Feb. 15, 2008
Contact: Mike Phillips, Media Relations, Manager, (480) 312-7825
City sets open houses, formal hearings
on state-mandated dust measures
The city is planning two open houses – on Feb. 25 and March 3 -- to inform citizens about several local dust control measures the City Council must adopt by the end of March, as required under a 2007 state law. The controls affect unpaved areas, vacant land, off-road vehicles and leaf blowers.
Some of the mandated changes will go to the Planning Commission Feb. 27 for review, and all of the provisions are set to go to the City Council in mid-March.
The new measures are designed to bring the Valley into compliance with EPA air quality standards for particulates (PM-10) – fine dust particles that can harm health. Failure to meet the EPA standards could mean the loss of significant federal highway funds. Cities can require stricter measures for dust control, but cannot adopt measures less stringent than minimum state requirements.
Scottsdale is developing a list of approved surface treatments for dust control, and will be seeking public input on the types of stabilizers or palliatives that would be effective.
The new requirements are in addition to the dozens of measures previously adopted by Scottsdale and other Valley cities. Industries also will fall under more stringent regulations, which will be enforced by Maricopa County and the State.
The required ordinances would:
- Limit leaf-blower use. Landscapers and homeowners would be prohibited from using leaf blowers to blow debris onto public streets. Passing cars can grind the debris into finer dust and kick it back into the atmosphere.
- Require paved or treated parking lots at larger buildings. Commercial and non-residential properties and multi-unit housing developments with more than four units would be required to control dust on unpaved parking areas of any size. They could stabilize the areas with paving or gravel, or apply a dust palliative.
- Require dust control for large, unpaved areas at residences. Private residences and multi-unit properties with four or fewer units would be affected if unpaved driving and parking areas are 3,000 square feet or larger. Property owners with unpaved driveways, turnaround areas or other unpaved areas would be required to pave or stabilize surfaces.
- Require owners of vacant land to control dust or access by vehicles. Owners whose vacant property contains unpaved surfaces used by all-terrain vehicles or other vehicles would be responsible for stabilizing the unpaved area or keeping the vehicles off their property with fences, ditches or other barriers. Owners of vacant lots could be cited if vehicles repeatedly trespassing on their property create dusty areas that are sources of particulate pollution.
- Broaden prohibitions on ATV use. All-terrain and off-road vehicles generally would not be allowed on unstabilized surfaces, even if riders have the owner’s permission to use the vehicles on private property.
Here is the schedule of open houses and meeting dates leading to adoption:
- Monday, Feb. 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., open house at the Scottsdale Water Campus, 8787 E. Hualapai Drive.
- Wednesday, Feb. 27, 5 p.m., Planning Commission hearing on the Zoning Ordinance text amendment, 1-TA-2008, regarding unpaved access and parking areas, City Hall Kiva, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
- Monday, March 3, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., open house at the Via Linda Senior Center 10440 E. Via Linda.
- Tuesday, March 18, 5 p.m., hearing on all proposed ordinances before the City Council, City Hall Kiva.
For more information, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/codes/zoning/update/dustcontrol.asp.