[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6158551,"mediaKeyId","5458055-7796be6b8ce9bac1b78bce8fe7386149","parentId",5458055,"title","Commission lifts cease‑and‑desist at Buttery Road after homeowners agree not to obstruct watercourse","audioSeconds",1679,"startMs",5386000,"endMs",7065000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5458055-7796be6b8ce9bac1b78bce8fe7386149&start=5386&end=7065","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5458055-7796be6b8ce9bac1b78bce8fe7386149/thumbnail_5386000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6158551/Connecticut/Commission-lifts-ceaseanddesist-at-Buttery-Road-after-homeowners-agree-not-to-obstruct-watercourse","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158551-faf575b353fa2634673539b77f29f38d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733736&Signature=Txdmv42MmssIApHQWgNIrEXS-7PY6N7f3J7huDNbp6uZJQQOXEM7kB80zs9W4HPM5vdRdSM~ly6OhPfb-dIPjG5PTF6iOUrJdGprp5PHhVXtw18WM0UI~gHshGxsTz4MRFvQknEP5CeQoXlGXekLPCgIOND1cth2CrwjbAh1MdYxur9UZqTNod4lRrM6-xeqoL3ahtWQbQVsspNE1uyeZsGv0gneeCrId1K3HsvL-FhVrHxAsqNVZ0LRim-2DWZyKFtQ9rVHSg-DIi1~U1kPinqRZ7W7uHi5yUBufEPP1N9xUnhcgHqLwjfOTQeLvNmUzvWDLncWFp9jeIlesiqWxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Canaan, CT","date","2025-07-24T04:19:02.907Z","article","The New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission lifted a cease‑and‑desist July 21 for 93 Buttery Road after staff inspections found no active damming at the time of review and the property owners agreed not to undertake future obstruction of the shared watercourse without prior commission approval.

Why this matters: Neighbors had complained about intermittent placement of boards or similar obstructions that can impound water and affect downstream properties. The commission held a continued hearing after staff visited both 93 Buttery Road (the Lowry property) and 79 Buttery Road (the Torsetta property) and discussed prior activity with both parties.

Director Kathleen Holland reported that staff inspected both properties on July 16 after a heavy rain and found no block or obstruction impeding flow on either property during her inspection. She also told the commission that both property owners agreed during interviews that they would not place boards or other obstructions in the watercourse in the future. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry told the commission they had temporarily placed a small board to raise water level by a couple of inches to protect nesting geese and ducklings and said they would not repeat the practice without permits. Mr. Lowry described repeated seasonal low water and predation at the shallow north end of their pond and said the temporary measure was intended to protect nesting birds.

Neighbor Mary Alina Torsetta, represented by attorney Brian McCann, submitted dated photos showing earlier instances in which boards appeared to be placed in the channel. McCann said his client saw repeated installations over time. During the hearing the neighbors’ representatives agreed to cease any future impoundment activity and to seek permission before any work in the watercourse. After discussion Commissioner Sandy Redden moved that staff remove the cease‑and‑desist; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Next steps: The commission will record the lifting of the cease‑and‑desist in the meeting minutes. Staff will continue to monitor the watercourse and stated they will require permit applications if anyone proposes future in‑water work. Both sides were reminded that any obstruction of a watercourse requires prior commission approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Inland Wetlands Commission Meeting July 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After site inspections and testimony, the New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission lifted a cease‑and‑desist for 93 Buttery Road July 21 when the property owners agreed they would not place boards or other obstructions in the shared watercourse without a permit.","taxTitle","New Canaan, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",57946,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6158554,"Commission approves temporary drawdown of Collins Pond for dam inspection; requires weekly progress reports",862,4373000,5235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5458055-7796be6b8ce9bac1b78bce8fe7386149&start=4373&end=5235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5458055-7796be6b8ce9bac1b78bce8fe7386149/thumbnail_4373000.jpg","/articles/6158554/Connecticut/Commission-approves-temporary-drawdown-of-Collins-Pond-for-dam-inspection-requires-weekly-progress-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158554-40fd017da9db2768cdb015e293549708/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733736&Signature=BXxEnDD-K-gTYtFwXNZU4sS0jdZ8miGEDb99jH5BRdfnPewl1--f~78RP22jRd2Vi8S2QMvKd1Bl7uFroZz7Mfmt8OWyg5B1-y8~eNDAnEW-VggigoCpoHzq3hMVCGSFWVa4VgwDByb2luI5jwFcC5RLBVsNHNUjJByfP9u~ThxQE~mWI7lktDl53v11X~Xay5mEyDeXHGGJaClATe1~MZCdm6cRo17mbQ7WfAj6C4xMgRqL3nmMZQdwG6wcync7q78wfSFgNfuRrsJWz-~afaFC4R7Rs~ygfvdKMVwvOppnafs9Mqpx1qqAKw78dCkr9346KAwpNDc6ZpWqEPEYwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission voted unanimously July 21 to permit a temporary drawdown of Collins Pond at the Rippewam Road site so engineers can inspect the dam’s upstream face and two abandoned outlet pipes as part of dam repair design work. Joel Moore, a geologist for Verdantus, presented the plan and described cofferdams and bypass pumping to allow visual inspection.

