The What: New Norwalk Businesses; Opposition to UI’s Transmission Project in Fairfield and Bridgeport, and More

Kelly Prinz -

Monday, September 8

Happy Monday! We hope you all had a great week. We enjoyed our time off and are back and ready for a new month.   

Highlights 

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

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

It’s been a busy summer in Norwalk with multiple big name stores opening in the city along Connecticut Avenue.

For starters, Wegmans opened its doors at the end of July. This is Wegmans’ first store in Connecticut. The 92,000 square foot store was built to look and feel like an open-air market, according to its application. It features fresh produce, artisan breads, baked goods prepared on the premises, fresh meat and seafood, and other gourmet and staple foods and household staples. There’s also a cafe area on the second floor. 

Just across the street from Wegmans is the new Norwalk Target, which opened its doors in August. The 117,000 square-foot retail space includes not only Target products, but also a new Starbucks and CVS Pharmacy inside. The space previously was a Walmart that was converted into a Target over the past two years. 

And finally, also just a few feet away a new PGA Superstore opened its doors in August.

Learn more about these businesses or watch our video highlights.

Fairfield and Bridgeport local officials and residents continue to voice their opposition to United Illuminating’s (UI) plan to replace transmission lines along the Metro North railroad in their communities. 

The proposal has been seeking approval from the Connecticut Siting Council, which has jurisdiction over infrastructure including transmission lines, for the last few months. Last week, the council, in a nonbinding straw poll, signaled it would vote to approve the project much to the dismay of local leaders and residents. 

“The people of Fairfield and Bridgeport deserve better,” Fairfield First Selectman Christine Vitale said in a statement. “We will seek out every legal option in opposition to this plan before we accept massive monopoles that will permanently disfigure our historic character.”

Learn more about United Illuminating’s plans and why there’s been so much opposition to it.

This Week at a Glance

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

  • In Bridgeport, the Board of Education will meet on Monday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. and receive an update on the district’s progress as it relates to the state intervention in the school system.
  • In Stamford, the Planning Board will host a public hearing on the proposed 10-year master plan on Tuesday, Sept. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m. The hearing will start with a brief presentation “explaining the changes since the last public review with discussion and questions from the Board followed by the opportunity for the public to provide comments.”
  • In Norwalk, the Bike/Walk Commission will meet on Monday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. and discuss potential funding for trail opportunities in the city.
  • In Fairfield, the Town Plan and Zoning Commission will host a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. on the proposed 10-year master plan for the town.
  • In Greenwich, the Conservation Commission is hosting an event titled Oh Deer! Managing the White-Tailed Deer Population in Greenwich on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. Dr. Howard Kilpatrick, a wildlife biologist in the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will present on white-tailed deer population management options, share best practices from across the state, and discuss the ecological and community benefits of responsible management. Residents can also share their experiences and concerns related to deer in Greenwich.
  • In Darien, the Board of Selectmen will meet on Monday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. to discuss and vote on a $2.96 million proposal for Great Island early access and stabilization.
  • In Westport, the Planning and Zoning Commission will meet in executive session on Monday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. to discuss potential litigation around the denial of the Hamlet project. 

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