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Norwalk declares Woods Pond trail work a nonregulated recreational use
Summary
Norwalk’s conservation board found proposed trails at the Crossland/Woods Pond parcel qualify as nonregulated outdoor recreation under the inland wetlands rules, allowing hand‑installed trails and a footbridge with limited, hand‑dug abutments and no heavy equipment in wetlands.
The Norwalk Conservation Commission on Jan. 13 determined the proposed trails at the Crossland property adjacent to Woods Pond qualify as a nonregulated recreational use under the city’s inland wetlands regulations, clearing a procedural hurdle for the parks department to continue limited trail work.
Ken Hughes, superintendent of parks and public property, told the commission the city received a state grant for trails, held two public information sessions and revised the design after resident input to remove trail alignments in floodway and several vehicle access points. Designer Chris Tramitola described a plan with wood‑chip trail surfacing outside the regulated floodway, a cleared brush path within the floodplain, a single small pedestrian bridge sized to be carried in pieces, and hand‑dug abutments rather than heavy equipment.
Commissioners asked about public safety, deadwood management, pets and ADA access. Parks said bikes and motorized vehicles are not allowed, dogs remain banned on most city properties, and the trail cannot be made fully ADA‑accessible over the full terrain; the team nonetheless committed to planting 49 native trees and 73 native shrubs as part of the trail plan. Ken Hughes confirmed the contractor had been pulled from active work on site pending commission review.
After discussion the commission made a formal finding that the described trail activities fall under the nonregulated uses list (outdoor recreation/trails) in Section 4 of the inland wetlands regulations because they do not involve large‑scale filling, excavation or mechanized grading within wetlands. Commissioners emphasized that health‑and‑safety tree work would be handled conservatively and that dead wood would generally be left in place or used to line trails to preserve habitat.
The commission’s ruling does not remove regulatory oversight for any future work that would involve filling, excavation, or tree removal beyond the minimal scope described; such activities would require a permit.
