New Canaan panel revises gas leaf blower ordinance timeline
Town Council · Meeting of May 5, 2026
New Canaan panel advances revised gas leaf blower ordinance, keeps electric blowers unrestricted. The Town Council's Bylaws and Ordinances Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to redefine the ordinance's "summer season" as running from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, after hearing nearly two hours of public comment from residents including John Seal and Skip Hobbs, who opposed exempting large lots. Member Kim Norton lost a 4-1 vote to restore time-of-day limits on electric leaf blowers, arguing noise doesn't discriminate by fuel type and citing 270 emails the committee received on the issue.
Committee member Eric Brennan countered that restricting electric blowers would undercut the ordinance's goal, asking "why on earth would we then restrict their ability to use the very alternative we are recommending they adopt?" The measure now heads to the full Town Council for a public hearing expected around May 20.
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Source: the Town Council meeting of May 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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