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Rye Brook board grants Doral Greens a one-year extension from seasonal gas leaf-blower ban
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Summary
The Village of Rye Brook approved a one-year exemption for Doral Greens HOA from the village's seasonal gas-powered leaf-blower ban, imposing conditions including no gas use on driveways and walkways and requiring half of blowers to be electric; board cited battery limitations and cost concerns.
The Rye Brook Village Board on April 14 approved a one-year extension to an exemption for Doral Greens Homeowners Association from the village's seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.
The resolution considered an application to extend an exemption under chapter 158 ' 2.1 of the village code for large properties. Ross Jelenek, general counsel to Doral Greens, said the HOA sought another year (and was open to two) while it adapts to the village policy. "We have submitted this application to extend the exemption for another year or two if you feel it's appropriate," Jelenek said.
Henry Valencia, who identified himself as the grounds contractor for Doral Greens, told trustees the property used a bagging system throughout the season and mixed electric equipment for sidewalks and walkways while minimizing gas usage on larger turf areas. "The battery life just like on anything'it drains quickly because of the power output," Valencia said, describing the limits of current battery-powered tools and noting some fleet and charging-infrastructure challenges.
Trustees pressed the presenters on alternatives and costs. One trustee asked whether full compliance would cost about $200,000; the contractor and counsel said that figure represented a rough order-of-magnitude for fully converting large-property operations to battery-driven equipment and charging infrastructure and warned that the cost could create a hardship for an HOA of that scale.
The board approved a one-year extension with the same conditions used in last year's resolution: gas-powered blowers must not be used on driveways and walkways during the seasonal ban, at least 50% of leaf blowers used must be electric, and the extension runs through Sept. 30, 2026. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Mayor Klein and trustees voting in favor; no trustee recorded a publicly stated no vote.
The board's action is temporary and tied to the village's continuing review of technology and code. Chris Bradbury, village administrator, said staff will review the underlying local law and technology developments before the next cycle and may propose revisions to the seasonal ban if warranted.
The exemption resolution and the record of the contractor's operational changes (bagging, mixed electric use) will be included in the formal resolution language and backup materials available on the village website.
