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Commissioners alarmed as draft wetland maps and proposed buffer changes surface
Summary
Draft wetland maps show some wetland areas enlarged and others reduced; commissioners worried that a proposed reduction of buffer zones (discussed as 50 to 25 feet) could increase flood risk and weaken local protections. They agreed to contact regional wetland/floodplain staff for clarification.
Members reviewed wetlands mapping presented in a regional draft and noted changes from previous maps: "They added so the ANR map...the current one does not have anything on our property, which we know there are wetlands up there. Now they do," a commissioner said. Several called out a potential policy shift to shrink buffers—one speaker said they were angry at the prospect of changing a 50-foot buffer to 25 feet to accommodate housing.
Commissioners raised flood-risk consequences if buffers are reduced and questioned Stamford’s capacity to enforce local protections: "Who’s gonna be the wetland person in town that’s gonna do the monitoring?" one member asked. The commission agreed to follow up with Rebecca (floodplain/wetlands staff referenced in the meeting) and to document questions for regional staff.
