After‑the‑fact approval granted for bulkhead at 97 Rowan Avenue; owners say DEEP and Army Corps already signed off

The Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved an after‑the‑fact coastal site plan (CAM) application for 97 Rowan Avenue, a waterfront property owned by Bluefish Partners LLC.

Attorney Emma Dignady represented the Conroy family, the property owners, and explained the existing seaw wall had been crumbling. She said the owners contracted engineers and contractors and obtained state and federal approvals from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Five Mile River Commission before construction; the owner’s team then completed reconstruction to preserve soil and adjacent property.

Dignady apologized that a local CAM approval was not obtained in advance and said the omission was an oversight amid multiple agency approvals and contractor coordination. She presented DEEP’s certificate of permission and compliance certification showing the rebuilt bulkhead conforms to the approved plans and that the final seawall does not exceed the DEEP‑authorized 7.4‑foot height.

Commissioners discussed Five Mile River Commission conditions and whether to include them as conditions of P&Z approval. The applicant said those conditions were appropriate but largely moot because the work was already completed within the timing specified by Five Mile River and DEEP. The commission required the standard after‑the‑fact fees and recordation of any necessary permits.

What’s next: The applicants must pay applicable fees for the after‑the‑fact CAM and any associated zoning permits; the permit includes standard conditions and references the Five Mile River Commission letter.