Applicant grants 35-day extension for Wych Lane subdivision while flood-storage analysis continues

The Norwalk Conservation Commission and Inland Wetland Agency learned on March 24 that the owners of 6615 Wych Lane have given the commission a 35-day extension to review a proposed two-lot subdivision while the applicants complete additional environmental analyses.

Staff opened the item by saying, “the applicant has granted a 35 day extension of time,” noting the application was received in February and that the extension prevents the commission from having to open a public hearing or make a decision that evening.

Liz Suchi, the applicants' attorney and a partner at Harmony Torrent, Sandec and Hennessy, told the commission the project is farther along than when first submitted but still requires further study. She said the team has met with an outside environmental wetlands analyst, Pat Sesto, and with staff to address questions and to complete compensatory flood-storage evaluations. “We are still working on this,” Suchi said. “It's just been one step after another.”

Suchi and staff said the subdivision and any related zoning changes are contingent on the commission's review; the attorney said the applicants hoped the shorter 35-day period would suffice but that they would use the remaining statutory time if necessary and would ask for another extension if unresolved issues remain.

Next steps: staff and the applicant indicated they expect to return with revised plans and additional analyses. If significant issues remain at the end of the extension, the applicants said they may request another extension to avoid a premature hearing or decision.