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The What

The What: Decision on UI’s Plans for Fairfield/Bridgeport, Westhill High School Forum, and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of October 13.

The What: Decision on UI’s Plans for Fairfield/Bridgeport, Westhill High School Forum, and more
Hope you're all staying safe and dry! (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, October 13

Happy Monday! This week, we’re keeping our eyes on the Connecticut Siting Council to see if it decides to let United Illuminating move forward with its transmission line plans in Fairfield and Bridgeport despite local opposition. 

Highlights 

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

  • On Thursday, the Connecticut Siting Council is expected to vote—or potentially postpone its vote again—on United Illuminating’s plans to replace transmission lines in Fairfield and Bridgeport. Local residents, officials, and business owners have spoken out against the plans, which they said would take private property, alter the community’s landscape, and cause environmental concerns. Learn more about the history of the plans and the community opposition.  
  • Stamford families and community members are invited to a Westhill School Construction Meeting, which will include updates on the plans, impacts to students, and more.  

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

Residents of Fairfield and Bridgeport are waiting to see what the Connecticut Siting Council decides at its meeting on Thursday, October 16. The council will be voting on (or potentially delaying its vote once again) plans from United Illuminating (UI) to replace transmission lines along the Metro North railroad in those communities.

The project would include about “500 new foundation supported galvanized transmission poles, upgrading of conductor size and installing sectionalizing switches at nearby substations.” United Illuminating said the upgrade project would “enhance the structural integrity and reliability of the high voltage transmission lines along the MNR corridor allowing UI to continue to provide safe, reliable electric service to our customers for years to come.”

But local residents, officials, and business owners have spoken out against the plans, which they said would take private property, alter the community’s landscape, and cause environmental concerns.

Explore the history of United Illuminating’s plans and the community opposition. 

This Week at a Glance

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

  • In Stamford, families and community members are invited to a Westhill School Construction Meeting on Thursday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m. which will include updates on the plans, impacts to students, and more.  
  • In Norwalk, the Common Council will meet on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on numerous items, including a contract with artist Jahmane West for the Ely Avenue Fencing Mural.
  • In Fairfield, the Town Plan and Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. and review an application to convert an office building at 60 Katona Drive to a Goddard School. 
  • In Greenwich, the Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, October 15 at 4 p.m. to review a plan to demolish an existing 217-bed skilled nursing facility and construct a four-story, 170 unit assisted housing development with 30% of the proposed units designated as “affordable.”
  • In Darien, the Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. and review the town’s plans to purchase 37 West Avenue, as well as discuss the 2026 updates to the town’s master plan.
  • In Westport, the Affordable Housing Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 14 at 3 p.m. and review and discuss a plan to create a “community conversation” on affordable housing in the town.

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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