Why this matters: The owners seek to confirm the condition of a 12‑inch cast‑iron low‑level outlet on the dam’s west side and a 4‑inch pipe on the east side — one outlet to be made operable and the other to be sealed — and to document the concrete face before submitting repair plans to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) for formal permitting.

Moore described the proposed approach: install temporary coffer dams and bypass pumps to lower water near the upstream face, then allow exposed sediments to stabilize for 3–5 days before technicians conduct a one‑day inspection. Drawdown and filling of the coffer dams would be gradual; Moore said the initial drawdown would take one to two weeks, followed by removal of the coffer dams when inspections and measurements are complete. He said the inspections will support design work that will be submitted to CT DEEP for any required dam‑repair permitting.

Commissioners asked about prior contacts with CT DEEP, alternatives to drawdown (for example, underwater drones) and the purpose of the abandoned pipes. Moore said he has been in contact with CT DEEP; the agency has reviewed prior inspection reports and supports repair work in principle, but the local commission must authorize temporary dewatering because the activity is regulated locally. He said underwater drones provided limited visibility and divers were constrained; visual inspection following a controlled drawdown is necessary to locate and measure the outlet pipes and assess the upstream concrete.

Director Kathleen Holland recommended a permit condition. The commission added Holland’s suggested special condition that the project’s site engineer provide weekly written progress reports to town staff for the duration of in‑water activities and notify staff of issues or corrective measures. Commissioner Sandy Redden moved to approve the application (listed as IW‑25‑31 at the hearing) with that special condition; Commissioner Beth Sanford seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: Verdantus will install the temporary coffer dams and pumps under the approved conditions, conduct the inspection and complete repair designs for CT DEEP review. Staff will receive weekly engineering progress reports during in‑water work and will monitor any on‑site issues.","The New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission unanimously approved a temporary drawdown and cofferdam installation at Collins Pond to let consultants inspect the dam’s upstream face and two abandoned outlet pipes, with a condition that the site engineer provide weekly written progress reports to town staff.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6158556,"Applicants withdraw plan to excavate 9,500‑sq. ft. pond at 676 Laurel Road after commission presses for more analysis",4010,252000,4262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5458055-7796be6b8ce9bac1b78bce8fe7386149&start=252&end=4262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5458055-7796be6b8ce9bac1b78bce8fe7386149/thumbnail_252000.jpg","/articles/6158556/Connecticut/Applicants-withdraw-plan-to-excavate-9500sq-ft-pond-at-676-Laurel-Road-after-commission-presses-for-more-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158556-b96a0e39336f160dc06cd06e69c8216a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733736&Signature=OcCyb6R2wl4lXoOn88O84HhmxF9PpfmoxWwxYTXhJ6AWIhakoGEwiIbgC3iaL5FkYCqwNuxi1d83JwJUKJHcCWH-aWL2zjjv6qLHc3EIB4ZmNE~UTKszf6gg2wqjSs6ADKWOqLbmZaQq6uXh21oVvTK6mieung4IvhvO66SkHeWp~smbj8Z6tLJIbMbzI4p2QBEKtSrjMojoIdqrka1r61oL59PQ1YaO0uG7zmC10Bqs5vP1fs3uAWaK1W-3Gjt56dW6YLT86hCUAHn9CQ8axYy0F-Qt9FcM4Wuo-4EZ0JvDAgYDxz~BH4j~wi4X3TU8VEtFo33O7ve8jvCPX~zU2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Applicants for 676 Laurel Road withdrew their proposal July 21 to excavate a 9,500‑square‑foot pond and remove 11 trees in a wetland corridor after members of the New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission raised questions about the project’s short‑ and long‑term environmental effects. Alexandra Mok, the soil scientist and landscape designer representing the applicant, asked the commission to allow the withdrawal so the team could address commissioners’ concerns.

