Connecticut High Court Finds Local Town Zoning Does Not Regulate Dock in Harbor

Eastern Water Law & Policy Reporter

July 2011

In a battle between adjacent dock owners, Jerome Rapport attempted to force the City of Stamford's Zoning Board to find that improvements approved by defendant town zoning officer, James L. Lunney, III, were subject to the city's zoning regulations. The Zoning Board notably found that as a matter of state water law of Connecticut the dock improvements were located water ward of the mean high water line and therefore not subject to Zoning Board regulation. The Supreme Court of Connecticut agreed and affirmed the decision of the trial court.