The Manresa Neighborhood Coalition is a group of Norwalk residents and business owners who are concerned about the use of Manresa Island as a staging site for the construction of the Walk Bridge or any other future construction site. Our concerns are, but not limited to:
The larger human-created environmental issues surrounding the Manresa site itself: The site contains Coal Ash. The Manresa Neighborhood Coalition is interested in this site being properly remediated before construction of any kind is done on this site. See the following articles as to why coal ash is problematic: ARTICLE #1, ARTICLE #2, ARTICLE #3.
Concerns for Wildlife, Sea Life, and Bird life on/around the peninsula: Essentially, the Manresa site has been used by humans in a very limited capacity for the past 10 years. As a result, wildlife has moved in and thrived. This proposed project would not only disrupt wildlife that has made their way back from the endangered species list: Bald Eagles, Osprey, Mink, as well as Diamondback Terrapin, but the construction would drive residing wildlife to neighboring areas. The deer on site and surrounding areas are currently being studied by CT DEEP and CAES for the Lone Star Tick infestation. Thoughts are that construction would drive this infestation beyond the Manresa Peninsula ( See: https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-news-lone-star-tick-arrives-20170920-story.html) For photos of Manresa wildlife: Click here.
Concerns for increased traffic patterns on and off the Manresa peninsula should it be staged for the building of the Walk Bridge: An influx of large construction trucks would disrupt not only the day to day activity of Businesses and Residents using Woodward Avenue to get off the peninsula, but simultaneously create a bottleneck with those residing in and around the following areas: Route 136 (disrupting traffic to/from the Rowayton section of Norwalk), Woodward Avenue, Water Street, etc. Affected Residential areas are: Residents of Woodward Avenue, Meadow Street, Village Creek, Harbor View, Harbor Shores, Shorefront Park, Wilson Point, Quintard Avenue, Sheridan Street, and all others highlighted is in this Map
Sound of the proposed construction amplifies over water exponentially: The Sound of this proposed project would be amplified and carried across to the East Norwalk waterfront area as well. These areas are: Calf Pasture Beach, Marvin Beach Residential Area, Shore & Country Club, ShoreHaven Club, etc. ) The immediate neighborhoods of the Manresa Peninusla would also be be affected for the 5 years of estimated construction time ( The PERMIT, however is asking for 10 YEARS): Residents of Woodward Avenue, Residents of Wilson Point, Village Creek, Harbor View, Shorefront Park, and Harbor Shores. Click here for some high-school science on the subject of sound traveling over water.