City plan seeks consultant support to update New Haven Coastal Program under Long Island Sound resilience program

The committee advanced a City Plan Department request April 16 to apply for and accept planning support through the Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program to complete a full update of New Haven’s Coastal Program.

Kaylee Moran, speaking for City Plan, said the Coastal Program — used to guide land-use decisions in the coastal boundary — was last updated in 2006 and was originally adopted in the 1980s. The Long Island Sound Partnership program does not deliver direct grant dollars to the city; rather, it matches municipalities with a qualified contractor to complete planning work such as assessing present and future coastal risks, preparing neighborhood-specific resilience strategies, conducting consistency reviews of laws and regulations, and supporting stakeholder engagement. "We're seeking to accept program support ... we have been accepted as a candidate," Moran said, adding there is "no cost to the city" for the program assistance itself, though staff time will be required.

Alders asked whether East Shore and other neighborhoods would be included; Moran said the update would be citywide within the coastal boundary and would include neighborhood assessments and community engagement. The committee voted to move the item to the full board.