Street Flooding

10/18/2006

Devon panel targets street flooding

Chris Rhatigan , Register Staff

-MILFORD — Devon residents and St. Ann’s Church parishioners have had enough of flooding in the area around the intersection of Bridgeport and Naugatuck avenues, and voiced their concerns at a recent Devon Revitalization Committee meeting.

After hearing the complaints, the committee voted to hire a consultant, who will decide on the best way to solve the problem. State House Speaker James A. Amann said some leftover state funds for streetscape improvements in Devon may be used to help alleviate the flooding.

"It’s good that we heard about it, and it’s time to solve it," Amann said. Those attending the meeting said between 15 and 20 residents came to inform the committee of the flooding.

According to Andrew Charland, a St. Ann’s parishioner who spoke at the meeting, the church’s basement has flooded five times over the last 40 years, including twice this year.

"It’s one of those things being pushed to the side," he said. "There is quite a bit of concern about this problem."

Residents said the problem has been getting worse recently. Charland thinks that is because of development in the area causing more runoff.

Committee member Bishop Jay Ramirez of Kingdom Life Church said despite the church’s proximity to the area, he wasn’t aware of the flooding. Amann also said prior to the meeting he didn’t know about the problem.

"We were unfortunately caught off guard," Ramirez said. "In my mind, it’s totally valid what they were saying." He said residents commented that the flooding occurs mostly during high tide.

St. Ann’s Rev. Thomas Ptaszynski could not be reached for comment.

Community and Economic Development Director Robert Gregory said an ad-hoc committee of residents and city officials will be created to deal with the problem. He said the existing storm drain there was built in 1938, and a bigger pipe needs to be installed.

Gregory said photos the residents provided illustrated the problem, as the area looked more like a lake.

"It affects all the businesses and residences on that street," he said. "The political will is there to do it, and I’m sure it’s going to get done." Gregory added that the flooding is also affecting sidewalks installed recently on Naugatuck Avenue.

No cost has been established for the project. In the 2007-2011 section of the Mayor’s Capital Improvement Plan, there is an item calling for $200,000 for Naugatuck Avenue drainage. However, the Capital Improvement Plan is merely a planning tool and does not allot any funds to projects.
As Published by New Haven Register at: http://www.nhregister.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1281&dept_id=517515&newsid=17341884