The Norwalk Harbor Management Commission met Nov. 19 and advanced three coastal-area applications with conditions intended to protect navigation, water quality and floodplain compliance.

In a unanimous voice vote, the commission found an application by Commerce Street Associates to repair about 60 feet of boulder seawall at 25 Commerce Street consistent with the North Harbor Management Plan and applicable state and local regulations. The proposal, presented by the applicant, called for reclaiming roughly 133 cubic yards of existing 24-by-60-inch stone for reuse, adding about 30 cubic yards of 1.5-inch quarried stone, deploying geotextile fabric (approximately 1,250 square feet) and local concrete capping. Commissioners emphasized work proceed from the upland side only, use turbidity or silt curtains during in-water operations, implement erosion and sediment controls, and preferably submit an online/as-built survey and FEMA-compliance certification before final approval.

The commission also reviewed a pre-application from Spinnaker Real Estate Partners for mixed-use redevelopment at 108 Water Street. The pre-application includes residential, retail and office space, bulkhead replacement, a public boardwalk (roughly 10 feet wide and about 275 linear feet) and a marina with 14 ADA-compliant slips. The commission’s application-review committee said the dock layout and bulkhead design do not appear to interfere with navigation or mooring areas, but raised concerns about habitable building elevations in FEMA flood zones (committee members cited proposed structure heights in the ~12–14-foot range) and the need to keep utilities and critical infrastructure floodproof. The commission recommended the applicant submit final stormwater-management measures, provide FEMA-compliance certification and an as-built plan, and install turbidity controls during in‑water work before the city-level review.

Finally, the commission recommended approval of a proposal to elevate an existing single-family home at 6 Golden Court in the Bell Island neighborhood to meet local floodplain requirements. Engineer Vince Hines described raising the finished-floor elevation to about 18.8 feet (roughly a 6-foot raise) and reducing impervious area by about 400 square feet on a roughly 3,800-square-foot lot. Commissioners said all work must remain landward of the seawall, and they attached the usual sediment-and-erosion-control and staff review conditions.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of Oct. 22 minutes: motion by Laurie Jones, seconded by Dr. Pinto; approved by voice vote.
- 25 Commerce Street seawall repair: motion to find consistent with Harbor Management Plan (mover recorded in meeting minutes); approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
- 108 Water Street pre-application: committee recommended moving the application forward with conditions; motion seconded and approved by voice vote.
- 6 Golden Court elevation: committee recommended approval subject to standard conditions; motion seconded and approved by voice vote.

What happens next
The commission said it will forward formal comments and conditions to applicants and urged applicants to secure any required city zoning approvals and state permits. For the larger redevelopment at 108 Water Street the commission asked for final stormwater plans and FEMA certification prior to city-level decisions.