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The What

The What: All Aboard: Noroton Heights, Charter Revision in Bridgeport and Norwalk, and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of July 21.

The What: All Aboard: Noroton Heights, Charter Revision in Bridgeport and Norwalk, and more
It's a sad week in southwest Connecticut as we lost two local leaders. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, July 21 

Happy Monday. This was a particularly sad week in our region as we lost two local government leaders—Jeff Curtis, the president of the Board of Representatives in Stamford and Bill Gerber, the Fairfield First Selectman. We wanted to take a minute and send our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to their families. 

Highlights 

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

  • Bridgeport and Norwalk are continuing their review and recommendations as part of the charter revision process. In Bridgeport, the City Council will meet on Monday, July 21 at 6 p.m. and review the proposed charter revision draft report, while in Norwalk, the Common Council will meet on Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on sending its recommended changes on the draft charter revisions back to the Charter Revision Commission.
  • In Stamford, the city is hosting a special event related to its master plan called Closing the Loop Open House: A Stamford 2035 Planning Celebration on Wednesday, July at 6:30 p.m. The event will include not only a chance to weigh in on the master plan, but also a beer garden, family-friendly activities, and more. 
  • We went in and around Noroton Heights for the latest in our All Aboard series. 

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

In 2016, Darien officials and community members put together a plan to “transform the Noroton Heights Station area” into “a pedestrian‐friendly, mixed-use, village-like area.”

According to the town’s 2016 Plan of Conservation and Development, “the Noroton Heights business district has the potential to be so much more.”

From there, in 2017, the town and WestCOG put together the Noroton Heights Station Area Plan that aimed to “support economic growth and development by promoting sustainable mobility and leveraging the transit-oriented assets surrounding the station.” 

Both plans also noted that the station itself was in need of some improvements, with the Noroton Heights Station Area Plan stating that “the existing train station building needs to be replaced,” due to rundown infrastructure, accessibility concerns, and more. 

Now almost 10 years later, that vision for the area around the station has come to life, while plans to replace the station are a ways off. 

Explore in and around Noroton Heights in our latest All Aboard piece. 

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, July 21 at 6 p.m. and review the proposed charter revision draft report. The city’s Ordinance Committee will also be holding two public hearings on the charter—one on Wednesday, July 23 and one on Thursday, July 24, both at 5 p.m. 
  • In Stamford, the city is hosting a special event related to its master plan called Closing the Loop Open House: A Stamford 2035 Planning Celebration on Wednesday, July at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback on the master plan, discuss the plan with neighbors and local leaders, and enjoy live music, a beer garden, and more. 
  • Also in Stamford, the Transportation Committee will receive an update on the Vision Zero work done so far this year at its meeting on Tuesday, July 22 at 7 p.m. Learn more about Stamford’s Vision Zero efforts.
  • In Norwalk, the Common Council will meet on Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on sending its recommended changes on the draft charter revisions back to the Charter Revision Commission. The council seeks to make a number of edits, including changing its own name from Common Council to City Council; adding one of its members to the Board of Estimate and Taxation; and adjusting the budget process to: establish separate cap limits for the city’s spending and the Board of Education, require Board of Estimate hearings and a joint meeting with Council on or before April 18; and grant the Council authority to override BET action on the spending caps by a 2/3rd vote, including the ability.
  • In Fairfield, the Town Plan and Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. and review an application for a 45-unit residential development at 812 + 820 Reef Road and 155 Forest Avenue, as well as an application for a 68-unit residential development  430 + 452 Stillson Road.
  • In Greenwich, the Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, July 22 at 4 p.m. and review a proposal from Greenwich Park LLC to make additions and alterations to an existing office building at 18 Valley Drive and convert it to a 46-unit multifamily use.
  • In Westport, there will be a Planning & Zoning Commission Work Session on Monday, July 21 at 6 p.m. where the commission will continue to discuss the Hamlet at Saugatuck proposal.

Plan Your Week

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

Bridgeport

Stamford

Norwalk

Fairfield

Greenwich

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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