Lewes council debating ban on gas-powered equipment

A ban on gas-powered lawn equipment in Lewes is slated to take effect at the end of the year, but some members of mayor and city council believe the ordinance should be delayed until 2025.

Proponents of the delay believe the ban places an unfair financial burden on homeowners and landscaping companies, while advocates of the ban argue the market for certain battery-powered equipment is comparable to gas-powered equivalents.

Mayor Andrew Williams, a councilman when the ordinance was passed in 2020, noted that delays were built in already. Councilman Tim Ritzert said advance notice had previously been issued to landscaping companies and equipment dealers. The ban, which does not include lawn mowers, would go into effect Dec. 31, including all lawn equipment except for leaf blowers, chain saws and string trimmers. The remaining equipment would be noncompliant Dec. 31, 2025. Hedge trimmers, part of the first set, became the focal point of discussion during council’s November meeting.

Councilwoman Candace Vessella proposed delaying implementation of the ban until 2025, believing that small landscaping businesses would be most affected. Vessella claims an online search can produce reasonably priced equipment that isn’t gas-powered, but those products are not designed for commercial use. She said her recommendation still keeps the eventual ban in place, but allows technology to catch up.

Ritzert, like Williams, was a member of council in 2020. He said he believes that technology has caught up to demand. According to Ritzert, battery-powered commercial hedge trimmers have proven to be as good as gas-powered commercial hedge trimmers.

Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba said he spoke with two landscaping companies who wondered why hedge trimmers were singled out. Saliba later questioned why landscaping equipment was targeted and pointed to gas-powered construction equipment that would still be permitted. 

When mayor and city council passed the ordinance, research indicated battery-powered hedge trimmers were the closest to their gas-powered counterparts. Former Councilman Rob Morgan added that one landscaper said in 2020 they were already using battery-powered chainsaws and string trimmers. Morgan, speaking at the request of mayor and city council, said he didn’t know why those pieces of equipment were not included in the first set of bans. Rattling off a list of sites and manufacturers where battery-powered equipment is available and reasonably priced, Morgan seemed to rebuke reports that supply was an issue.

Councilwoman Carolyn Jones said she thought she came into the meeting feeling one way about the agenda item, but that discussions had persuaded her away from that stance. Action would not be needed for the ban to take effect, but any changes to the ordinance will require a vote. Citing conflicting reports and new revelations, council opted to table discussions until the Monday, Dec. 12 meeting. 

The Dec. 12 meeting will be the last chance council has to make any changes or postpone the ordinance before it goes into effect Dec. 31. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at city hall.