CITY OF WEST HAVEN HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN

Transcription

1 CITY OF WEST HAVEN HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN Draft for Public Review Prepared By: WEST HAVEN HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION City of West Haven, Connecticut Consultant to the Harbor Management Commission: Geoffrey B. Steadman Westport, Connecticut March 2017

2 ii FOREWORD This document contains the City of West Haven Harbor Management Plan, Draft for Public Review, (the Plan) March The Plan has been prepared by the West Haven Harbor Management Commission (HMC) in accordance with municipal authority provided by the Connecticut Harbor Management Act of 1984 (Sections 22a-113k through 22a-113t of the Connecticut General Statutes) and by the West Haven Harbor Commission Ordinance (Chapter 20 of the West Haven Code of Ordinances). In accordance with Sec. 22a-113m of the General Statutes, the Plan must be reviewed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), approved by the Connecticut Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Port Authority, and adopted by ordinance by the West Haven City Council before it takes effect. Included in the Plan are City goals, strategies, policies, and recommendations for beneficial use and conservation of the West Haven Harbor Management Area (HMA) which includes all of the navigable waters and intertidal areas within the City s municipal jurisdiction on the West River, New Haven Harbor, nearshore Long Island Sound, Old Field Creek, and the Cove and Oyster rivers. A principal purpose of the Plan is to strengthen and maintain the City s authority for managing use and conservation of the HMA. That purpose is achieved through City planning, regulatory, and other initiatives undertaken in coordination with state and federal agencies, notably the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and USACE. Public and private activities affecting the HMA must be consistent with the Plan. The HMC is responsible for determining this consistency through a Harbor Management Consistency Review Process established in the Plan. The Plan strengthens and maintains coordination among the different City agencies with responsibilities affecting the HMA. It helps ensure that these agencies incorporate an awareness and understanding of harbor management concerns into their decisions, and that their actions are consistent with the City goals, strategies, policies, and recommendations established in the Plan. The provisions of the Plan are consistent with and complement the provisions of the 2004 West Haven Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and the pending 2017 POCD amendments. Together, these two City plans will serve as the principal guides for land- and water-use on, in, and contiguous to the HMA. Implementation of the Plan is an ongoing process that will continue to evolve in response to changing conditions and circumstances. The Plan establishes a policy and decision-making framework to guide the City s actions, including case-by-case decision-making by the HMC, as well as the actions of other agencies. The framework is flexible and requires modification over time as conditions and circumstances change. To ensure that it responds to changing conditions, the Plan contains provisions for future amendment as needed.

3 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many individuals contributed to preparation of the Plan, including City officials and residents and representatives of City, state, and federal agencies. The Plan was prepared under the leadership of the West Haven Harbor Management Commission the principal agency responsible for Plan implementation: Eugene Pacapelli (Chairman) Dennis Flynn Michael Pimer Thomas McKeon Dan Potter Harbor Master Robert Pimer (Ex-Officio) The Plan could not have been prepared without the support of Mayor Edward M. O Brien and the members of the West Haven City Council who continue to demonstrate their strong commitment to stewardship of West Haven s coastal resources and navigable waters. Former HMC member Stephen Mitchell also contributed significantly to preparation of the Plan. Among the City agency representatives who provided vital information, assistance, and guidance during the process of preparing the Plan are: Planning and Development Director Joseph Riccio; Assistant Commissioner of Public Works Mark Paine; Assistant City Planner David Killeen; City Engineer Abdul Quadir; and Corporation Counsel Vincent Amendola. Former Assistant City Planner Rob Librandi also contributed significantly. In addition, a number of state and federal agencies, including various units of the Connecticut departments of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Port Authority, the Connecticut Bureau of Aquaculture, and the USACE, provided substantial assistance. The Land and Water Resources Division of DEEP provided technical assistance and support for development of the Plan through the efforts of Karen Michaels and David Blatt. Geoffrey Steadman of Westport, CT served as consultant to the HMC for preparation of the Plan and worked at the direction of the HMC to prepare all Plan documents. Photographs in the Plan are by Mr. Steadman; aerial photos are from June 3, Associates of Mr. Steadman who contributed to the Plan include Keith Placko who provided computer-aided mapping assistance, and Thomas Hart who assisted with development of the Harbor Management Survey. Deserving of special thanks and recognition are the citizens of West Haven who attended the HMC s public meetings held during the planning process, participated in the Harbor Management Survey, and otherwise demonstrated their support for the City s efforts to plan for the beneficial use and conservation of the City s water and waterfront resources for the benefit of future generations.

