Conservation Board

The Town of Brighton’s Conservation Board provides a focus for environmental oversight and advocacy within the community (Town Code Chapter 223.)

Specifically, the Conservation Board reviews property development proposals for such matters as drainage, landscaping and environmental protection. It considers environmental issues and concerns for site-plan approvals, open space development, woodlots, watercourses, etc. and advises the Planning Board regarding these actions.

The board’s overall intent is to preserve the Town’s natural environment and control impacts on the surrounding neighborhood, while balancing our Town’s need for an economically viable and environmentally sustainable future.

In its review, the Conservation Board seeks to: protect and preserve significant trees and shrubs where possible; ensure the adequacy of landscaping constituting a visual and/or noise-deterring buffer between the project under review and adjoining properties; promote environmentally-sensitive grading plans; protect and/or mitigate impacts to wetlands and marshes; and promote the use of native plant species and Green Infrastructure (e.g., bioswales, permeable pavement, rain gardens, etc.) where practical.

The Conservation Board is also involved with environmental education and performs other functions assigned by the Town Board.

Tree Council

The Conservation Board also functions as the Town’s Tree Council (see Town Code §175-3) providing advice and consultation regarding trees to any Town board, department or citizen. The Tree Council routinely reviews and approves the recommendations of certified arborists for significant pruning and/or removal of trees on Town property to preserve public safety and neighborhood aesthetics. In performing its duties, the Tree Council maintains and administers the Town Forestry Plan and Arboricultural Standards and Specifications, including the Master Tree List.

Landscaping with NY State Native Plants

A key value of the Town of Brighton is sustainability. Landscaping with plants native to our region supports this value, and the Town encourages property owners to incorporate native plants throughout their property.

Like the local plants of any region, the native plants of New York State have evolved together for thousands of years, relying on and supporting each other in our regional ecology. Native plants attract birds and other pollinating fauna, thus contributing to a dynamic and healthy ecosystem, and they can often be used in landscaping instead of less beneficial exotic species.

The Conservation Board's publication, "Landscaping with New York Native Plants", lists of plants that are native to New York State, are aesthetically pleasing, and have marked value for the surrounding wildlife. These lists include only a fraction of the good native plant choices you could make for your project. Many more can be found in the source materials cited in the References section at the end of the document.