Local State Reps Oppose Coastal Management Bill

This is a press release from Rep. Paul Davis.

State Representative Paul Davis (D-Milford/Orange/West Haven) and State Representative Kim Rose (D-Milford) voted against HB 5128, “An Act Concerning Certain Revisions To The Coastal Zone Management Statutes,” at a recent meeting of the legislature’s Environment Committee.

The bill, approved by a 19-10 vote, could have a major impact on coastal property owners whose homes are damaged by coastal storms. During the meeting, the legislators said an amendment was passed that improved the bill by requiring compensation to the property owners by a municipality should a local commission deny a permit to rebuild a home which has been damaged two times by storms.

“While I support the concept of better planning for coastal development, this bill, even with the compensation amendment, placed too many of our coastal home owners in jeopardy of property and financial loss,” Rep. Davis said. “The Climate Change and Shoreline Preservation Task Force was organized recently to study these issues and I prefer to wait until their study is completed so we can find a way to better protect our shoreline homeowners.”

Rep. Rose has received numerous phone calls and emails expressing concern about the bill passed by the environment committee.

“I know of several Milford owners who had damage to their homes during storm Irene and could be negatively impacted by passage of the bill,” Rep. Rose said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to be certain residents are fully protected from storm losses.”

Both Rep. Davis and Rep. Rose are members of The Climate Change and Shoreline Preservation Task Force which has just started to work on issues affecting the shoreline, its businesses and property owners.