Summit Leaf-Blower Ordinance Causes Controversy. Here's Why.

SUMMIT, NJ — In Summit and in other towns, small businesses are fired up about ordinances that cut the number of days people can use leaf-blowers, due to noise and environmental effects. Landscaping businesses have complained that they'll lose money and have to raise prices.

Why so much ado about leaf-blowers?

West Orange and Montclair recently considered leaf-blowing ordinances. READ MORE: West Orange Petition Calls For Leaf Blower Ban

But in 2017, landscapers sued the town of Maplewood for its new ban. NJ Landscapers Sue Maplewood Over Leaf Blower Ban

Summit's proposed ban is set to go to a vote before the Common Council on Tuesday.

The ordinance

The ordinance up for a vote says the blowers displace pesticides, pollen, and mold into the air, are noisy, and emit "carbon and non-carbon" emissions.

"The Common Council wishes to prohibit the use of gas powered leaf blowers within the city from June 1, 2021 through Aug. 31, 2021 as a pilot program," it notes.

But Summit resident Anna Fredette is concerned. She said, "My father has had a landscaping business for over 40 years and many of his clients were in Montclair until Montclair issued a complete ban. He spent years fighting this and still has been, as it's discriminatory when commercial users can’t use them, but DPW public works can." (Note: the city of Summit says they won't be using them either; read the update here.)

She added, "The ordinance proposed for Summit would be a summer months ban and their logic was that 'Landscapers don’t really need leaf blowers in the summer because it’s mainly used for grass clippings,' but they fail to recognize that landscapers aren’t the only small businesses who utilize this tool."

She explained, "Construction companies often need to use blowers to clean up debris and dust from the building process. Some projects are huge, so a broom would be time-consuming and ineffective. Powerwashing and gutter cleaning companies often need to use blowers to clear debris out of your gutters before cleaning."

She has started a Facebook group designed for small businesses in Summit to discuss this and other matters. As of Thursday, the Summit Area Small Business Alliance group had 85 members.

To watch the virtual meeting

Here is the packet for the matters up for a vote Tuesday.

Tuesday's meeting of the Summit Common Council will be held online through Zoom. People who want to participate can join online or over the phone at 7:30 p.m.

Click the link below to join the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8961... Webinar ID: 896 1571 8354
Passcode: 259934

By phone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

• US: +1 312 626 6799 or
• +1 929 205 6099 or
• +1 301 715 8592 or
• +1 346 248 7799 or
• +1 669 900 6833 or
• +1 253 215 8782
• International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kybR...

The meeting will be broadcast live through HTTV on Comcast Channel 36 and Verizon Channel 30, and at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQM0aiqWmAIMUTU35kswMdQ.

The public can send comments/questions in advance of the Council meeting, via email or first-class mail. Emails should be sent to the City Clerk, cityclerk@cityofsummit.org. Letters should be sent to the attention of the City Clerk, 512 Springfield Ave., Summit. Emails or mailed correspondence must be received in the City Clerk’s Office no later than Tuesday, April 6 by 12 noon for that night's meeting.

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