New Canaan Wetlands Panel Confirms Court Loss, Opens Waveny Park Hearing
Inland Wetlands · Meeting of March 16, 2026
New Canaan wetlands panel confirms court loss, opens Waveny Park hearing. Inland Wetlands Director Kathleen Holland told commissioners the town has filed for an extension of time to seek further appeal after a Superior Court judge ruled Feb. 6 against the town in Hill Street 72 LLC v. Inland Wetlands Commission, stemming from a 2023 permit denial.
The panel also opened, then continued to April 20, a hearing on a Waveny Park plan to remove roughly 50 Norway maple trees near Anderson Pond and replant with native species. Commissioner Dan Stuponic presented a graded comparison of eight Connecticut towns' wetlands websites, rating Greenwich highest at B+. Commissioner Sandy Redden countered that New Canaan's existing site was "extremely efficient." New alternate member Tom Cunningham was welcomed to the commission, and prior meeting minutes were approved, one with two abstentions.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 996 words
Source: the Inland Wetlands meeting of March 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
NEW CANAAN — March 16, 2026 — The Inland Wetlands Commission confirmed Monday that a state Superior Court judge ruled against the town in a three-year-old wetlands permit dispute, even as the panel opened a public hearing on a Waveny Park tree removal and pond restoration project and debated how to modernize its website for residents.
Commission members meeting at Town Hall also welcomed new alternate member Tom Cunningham, approved minutes from two prior sessions, one with two abstentions, and continued the Waveny Park public hearing to April 20 at the applicant's request. Inland Wetlands Director Kathleen Holland told commissioners the town has filed for an extension of time to seek further appellate review of the court's Feb. 6 ruling in Hill Street 72 LLC v. Inland Wetlands Commission.
The Full Story
Holland gave commissioners a litigation update on Hill Street 72 LLC's long-running challenge to a 2023 permit denial. The commission denied the company's inland wetlands permit application on March 22, 2023, and the applicant appealed. On Feb. 6, 2026, the Superior Court sustained that appeal, ruling against the town. Holland said that before a Feb. 26 deadline, the town filed for an extension of time in which to file a petition seeking further appellate review, correcting an initial statement that suggested the appeal itself had already been filed. Chairwoman Angela Jameson reminded commissioners that further discussion of the litigation should occur only in executive session with the town's attorney, and that no member should comment publicly on the pending case.
The commission then opened a public hearing on Application No. 2553, a request from the town's Waveny Park to remove roughly 50 Norway maple trees measuring 10 inches or more in diameter, along with selective shrubbery, in areas northeast and south of Anderson Pond. The applicant plans to replant with native species in spring 2026 and add stone steps and footpath sections to improve viewing access to the pond. At the applicant's request, no presentation was given Monday, and the hearing was continued to the commission's April 20 meeting. Holland said additional records, including a finalized planting plan, are expected before then.
In her agent's report, Holland highlighted several active projects moving through administrative review. A redevelopment at 995 South Avenue has been vetted by planning and zoning, health and engineering staff, with demolition applications already filed. New Canaan Country School's plan to convert two athletic fields to synthetic turf at 635 Frogtown, roughly 150 feet from wetlands, required a full administrative review because of the cumulative scope of the work, Holland said. A smaller project at 40 Lakeview Avenue involves a retaining wall and underground utility work in an upland review area, while several residential pool applications, including one near Five Hindmeadow, were delayed this winter by heavy snow cover and are now moving forward.
Much of the meeting was devoted to a lengthy discussion of the town's wetlands webpage. Commissioner Dan Stuponic presented research comparing New Canaan's site to those of eight other Connecticut towns, Greenwich, Westport, Fairfield, Norwalk, Darien, Wilton, Ridgefield and Southbury, grading each. He gave Greenwich a B+ for its detailed frequently-asked-questions page and new-homebuyer section, Norwalk and Darien a B, Westport a C+ for offering free wetlands training to residents, and Ridgefield a C++. He recommended New Canaan consider adding a first-time-homebuyer page, more photos and color, and possibly an embedded training video. Commissioner Sandy Redden, who separately reviewed New Canaan's site in detail earlier this year, said he found it effective as is, while Commissioner Beth Sanford urged the panel to first define clear goals for what the website should accomplish before making changes.
"I believe they filed for an extension of time in which to file an appeal." — Kathleen Holland, Inland Wetlands Director
"I thought ours was extremely efficient and I did go through the frequently asked questions." — Sandy Redden, commission member
"I think these days most people are doing a project, buying a home, going to the website first." — Tom Cunningham, alternate commission member
Commissioners were split on whether to hold an in-person wetlands presentation, an idea also raised by Stuponic. Redden was skeptical it would draw much of an audience beyond the realtor outreach staff already conduct, while Jameson said she worried a library talk would not reach the homeowners most likely to be affected. The panel agreed to prioritize improving the website first, revisit a possible presentation later, and consider partnering with groups such as the Land Trust or the Nature and Environmental Coalition to reach residents through their existing events. Each commissioner was asked to review the town's website before the next meeting, with Holland set to return with suggested changes.
Why It Matters
The Waveny Park project would reshape a heavily used stretch of parkland around Anderson Pond, removing dozens of mature trees in favor of native plantings and improved public access, with the town's own commission overseeing the work under the same rules that apply to private property owners. The Hill Street 72 LLC ruling is a setback for the commission's permit-denial authority and could shape how the town defends future wetlands decisions in court. Separately, any changes to the town's wetlands website could directly affect how easily New Canaan homeowners, particularly those planning pools, additions or landscaping near wetlands, learn whether they need a permit before starting work.
Key Motions & Votes
- Vote: Approval of the March 16 meeting agenda Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Approval of minutes of the Jan. 26, 2026 regular meeting Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Approval of minutes of the Feb. 18, 2026 site visit Tally: For: 5, Against: 0, Abstain: 2, Total: 7 - Action: Public hearing opened on Application No. 2553, Waveny Park tree removal and pond restoration, 67 South Avenue — Continued to April 20, 2026 - Vote: Motion to adjourn Tally: Approved unanimously
Source
Town Of New Canaan: Inland Wetlands Commission meeting, March 16, 2026