing lack of an available electric equivalent; the village kept prior operating conditions limiting use near residences.
Trustees in the Village of Rye Brook on Jan. 28 approved a one-year extension allowing the village’s golf course contractor to use a gas-powered tow-behind leaf blower on large fairway acreage, citing the lack of an electric tow-behind alternative on the market.
A representative for the golf-course operations told trustees the property had doubled its inventory of battery-powered backpack and handheld blowers but still lacks a battery-powered tow-behind machine suitable for the course’s larger fairways. “We doubled our fleet, bringing it up to 15 battery-powered leaf blowers,” the club representative said. “But yet we still do not have one for our larger blower that we use on a regular basis.”
The board’s motion approved a one-year exemption under the same conditions as the prior year, including a restriction that the blower not be operated near residents’ homes. The exemption will expire Oct. 1, 2025, giving the golf course an opportunity to reapply next year. Mayor Klein and all trustees present voted yes.
Why it matters: The decision balances the village’s environmental and noise goals with operational realities raised by the course contractor. Trustees discussed whether to grant a two-year extension but ultimately chose a one-year renewal to keep the requirement under regular review.
Trustees emphasized progress toward quieter equipment for smaller areas: the board noted the course had invested in battery equipment for other uses and that manufacturers have produced electric options for many landscape tasks, but—according to the course representative—no manufacturer yet offers a compatible electric tow-behind blower suited to Rye Brook’s fairway needs.
Board members asked for clarity about operating limits and community impacts. One trustee framed the vote as keeping momentum toward electrification while recognizing the technology gap for this specific machine. The trustee who moved the motion said the extension should remain year-to-year to allow for technological change.
The approved conditions mirror the prior year’s terms and reiterate that use near residences is prohibited. The expiration date of Oct. 1, 2025 was included in the motion to provide a deadline for reapplication and further review.
Ending: The trustee urging a shorter renewal said the board wanted to keep the pathway to electrification open; the one-year extension will give staff and the contractor time to monitor market developments and to present updated options when the exemption is reconsidered.
