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The What

The What: All Aboard: In and Around the Fairfield Station; Follow Us on Social; and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of December 2.

The What: All Aboard: In and Around the Fairfield Station; Follow Us on Social; and more
Happy December! (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, December 2

Happy Monday! Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving. I can’t believe it’s already December, but there’s a lot happening this week so let’s dive in.

Highlights 

This section will give a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

Spotlight

This section will feature our main reporting each week.

The Fairfield Train Station is located in the heart of the town’s downtown. It’s surrounded by about 40 restaurants, arts and cultural spaces, such as the Fairfield Theatre Company, and major institutions, like town hall. It’s just over a mile from one of the town’s most popular beaches, Penfield, and about a mile and a half from Fairfield University.  

A 2019 Fairfield Transit Oriented Development plan described the downtown as “attractive and walkable with a plethora of restaurants, entertainment, shops and services. The downtown also contains several schools, government offices, and arts and cultural anchors.”

Pre-COVID, more than 2,000 riders accessed Fairfield station each day, particularly commuting during the peak hours but also on Saturdays for trips into NYC. The plan noted that it was “one of the busiest stations on the Metro North New Haven line,” with 1,100 surface parking spaces, and “single-family neighborhoods are within easy walking distance to the station.”

It’s one of three train stations in the town, alongside Southport and the newly renamed Fairfield–Black Rock. Service to the Southport station is much more limited than the other two. 

Though the area surrounding the station is largely built out, there are a few hotly debated proposals to bring more development to the area. 

Let’s take a look at the current area and what debates are taking place around potential development. You can also check out our video piece highlighting the area in and  around the station. 

This Week at a Glance

This section aims to highlight the most important meetings and news taking place each week.

  • In Bridgeport, the City Council will meet on Monday, December 2 at 7 p.m. to vote on new offices and appoint members to committees.
  • Also in Bridgeport, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, December 5 at 6 p.m. The board will review and take possible action against two board members, Robert Traber and Willie Medina, for potentially creating “hostile workplace environment for district employees including the superintendent, endangerment of Bridgeport Public School students, violation of 9210(3), and the engagement of cyberbullying and/or harassment.” In addition, the board will review and potentially vote to remove Christine Baptiste-Perez as the Chairwoman of the Board of Education. OnlyinBridgeport reported that Superintendent Carmela Levy-David is on leave and four members of the BOE, including Traber and Medina, gave her poor reviews over her personnel decisions, fiscal policies, and communication issues. Read the full story.
  • In Stamford, the Board of Representatives will meet on Monday, December 2 at 8 p.m. and vote on numerous items, including approving American Rescue Plan Act funds for paving projects, improvements at the Yerwood Center, and the redesign of Lione Park. 
  • Also in Stamford, there will be a Transportation Center Mural Info Session for interested artists at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3. Learn more about the mural and public art around southwest Connecticut. 
  • In Norwalk, the Public Works Committee of the Common Council will meet on Tuesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. and review a proposal to spend $844,000 on new sidewalks and connectivity projects for the South Norwalk School. Learn more about the school construction project. 
  • In Fairfield, the Board of Finance will meet on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. to elect its officers for the upcoming year as well as review a reallocation plan for the town’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds. The board will also vote on contributing $87,500 to a $350,000 Safe Streets for All federal grant, which Fairfield received earlier this year. The $87,500 is the town’s required matching portion. 
  • In Westport, the Representative Town Meeting will meet on Tuesday, December 3 and celebrate its 75th anniversary starting at 7 p.m. At its meeting, the body will review and vote on approving $110,000 for traffic signal and pedestrian improvements in the Saugatuck Center. 
  • Also in Westport, the Board of Finance will meet on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. and review and vote on appropriating $4,465,594 for school building projects. Learn more about school construction across southwest Connecticut. 

Plan Your Week

This section will include a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Stamford

Norwalk

Fairfield

Greenwich

  • Monday, December 2: FS Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities at 9:15 a.m. | RTM COMMITTEES: Finance Committee at 7 p.m. | Education Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Legislative & Rules Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Public Works Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Land Use Committee at 7:45 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, December 3: Fair Rent Commission at 7 p.m. | Old Greenwich School Building Committee at 7 a.m. | RTM COMMITTEES:  Appointments Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Health & Human Services Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Parks & Recreation Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Town Services Committee at 7:30 p.m.  | Transportation Committee at 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, December 5: Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. | FS Sustainability Committee at 11 a.m.

Darien

Westport

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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