Letter Delivered to EPC 4/11/2007

On April 11th Darien Residents and Property Owners delivered the following letter to the EPC.  On April 12th it was emailed to the First Selectwoman Evonne Klein and  You can support the residents by leaving your comments right here online.

To: Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, Planning and Zoning, Public Works, and the Environmental Protection Commission  From: Residents/Property Owners of Darien, CT – April 11, 2007 We are property owners and/or residents of
Darien, CT.  We recognize from the increased water tables and escalated flooding in 2006 and 2007 that prompt corrective action is required to alleviate these problems. We are requesting the State of
Connecticut and our Town Selectmen, Board of Finance, Planning and Zoning, and EPC find financing and means within the law to act on this urgent matter of public safety. If this is a matter of coordinating efforts with the Federal Government and the State of
Connecticut, we expect our Town to take a leadership role to get this done. 

• Darien has operated with a 50 year old study, yet building has continued and the creeks and rivers used to drain the town have become over burdened.
• Residents have been told that maintenance will be done to clean silt, vegetation, and manmade matter from the drains, catch basins and the waterways that are used to drain the town. It has not happened. We have now learned that the Town is taking the position that it is up to each property owner with permission from the EPC to manage this cleanup.
• There is damage to the drainage infrastructure in and around the waterways compounded with the lack of maintenance. As individuals, many of have provided photos and information to Public Works, Selectmen and other State and Town officials. The entire Town of
  Darien is at risk of road closures, downed utility poles, compromised water and sewage systems, and as the flooding escalates – there are the dangers of electrical fires and drowning deaths.  This situation puts residents and our first-responders at risk.

We believe in the fine balance between the beauty of
Darien’s environment and the need for drainage to preserve public safety. It is clear and observable that the waterways in Darien, especially Stony Brook and the Goodwives River, have been converted over many decades to use as part of Darien’s drainage system.  Public and private drain pipes lead water and debris into these waterways. Building and the “lay of the land” also move water and debris into these waterways.  Impediments, both natural and manmade are visible in Stony Brook and the Goodwives.  It is impeding the flow of water and the proper function of “catch basins”. These waterways are no longer functioning to their converted purpose. We ask that the EPC grant property owners and the town the ability to remove silt deposits, fallen trees, saplings, and vegetable matter that have taken over the waterways. If it is the intent of the EPC to allow the Town’s drainage system to “return to nature”, we ask that this be announced to the Selectmen and residents so we can take proper action to move to the creation of a new functioning drainage system for the Town. Lastly, we support the EPC suggestion to conduct a study of the water drainage in
Darien. Our expectation is that the study would be conducted by an out-of-town expert hydrologist.   Public safety remains our concern.  If this study is not financed, commenced, and action taken, the Town will face a public safety crisis that will deliver long term financial consequences upon
Darien’s budget and reputation.  The last weather event that created flooding involved road closures, telephone and other communication system failures, over burdened emergency services, public and private property damage. Inaction is not an option. POST YOUR COMMENT BELOW TO SIGN LETTER ONLINE