Milford wetlands agency approves rebuilt home at 43 Driftwood Lane with stormwater and habitat conditions

Milford Inland Wetlands Agency members on Aug. 6 approved an application to raise and replace a single-family home at 43 Driftwood Lane, finding the project will not harm adjacent wetlands if required erosion controls, stormwater treatment and monitoring measures are implemented.

The decision came after staff and the applicant described grading and stormwater improvements, habitat protection measures and construction sequencing to reduce runoff into Gulf Pond. The agency approved application I W-25-003943 with conditions including installation and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls, submission of stormwater operations-and-maintenance manuals, a construction bond and native salt-tolerant plantings. The motion passed with one commissioner recused.

The project replaces a house the applicant said is structurally compromised and sinking toward the pond. Attorney Kevin Crusaden, representing applicants Andrew and Elise Carlson, said the existing structure must be removed and the replacement raised to meet FEMA flood-elevation guidelines. “It’s a necessary replacement. It’s a single family house replacing a single family house,” Crusaden said. Project engineer Bob Wehwe told the agency the plans collect roof and driveway runoff to subsurface galleries to improve water quality compared with existing, uncontrolled flow into wetlands. “The proposed plan will be a big improvement with regards to the stormwater quality for the proposed project,” Wehwe said.

Mary Rose, agency staff, summarized the proposal as demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of a flood-compliant replacement, with grading within roughly 7 feet and construction within about 17.5 feet of inland wetlands on the rear (northern) portion of the lot. She said the plan includes an orange silt fence backed by hay bales during construction, removal of phragmites at the rear of the lot, and native, salt-tolerant plantings along the wetland edge. She noted a Natural Diversity Database review flagged the northern diamondback terrapin as a species that could be affected and said the applicant agreed to coordinate protections with NDDB recommendations.

Commissioners repeatedly characterized the proposal as an improvement over existing conditions because the existing house lacks stormwater controls and shed runoff directly into the wetland. “I actually think this is a great proposal. The engineer did an excellent job in the drainage control,” Commissioner Jim Connors said. Commissioner Warren Field called it “a net improvement on the whole neighborhood.” Commissioner Ray Gradwell and others also praised the design and sequencing plans.

The agency’s approval included multiple conditions read into the record: (1) all erosion- and sediment-control measures required by the CT DEEP 2024 Erosion and Sedimentation Control Guidelines must be installed and maintained until site stabilization; (2) stormwater treatment shown on the approved plans must be installed unless any change is approved in writing; (3) operations-and-maintenance manuals for the stormwater systems must be prepared for review at least 90 days before obtaining a building permit; (4) a draft calculation for a construction bond and a permit construction bond for S&E controls, plantings and as-built verification must be submitted and posted; (5) weekly erosion-control inspections and inspections within 48 hours of any precipitation event greater than 1.5 inches in a 24-hour period, with corrective actions within 24 hours of any deficiency; (6) a certification by the project engineer that the completed project meets the design intent before bond release; and (7) placement of a wetland notification on the as-built deed records to alert future property owners that MIWA permits are required for work in the area.

Commissioners and staff also required that the planting plan specify native, salt-tolerant species; Mary Rose confirmed the planting list had been revised per consultant Jen Benno’s recommendations. The permit was issued Aug. 6, 2025 and, per the motion, includes an expiration provision and standard bond/inspection requirements.

The agency’s staff and the applicant said construction sequencing will be adjusted if unexpected conditions arise during demolition or construction. Applicant Andrew Carlson said he and his family will remove invasive species and replant native grasses; he testified the existing rear half of the house has foundation failure and “the house has to be destroyed because of the wetlands” and the way it was originally built. Agency staff indicated city engineering had reviewed the application and had no outstanding drainage objections.

The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Julie Valvo and seconded by Commissioner Jim Connors. In roll-call votes recorded after the motion, Commissioners Rajeev Bahav, Jim Connors, Matthew Connors, Warren Field, Ray Gradwell, Julie Valvo and Chairman Bridal Magnan voted yes; Commissioner Ritchie recused himself. The motion carried as amended. The agency’s file will include the revised planting plan, bond calculations, as-built drawings showing finished contours and certification from the project engineer before bond release.

The agency noted this approval does not substitute for any subsequent approvals required from Planning & Zoning (coastal site plan and special permit) or building permits; the applicants must obtain those permits separately.

The agency closed deliberations on the item and wished the applicants luck in moving forward under the permit conditions.