Resident urges Norwalk commission to review flood‑management compliance for Manresa/2 East Rocks Road

During public comment, Lynell Jones (10 Point Road) asked the commission to examine whether a municipal declaratory ruling connected to the Manresa site and the 2 East Rocks Road project complied with state flood‑management rules when state grant funds were used.

Jones referenced the Connecticut Flood Management Act and the Connecticut Coastal Management Act and said projects that use state money require a flood management certificate, and must conform to FEMA criteria for land use in floodplains. She asked whether issuance of a municipal declaratory ruling had been used to avoid fuller state review and whether that was an appropriate tactic when state grant funding was involved.

Staff and commissioners replied that coastal management and flood review are often under DEEP or Planning & Zoning purview and that the inland wetland agency’s statutory authority is limited; several commissioners said additional legal training on flood and coastal rules would be useful.

Quote: Jones told the commission, “When state money is used… no activity in regulated floodplains can occur without a flood management certificate.”

The commission did not take formal action on the comment; staff and commissioners said they would consider whether training or referral to the appropriate state agency was warranted.