posted by Joe Polk at 4:29 PM /
Mt. Lebanon officials plan to fight an order from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that they stop piling and shredding leaves from curbside pickups in Robb Hollow Park.
The DCNR sent a letter to the municipality last week noting that the land was purchased with state grant money, which stipulates that the land is to be used only for recreation. The letter said the activities must stop, and all equipment must be removed.
Read the full article:
The DCNR sent a letter to the municipality last week noting that the land was purchased with state grant money, which stipulates that the land is to be used only for recreation. The letter said the activities must stop, and all equipment must be removed.
Read the full article:
- www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_755551.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Labels: DCNR, municipality, robb hollow park
15 Comments:
Consider Robb Hollow off limits, come up with a plan and get on with things.
Who initiated the appeal? The person's name.
I can't think of a single reason why this has to be a legal issue. What's happening to our community?
The neighbors have overwhemlingly complained and documented health effects from this practice.
Why would anyone put the business needs of the municipality about the health and safety of our residents?
Mt. Lebanon's “leaf” activities in Robb Hollow Park, and the complaints of adjacent property owners to them, fit the National Parks Service's definition of what makes a “nuisance park.” In their white paper entitled “Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails, and Greenway Corridors,” NPS states:
“Designing greenways to minimize potential homeowner - park user conflicts and maximize the access and views of the greenway can help to avoid a decrease in property values of immediately adjacent properties.” (page 1-6)
Mt. Lebanon may argue that their activities in Robb Hollow Park are a net positive ecological good for the community as a whole; but that isn't going to cut any ice with adjacent property owners. The irony is that in encouraging (mandating, in some cases) all of these “tree-lined neighborhood streets” Mt. Lebanon has come up against the law of unintended consequences as the result of its good intentions; diminishing the natural value of Robb Hollow Park and adjacent property values as a result of trying to artificially increase real estate values overall.
Richard Gideon
Someone can correct me if I am wrong - but the commission voted 3-1-1 to shut the operation down. The votes were along party lines with the three democrats voting to stop the practice, one republican (who is a major athletic supporter) voting to keep it going, and another republican not voting.
Maybe we should have all of the waste materials hauled over to some of the vacant land that Mt Lebanon owns over in VA Manor and then Raja and the folks over there can live with the stench and the adverse health effects instead of pushing it off on the middle class neighborhood where the people don't have the political clout or the money to stop it?
What is the position of the candidates on this issue? What is Kelly Fraasch's position?
Mr. Kendrick:
If I am lucky enough to serve Mt Lebanon, I know Matt Kluck (Ward 2 Commissioner) has been working on this for a long time, spent hundreds of hours and has actively looked at alternatives. I support his efforts and any future efforts he may have to come up with a balanced solution. I do feel strongly that Mt Lebanon needs to be compliant and lawful.
Kelly Fraasch
Kelly,
The school board doesn't think they have to be compliant and lawful either. Why else would they have sued a Mom for filing a Right-to-Know request? Your answer is disappointing.
John Ewing
This really should not be a legal issue. This is a moral issue that raises questions concerning the character of anyone who allows this to continue.
Why should any person in our community be forced to suffer adverse safety and health effects for the benefit of another group in the community?
Like I said, the municipality has vacant land in Virginia Manor - let's put it to use!
It doesn't look like my last comment went through...
My suggestion to Dan Miller months ago was simple - BAGSTER!
The people who generate the waste should be the ones to pay to have it removed. Nobody will convince me that Raja and the folks in VA Manor can't handle a $90 hauling fee from Waste Management. My approach also provides an equitable resolution and relief for the residents who are the unfortunate victims of this practice.
Mr. Kendrick, I guess I'm missing your point. What does Va Manor (or any other neighborhood) have to do with this? And where's the vacant land in Va. Manor?
Dave Franklin
There are several parcels that I identified when I was doing the tax analysis last fall. One site could be the municipal land that is on Osage near Swallow Hill Road where Osage goes down a hill and bends.
Wouldn't everyone over there like to see this crap dumped onto a big heap that the neighborhood could smell all the way to Beverly Road?
I am upset at Raja specifically because it was under his leadership on the commission that is practice continued! How would he like it if it was done in his neighborhood? How would you, as his neighbor, like it?
How do you think the victims in Ward 5 feel? - or is that okay because many are elderly and going to die soon anyway?
I guess that is sort of response I have come to expect anymore.
Dave Frankin
Thank you, sound judgement and well thought-out arguments are hard to find. I appreciate your compliment, counselor.
Dumping in a public park in Ward 1 should be just as easy as dumping in Ward 5. What's the difference?
In fact, if this is an issue of cost - I think that we should shut the collection process down completely. We'd probably save about $3MM in the process and our current deficit of about $2.4MM would be transformed into a $600K surplus that could be used to clean-up Bird Park. The refuse could remain at the mansions until they make their own plans for removal (at their cost). Maybe it will inspire everyone over there to find more environmentally friendly landscaping - like a Cactus!
John David Kendrick,
Going after another woman candidate again? Robb Hollow Park, if I am not mistaken, is Matt Kluck's ward. Why are you not asking Ward 1 Republican candidate, T. Michael Brown his view?
Elaine Gillen
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