Norwalk Shellfish Commission approves South Norfolk Boat Club dock modifications at 70 Mac Street
March 06, 2026 | Norwalk City, Fairfield, Connecticut
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Chair Steve opened the March 5 meeting of the Norwalk Shellfish Commission and moved to new business where the commission heard a presentation from Matt Schuler, a licensed professional engineer working for South Norfolk Boat Club. Schuler said the club proposes replacing multiple 2‑by‑16‑foot finger docks with fewer 3‑by‑26‑foot finger docks, installing piles at the end of each finger for added stability and extending the T‑head from 22 to 26 feet to better accommodate 20–25‑foot boats.
The change would reduce the number of individual fingers while increasing the square footage of docks over water. "The boat club is proposing to enlarging the finger docks at that location, through 3 foot by, 26 foot finger docks," Schuler said during his presentation, explaining the design aims to improve stability and allow bow and stern ties appropriate to larger boats.
Commissioners discussed whether the proposal had been part of earlier conversations about an adjacent property and raised access and littoral‑area conflict concerns tied to a separate project at 26 Shorefront. Commissioner Glenn said the commission had objected to that nearby expansion but learned the permit had nevertheless been issued despite their earlier email to the Shellfish and Harbor commissions.
After questions, the commission voted to approve the South Norfolk Boat Club dock modifications and determined that a site inspection was not required because the property and design were familiar to members. The chair said staff would provide required paperwork to the applicants to finalize the permitting steps.
The approval was procedural and limited to the Shellfish Commission's portion of the permit review; commissioners noted additional permits or oversight by the Harbor Management Commission and state regulators may also apply. The commission approved the motion by voice vote and closed the item with instructions for paperwork distribution to the applicant.
The change would reduce the number of individual fingers while increasing the square footage of docks over water. "The boat club is proposing to enlarging the finger docks at that location, through 3 foot by, 26 foot finger docks," Schuler said during his presentation, explaining the design aims to improve stability and allow bow and stern ties appropriate to larger boats.
Commissioners discussed whether the proposal had been part of earlier conversations about an adjacent property and raised access and littoral‑area conflict concerns tied to a separate project at 26 Shorefront. Commissioner Glenn said the commission had objected to that nearby expansion but learned the permit had nevertheless been issued despite their earlier email to the Shellfish and Harbor commissions.
After questions, the commission voted to approve the South Norfolk Boat Club dock modifications and determined that a site inspection was not required because the property and design were familiar to members. The chair said staff would provide required paperwork to the applicants to finalize the permitting steps.
The approval was procedural and limited to the Shellfish Commission's portion of the permit review; commissioners noted additional permits or oversight by the Harbor Management Commission and state regulators may also apply. The commission approved the motion by voice vote and closed the item with instructions for paperwork distribution to the applicant.
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