Commission approves after-the-fact shed at Lake Hayward with conditions and land-records filing

The East Haddam Wetlands and Watercourses Commission on July 21 approved application IWWC 26-4 for a shoreline storage shed at 4 East Shore Drive owned by James Foley, with conditions intended to limit environmental risk and future conversion.

Commission members were told the shed stands about 60 feet from Lake Hayward and is set on cinder blocks. James Foley said the structure is for storage of canoes and recreational gear and that he did not intend it as living space: "Absolutely not," Foley said when asked whether the shed would be used for habitation. He also said he did not store gasoline or other petroleum products inside.

Commissioners expressed concern about petroleum storage near the shoreline and about future conversion to living space. The commission approved the application with explicit conditions: the shed must remain a storage building, it may not be used for habitation, no electricity may be run to the structure, and no petroleum products may be stored there. Commissioners also amended the approval to require that the approval letter and its conditions be filed on the land records so they appear in future title searches.

The motion to approve, including the land-records filing requirement, carried with all members present voting in favor; two regular members were absent from the meeting. The chair and staff asked Foley to return if he plans to install a dock or make other shoreline improvements so the commission can review any additional proposals.

Next steps: the applicant will receive a written approval reflecting the stated conditions and staff will record the approval on the land records per the commission’s motion.