Norwalk Shellfish Commission tables permit consultation on revised dock at 26 Shorefront Park

The Norwalk Shellfish Commission on April 3 tabled its consultation on a revised dock proposal for 26 Shorefront Park, citing objections from an adjacent boat club and a related finding by the Harbor Management Commission.

The vote followed a presentation from the applicant’s agent, Jim Bajek, who said the proposal would extend a finger float to place a 24-foot boat in deeper water while removing an equal area of the main dock to avoid increasing total square footage. Jeff Steadman, representing the Harbor Management Commission, told the shellfish commissioners that the harbor commission found the proposal inconsistent with the Harbor Management Plan’s policies and raised concerns about potential conflict with the adjoining boat club’s dredged area.

The commission’s chair, Steve (Chair, Norwalk Shellfish Commission), said the commission could not “formally bless” the proposal given the harbor commission’s finding and constituent objections, and moved to table further action. Commissioner Nick moved to table the consultation; Commissioner John seconded. The motion passed with no opposed votes recorded.

The applicant said the proposal does not include dredging; the state application type—Connecticut DEEP’s structures, dredge and fill application—covers a range of work and does not itself indicate dredging will occur. Bajek told commissioners the plan would remove a 2-foot-by-30-foot (60-square-foot) section of the main dock and extend a finger float by roughly 3 feet by 20 feet (about 60 square feet) so the net footprint would not increase. The dock owners said they intend to keep a 24-foot boat and have no plans to enlarge it.

Steadman described the harbor commission’s concern that the proposed access could require passing through an area currently maintained as a dredged channel associated with the neighboring club, and that approving the plan could set a precedent with cumulative impacts to adjacent properties. He also referenced the harbor plan’s adoption of Army Corps of Engineers guidance recommending a 25-foot setback from adjoining docks where feasible.

Because the application is a DEEP structures/dredge/fill filing, DEEP will publish notice and proceed through its permit process; the Shellfish Commission’s consultation form will accompany comments or indicate that action was tabled, per the commission’s direction.

Next steps: the applicant may revise the design and resubmit consultation materials; the DEEP process will allow additional public comment and DEEP review. The commission did not record individual roll-call votes in the meeting minutes for the tabling motion.