The Department of Environmental Protection is looking at green solutions to beautify the neighborhood of Bayside and help mitigate flooding. But some residents say they don't want the construction in front of their homes. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.

Five years ago, Christie Tsang moved to Bayside, looking for a quiet area to raise her family. Now, she's concerned that these green markings mean the city is about to install a bio swale -- or rain garden – in front of her home. The green infrastructure is designed to keep pollution out of the sewer system by collecting storm water runoff before it enters the sewer.

"They come in and they're just going to build this without our consent or even letting us know what they're trying to do," said Tsang.

State Senator Tony Avella met with Tsang and other concerned homeowners on Thursday.

"When these bio swales go up, in this situation, they're taking half the sidewalk. They're going to put up a little fence; they're going to have shrubbery,” said Avella.

But the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says their concerns may be premature. The agency says it is still determining whether the ground is capable of absorbing storm water. The Departments of Parks and Transportation will also review each potential site to make sure it doesn't interfere with pedestrians or parking. The DEP says any potential site that doesn't meet the necessary requirements will be taken off the list.

But Avella’s worries don’t end there.

“Who's going to maintain this? The city doesn't maintain the city trees! They're going to come around to these thousands of sites," said Avella.

The DEP says crews visit every rain garden at least once a week to make sure they are free of litter and draining properly. The department also says homeowners are not responsible for maintenance.

Residents say they're concerned the bio swales will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes -- adding to an existing mosquito problem here in Northeast Queens.

"We'll be getting sprayings once a week instead of once every two years," said Joseph Branzetti, who lives in Flushing.

But DEP says that won't be an issue. Rain gardens are designed to ensure all the storm water is absorbed within 48 hours. Mosquito larvae require a minimum of 72 hours of standing water to develop.

The agency added that officials will share a final list of approved sites with the community before any construction begins.