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
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FOREWORD
This document contains the City of West Haven Harbor Management Plan, Draft for Public Review, (the Plan) March 2017. 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.
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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, 2015. 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.
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OUTLINE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Contents
List of Photos, Maps, and Figures
List of Acronyms
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
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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
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OUTLINE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
PART II:
THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN
CHAPTER 5:
Goal 1:
Goal 2:
Goal 3:
Goal 4:
Goal 5:
Goal 6:
Goal 7:
Goal 8:
Goal 9:
Goal 10:
Goal 11:
Goal 12:
GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOR HARBOR AND WATERFRONT MANAGEMENT
Active Management of the HMA by the City of West Haven
Public, Health, Safety, and Welfare
Sustainable Economic Benefits
Environmental Sustainability, Conservation, and Enhancement
Coastal Resiliency
Viable Water-Dependent and -Enhanced Uses and Facilities
Recreational Uses
Public Access to the HMA
Planning and Regulation of Waterfront Land-Use
Protection of Community Character
Public Interest, Support, and Participation
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
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OUTLINE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
PART III:
APPENDICES
Appendix A:
Appendix B:
Appendix C:
Appendix D:
Appendix E:
Glossary of Terms
Selected References
Connecticut Harbor Management Act
West Haven Code of Ordinances Chapter 20: Harbor Management
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