New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission schedules public hearing for Waveny Park tree work, agrees to focus on website outreach

The New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission opened its regular meeting on Jan. 26 and approved the agenda and minutes from Dec. 15.

The commission took up application 25‑53677 from Waveny Park Conservancy, which proposes removing approximately 50 Norway maple trees (10-inch diameter or larger) and selective shrubbery near Anderson Pond, replanting with native species, and adding stone steps and additional footpaths to improve viewing access. The commission noted that Waveny Park projects have historically prompted public interest.

"Traditionally, when anything has been proposed within Waveny Park as the town's largest park, we have held a public hearing," the presiding commissioner said, recommending a hearing at the next regular meeting. A motion to hold a public hearing was moved and seconded and passed unanimously.

The commission also scheduled a site visit to Waveny Park; members discussed potential dates and confirmed Feb. 18 as a possible visit date if weather permits and a quorum can attend.

Director Kathleen Holland reported two recent administrative wetlands permits related to pool construction (a pool house and a pool), which were reviewed by staff and appear to have been issued in December.

Commissioners then turned to community outreach and resident awareness of wetlands on private property. Ideas included updating and expanding the Inland Wetlands pages on the town website, pursuing a chatbot for the town site, library presentations, a Welcome Wagon flyer (estimated at $47 per month), volunteer-written blog articles, and realtor outreach. Sandy Redden reported that the website platform supports a chatbot as a $3,000 one‑time add‑on with an annual subscription of about $3,000 thereafter for the entire town website, and that implementing a chatbot requires staff time to build the knowledge base.

Several commissioners favored low-cost, high-value steps first: improve website text, hold library programs and use realtor outreach already undertaken (Holland said she presented to roughly 50 realtors on Jan. 13). Commissioners agreed to prioritize improving website content and to revisit broader options in March after additional research.

What happens next: the commission will hold a public hearing on the Waveny Park application at its next regular meeting, plan a Feb. 18 site visit, and pursue modest outreach steps focused on the town website and community presentations.