Stop Passage of a Weak Wetlands Law

An Important Message for ALL Yorktown Residents

Why should you care about the proposed new wetlands law?

 It’s weaker than the current law. It has fewer protections for our critically important wetlands.

 Wetlands protect our property from flooding; like sponges, they soak up and retain runoff.

 Wetlands protect our neighborhood, retaining stormwater that would otherwise run onto your

streets creating dangerous icing conditions. When nature retains stormwater, it’s free. When

the town has to install and maintain drainage systems, taxpayers foot the bill.

 Wetlands provide wildlife habitat for breeding, feeding and nesting. They help remove pollutants

from our drinking water.

 The Town Board is telling you that the proposed new law is stronger than the current law but that’s

not true. It’s actually weaker.

 If the proposed law is approved, many of these protections will be lost. One more critical

Yorktown environmental protection law will have gone backwards, not forward.

How is the proposed law weaker than the current wetlands law?

 It protects fewer wetlands. It covers only wetlands exceeding 4,356 square feet, more than

four times larger than the current law that covers wetlands that exceed 1,000 square feet.

 It ignores a wetland’s function. Often, smaller wetlands are more important than larger ones.

 It’s not clear if town owned wetlands are covered. The town should be held to the same

standard as private property owners.

Will you be notified if your neighbor is planning to disturb the wetland on his property?

 Yes and no. It all depends on what your neighbor is planning to do.

 You won’t be notified if your neighbor is planning to fill in his wetland to build a swimming

pool or regrade his property for a mini soccer field. Your only “notification” will be when you

see the bulldozer on his property and the water starts running into your backyard. By then, it will

be too late to do anything about it.

What can you do to prevent the proposed wetlands law from being adopted?

 Attend the public hearing on April 18 th at 7:30 pm at Town Hall, 363 Underhill Avenue.

 Speak up at the hearing. Let your elected representatives know you want a stronger, not weaker,

wetlands law.

 Share personal stories about what happened to your property or in your neighborhood when

nearby wetlands were filled in or damaged beyond repair.

 Send an email to all Town Board members. Remind them that you want YOUR quality of

life protected. supervisor@yorktownny.org; tdiana@yorktownny.org; vishnuv@optonline.net;

elachterman@yorktownnyorg; gbernard@yorktownny.org;

 Sign the online petition opposing the proposed law at _______________________________

For a copy of the proposed law and more information, email saveyorktownwetlands@gmail.com