4 Foreword Acknowledgments Contents List of Photos, Maps, and Figures List of Acronyms iv OUTLINE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND PLAN OVERVIEW Introduction to the City of West Haven and the West Haven Harbor Management Area The West Haven Harbor Management Commission and Harbor Management Plan Implementing the Harbor Management Plan Benefits of the Harbor Management Plan Costs of Implementation An Ongoing Process PART I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 2: THE WEST HAVEN HARBOR MANAGEMENT AREA (HMA) Coastal Area Setting Historical Considerations The Harbor Management Area Conditions Affecting Navigation Coastal Resources Water and Waterfront Uses and Activities Planning and Development Initiatives West River West New Haven Harbor Long Island Sound Shoreline Old Field Creek Cove River Oyster River CHAPTER 3: THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR HARBOR MANAGEMENT City of West Haven City Council Mayor Harbor Management Commission Economic Development Commission Planning and Zoning Commission Zoning Board of Appeals

5 v OUTLINE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Open Space and Conservation Commission Inland Wetlands Agency Flood and Erosion Control Board Pollution Control Commission Parks and Recreation Department Department of Public Works Department of Health Police Department Fire Department Neighboring Towns Regional Agencies State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Connecticut Port Authority State of Connecticut Harbor Master Bureau of Aquaculture Other State Agencies Federal Government U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Other Federal Agencies The General Public Waterfront Property Owners Private Organizations CHAPTER 4: HARBOR MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS Public Health, Safety, and Welfare Navigation and Water-Use Environmental Quality and Resources Recreational Boating Waterfront Land-Use and Development Water and Waterfront Access Administration and Coordination

6 vi OUTLINE OF CONTENTS (Continued) PART II: THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 5: GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOR HARBOR AND WATERFRONT MANAGEMENT Goal 1: Active Management of the HMA by the City of West Haven Goal 2: Public, Health, Safety, and Welfare Goal 3: Sustainable Economic Benefits Goal 4: Environmental Sustainability, Conservation, and Enhancement Goal 5: Coastal Resiliency Goal 6: Viable Water-Dependent and -Enhanced Uses and Facilities Goal 7: Recreational Uses Goal 8: Public Access to the HMA Goal 9: Planning and Regulation of Waterfront Land-Use Goal 10: Protection of Community Character Goal 11: Public Interest, Support, and Participation Goal 12: Effective Response to Changing Conditions CHAPTER 6: WEST HAVEN S HARBOR MANAGEMENT POLICIES Public Health, Safety, and Welfare Policies Navigation and Water-Use Policies Coastal Resources and Water Quality Policies Recreational Boating Policies Waterfront Land-Use and Development Policies Water and Waterfront Access Policies Harbor Administration Policies CHAPTER 7: HARBOR MANAGEMENT AREA PLANS AND RECOMMENDATIONS West River Harbor Management Sub-Area West River Crossing Harbor Management Sub-Area West Harbor Harbor Management Sub-Area Long Island Sound Shoreline East Harbor Management Sub-Area Long Island Sound Shoreline East West Harbor Management Sub-Area CHAPTER 8: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES City Council Mayor Harbor Management Commission Other City Agencies State of Connecticut Harbor Master for West Haven State and Federal Agencies Private Individuals and Organizations

7 vii OUTLINE OF CONTENTS (Continued) PART III: APPENDICES Appendix A: Glossary of Terms Appendix B: Selected References Appendix C: Connecticut Harbor Management Act Appendix D: West Haven Code of Ordinances Chapter 20: Harbor Management Appendix E: West Haven Harbor Management Survey Summary LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS BMP: Best Management Practice CCMA: Connecticut Coastal Management Act CJL: Coastal Jurisdiction Line DEEP: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection HMA: West Haven Harbor Management Area HMC: West Haven Harbor Management Commission I-95: Interstate Route 95 MHW: Mean High Water MLLW: Mean Lower Low Water LWRD: Land and Water Resources Division Plan: West Haven Harbor Management Plan POCD: West Haven Plan of Conservation and Development City Code: West Haven Municipal Code of Ordinances TMDL: Total Maximum Daily Load USACE: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers WQS: Connecticut Water Quality Standards