Why this matters: The proposal would convert a functioning wet meadow and stream corridor crossed by Poorhouse Brook into a standing pond and include excavation of roughly 1,407 cubic yards of material for the pond plus about 47 cubic yards for a plunge pool. Commissioners said that converting the existing wetland structure to a pond, and the temporary in‑wetland excavation and equipment access required, raised questions about flood storage, downstream effects and habitat tradeoffs that merited further study.

Mok described the plan in detail at the July 21 meeting. The design called for bypass pumping of the perennial stream around the excavation area, a dewatering trench to contain and dry excavated sediments, use of timber mats and long logs to stabilize equipment access, and a plunge pool to settle sediment before water reaches the new pond. Mok said the site has a high groundwater table and a perennial stream, and that the proposed pond “is going to be wet and is going to hold the water throughout the year.” She also said the maximum pond depth would be 7 feet and that the project would remove 11 trees while planting an 11‑tree mitigation strip and a broader planting plan of shrubs and herbaceous species along disturbed edges.

Commissioners pressed several technical points. They asked how the pond would affect downstream flow and the adjacent landowner’s recently dredged pond, whether the volume and timing of stormwater would change, and whether the excavation could be done without additional tree loss where the excavator needs access. Commissioner Sandy Redden and others repeatedly asked for quantitative analysis; Director Kathleen Holland and several commissioners recommended third‑party review to assess both temporary construction impacts and longer‑term hydrologic and habitat effects.

Mok offered mitigation measures and construction sequencing — installing erosion and sediment controls, constructing a dewatering trench, pumping and bypassing stream flow through a pipe to discharge below the work area, excavating the pond, and then installing plantings and meadow seed mixes on disturbed wetland edges. She estimated excavation could take up to a month and said fall planting typically increases establishment success. Mok also said she would accept a condition that staff inspect plant survival and require replanting if survival fell below an agreed threshold.

After extended discussion about potential impacts and the tight procedural schedule, Mok told the commission she would withdraw the application and return later after consulting staff and, if desired, pursuing additional analysis. “I would like to request that we would like to withdraw the application before you, give us the denial,” she said. The withdrawal prevented a formal vote on the application; commission members indicated they expected the applicant to consult with staff about third‑party review, possible downsizing of the plan to save additional trees, and conditions for monitoring planting success if the proposal is refiled.

Next steps: The applicant will work with Director Holland on follow‑up, consider narrowing the pond footprint to preserve additional trees, and may refile for a future meeting after supplemental review or additional studies. No permit was granted or denied at the July 21 hearing.","Applicants for 676 Laurel Road withdrew an application July 21 to excavate a 9,500‑square‑foot pond and remove 11 trees after New Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission members said they wanted third‑party review of short‑ and long‑term impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission lifts cease‑and‑desist at Buttery Road after homeowners agree not to obstruct watercourse

Commission approves temporary drawdown of Collins Pond for dam inspection; requires weekly progress reports

Applicants withdraw plan to excavate 9,500‑sq. ft. pond at 676 Laurel Road after commission presses for more analysis