The fate of Norwalk’s Manresa Island is changing again, with locals Austin and Allison McChord planning to buy the 125-acre property to create a public park and event space.

CT DEEP GRANTS PERMIT TO CT DOT TO USE MANRESA ISLAND

CT DEEP Denies Norwalk Power‘s Petition to Intervene

Citizens challenge ConnDOT’s Manresa plan

January 5th, 2022: A request for a public hearing was filed on December 3, 2021, triggering this adjudications process. You can see the documentation itemizing the parameters of the public hearing that will take place Wednesday, Februrary 23rd at 3pm here. Please mark your calendars and register to participate in this public hearing at this link: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqd-yprDouEtzgxqv_inyGbOU6eRQFGMvY

7. Manresa Island: The Norwalk Harbor Management Commission and The Norwalk Shellfish Commission have focused much attention on plans and proposals concerning the use and condition of Manresa Island, both prior to and following deactivation of the Norwalk Harbor Power Station, including plans and proposals for environmental remediation and future re-development of this prominent waterfront site. Some questions previously submitted by the NHMC and NSC concerning ConnDOT’s proposed use of Manresa Island as a Project staging and storage yard, including questions regarding the potential impacts of that proposed use on surrounding areas and environmental remediation requirements, have not been addressed. In addition, we are not aware of any comments and recommendations provided to date by the Norwalk Planning Commission and Conservation Commission concerning ConnDOT’s proposed use of Manresa Island. The NHMC has informed DEEP and ConnDOT of the Harbor Management Plan provisions that call for waterfront development proposals to be carefully planned, reviewed, and regulated to avoid adverse impacts on the quality of life in waterfront neighborhoods.

NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk officials say they caught the State “DOT” red handed last week, violating at least two out of the three permit conditions in Walk Bridge-connected work.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation was working Dec. 9 on an underwater cable, dredging near the Walk Bridge, Shellfish Commissioner Steven Bartush and Norwalk Police Officer Mike Silva said at Wednesday’s Harbor Management Commission meeting. Although the permit said the work could only be done with “appropriate containment” and only on an incoming, or slack tide, the curtains designed to contain the silt released by dredging were “inadequate,” Bartush said. The tide was heading out, meaning that silt was heading toward the shellfish in the harbor.

The CT Department of Transportation quietly announced via a document drop that they were intending to waive public hearing on the use of Manresa Island for the fabrication of the Walk Bridge. The MNC immediately took action and gained the signatures necessary in the time frame necessary to be clear that public hearing happened.