Fairfield Updates Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations

FAIRFIELD, CT — In an effort to protect Fairfield's watercourses and bring fee schedules in line with other area municipalities, Fairfield recently updated the town's Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick and Conservation Director Tim Bishop announced.

The Conservation Commission unanimously approved the new regulations in June, and they take effect on Saturday, July 1.

"As we continue our efforts to modernize and streamline government operations to meet the needs of our residents and businesses, and most importantly protect our natural resources, I want to thank Tim for his research and work to collaborate with our Commission members to get this completed," Kupchick said in a statement. "These important improvements will provide more protection to inland wetlands and watercourses, restructure the permit fee schedule to make it simple to understand and calculate, while bringing the actual costs on the fee schedule in alignment with surrounding Fairfield County municipalities."

Bishop summarized the changes in the updated regulations in a memo, which can be viewed here.

Among the changes are a new "simple, activity-based permit fee schedule to make it easier to understand and calculate;" and requiring that "applicants submit all petitions, applications, requests and appeals by 2pm no later than eight business days prior to the next regularly scheduled Agency meeting."

The Commission spent almost two years researching best practices before adopting the new recommendations.

"Working to streamline internal processes with the Department and inter-Departmental functions, in addition to formalizing both the protection of Town finances as they relate to retention of professionals for third-party review, as well as storm water management practices, will make our operations smoother and more customer friendly," Kupchick said. "I appreciate the support of our Commission members Chairman Luke Thomas, Vice Chair Dabney Bowen, Secretary Richard Boucher, Gerry Alessi, Jay Fain, Peter Hood, Ted Luchsinger, Brian McCann, Amanda Mertens Campbell, Kathryn O'Mahoney for adopting these new regulations."

To see a compare and contrast example between the old and new fees go to:
Wetlands Fee Schedule Revisions - Comparison Sample.xlsx (fairfieldct.org)

For more information about the Town’s IWWR, go to Department News & Information - Town of Fairfield, Connecticut (fairfieldct.org)

The new IWWR will become effective as of July 1st.