The Town of North Hempstead in New York will hold a public hearing about a proposed law that would ban certain motorized landscaping equipment.
During the hearing, town council members will discuss amending town code to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers every year from June 1 to September 30. According to a draft of the law, using battery or gas-powered leaf blowers will be prohibited before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on weekdays, and banned before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Any resident who rents or owns a one- or two-family dwelling may use one gas-powered leaf blower on their property once a week for no more than 30 minutes, the draft states. The town’s public works commissioner can grant “a special circumstance” temporary permit for someone to operate outside of the restrictions, the draft law also states.
Town officials proposed the amendment after residents complained about loud noise from landscapers using leaf blowers and weed trimmers. The town believes gas-powered leaf blowers are hazardous to the environment.
To read the full original article, please click here.
