Residents deliver petition for extended leaf-blower ban, ask Lake Bluff to move toward year‑round restriction

Residents told the Village Board on June 23 they want Lake Bluff to expand its seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and asked officials to adopt an interim nine-month restriction or stronger measures ahead of this fall’s cleanup season.

Pam Russell and another petitioner (identified in the record as Miss Claywater) said the petition they submitted has “over 430 residents and growing” and asked trustees to limit use to longer seasonal windows, eliminate weekend hours, cap the number of leaf blowers allowed on a single property during cleanup, and commit to a date when the ban will become year‑round. Russell said Lake Bluff is “already behind the timeline recommended by the SEC, which would have had a full ban effective this year,” and noted that six North Shore communities have nine-month bans and that Evanston bans gas leaf blowers year‑round.

Speakers cited noise and health impacts, saying gas-powered blowers produce low-frequency noise that penetrates structures, emit fine dust carrying allergens and contaminants, and release carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Russell said landscapers have adapted to seasonal restrictions and urged the board to move now so residents would not have to return repeatedly to urge action.

The board accepted copies of the petition and signatures during the public-comment period; there was no vote or ordinance introduced at the meeting. Village staff and trustees indicated they are continuing discussions with community partners and the multi-community working group referenced by speakers, but no timetable or definitive policy action was announced at this session.

Petitioners provided staff with hard copies of signatures at the meeting and said they will continue advocacy ahead of the autumn cleanup season.