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9-10-2024 12:21am
OPINION: Are We Prepared to Ban Gas Leaf Blowers? Westwood Residents Should Weigh In
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The following opinion article represents the views and opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of Westwood Minute.
By Allison Drescher
Westwood has established the Climate Action, Resiliency & Sustainability Plan. This is a dense document that establishes a plan to address the vital challenges of climate change. However, as we face another tax override at town meeting 2025 for FS1 (Fire Station 1), we should think carefully as residents about allocating limited resources. There are repercussions to every policy we create, and new mandates produce additional work for our devoted staff at Town Hall. Over-regulating residents is also something voters might want to weigh in on.
The challenges of climate change are clear to all and the plan comprises some good ideas and we thank the town staff and resident comments for giving their time. However, it is important to remember that there are repercussions to every initiative undertaken by the town.
In 2008, Westwood’s Select Board established the Environmental Action Committee (WEAC). To see who makes up this committee please see Draft page 16. In 2012 Westwood was designated a Green Community. In 2022, the Town Planner established this task force with input from the Director of Economic and Community Development. The town is seeking feedback from all stakeholders.
As cited by their own study we are a town of 16,231 people. 562 people live in town, 7,285 people live in town and commute elsewhere. 86.3% of residents own their own homes, 13.7% rent.
The comment period has been extended to September 15, 2024. Residents have been asked to contribute comments on this initiative. The document is close to 100 pages. The link for comments is here:
A couple of points to note:
Section A.6 references “Updating and Protecting the Electrical Grid.” It’s important to remember that this is a cooperative effort involving the utility providers. Infrastructure has been restricted in many areas. It would seem important that Westwood avoid implications where complying with their own initiatives would not be possible given the underlying utility sources in the town. Electricity is often seen as the answer, but is the infrastructure supply enough to meet demand?
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There is discussion about “Strengthen Environmental Reviews” (B.1.1) for new development. Creating incentives as discussed is a net-positive; however, establishing net zero energy standards and timelines for town and commercial or new buildings could present affordability challenges given the current economic climate and decrease potential commercial opportunity. Westwood needs to expand its commercial tax base as pointed out by Select Board member Rob Gotti. Costly building standards could prohibit this and is harming development in Boston.
The plan also seeks to ban gas powered lawn equipment (C.3.1) with a Gas Leaf Blower Bylaw. This would “consider a full phase out of gas-powered leaf blowers.” The committee does consider weigh-in from small business owners regarding undue burden. People have large yards in Westwood, a town with two-acre zoning in places. We have a lot of leaves falling in the fall. Electric leaf blowers have a battery capacity that barely lives twenty minutes. How are residents to perform lawn maintenance without access to gas equipment? We would force an expensive burden onto landscaping companies, vital small businesses in our community, in a difficult financial climate.
There is a great deal of discussion about transportation. The realities of physical constraints should be considered here. Westwood residents commute into Boston or outside of town for their livelihood. That’s the way they feed their families and pay their taxes. B.6 discusses a “Phase out Internal Combustion Vehicles in Town”. There is also the suggestion to “Decrease Gas-Powered Vehicle Usage to Reduce Traffic and Emissions”. Westwood might be cautioned in attempting to regulate what kind of vehicles residents can drive and when they can drive them. Not everyone prefers electric vehicles. Is the mandate of town governance to set limitations on personal automobile usage? Residents pay excise tax on their vehicles. It should be up to them to determine what kind of cars they drive and when and where they drive them.
The study mentions adopting a BERDO Policy, like Boston. This is the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure ordinance which now pertains to any building in Boston over 25,000 Sf, approximately 6,500 of them, and collects all utility data usage. How many of these buildings are in Westwood? This requires a compliance department. With capital improvement projects forthcoming, are we seeking a town payroll expansion on this level?
It is essential the voting public and residents weigh in on town initiatives. Concerning is that when you refer to page 17 of the report and stakeholders are listed, key stakeholders are Town Staff and Town Board and Committee Members listed above Residents (and taxpayers.)
It might also seem essential to understand that initiatives like this, under times of economic duress are funded by taxpayer dollars. If plans like this are what the voting public of Westwood prioritize, let that be clear.
Taxpayers will be asked for another tax override of Fire Station One (FS1) in May or June of 2025. The amount under discussion is approaching $40 million. We’ve just completed a new school, taxes are rising, the inflationary climate is pressuring all families and we have a middle school that demands attention. If you’re concerned about where your taxpayer dollars are going it’s crucial you levy your opinion.
Please register your opinion on the Westwood Climate Action, Resiliency & Sustainability Plan. Public comments close September 15.
Thanks to Allison Drescher for contributing this opinion article to Westwood Minute. Ms. Drescher is is a resident of Westwood; a principal and manager of a family-owned real estate portfolio in and around Boston and president of SPOA, the Small Property Owners Association. She can be reached at westwoodtaxpayers@gmail.com.
Westwood Minute takes no position on the opinion articles that it publishes, but seeks accurate and thoughtful commentary on topics that matter to our community, from a variety of differing viewpoints. Feel free to reply with your reaction below, or submit another perspective to WestwoodInAMinute@gmail.com.
