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The What

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of June 24.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
Happy last week of June! Read below to learn more about our summer plans. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, June 24

Happy Monday! We wanted to start by giving you all a little update: Coastal Connecticut Times will be taking a hiatus in July. 

We’ve decided to do this for a few reasons. One, the summer months in general are (a little) slower for local government, particularly in July when many committees take a break. Two, we wanted to take a little time this summer to spend time with family and friends during our favorite season. And number three—and probably the most important!—we’re going to be revamping Coastal Connecticut Times a bit in an effort to better serve our readers. We’ve been doing some analysis of our readership (and looking at potential readers!) and gathering some feedback from many of you and we think we can be a better resource. So we’re going to take off July, do some of that behind-the-scenes work, and come back in August with a slightly new look. 

You’ll have one more newsletter hitting your inboxes next week (on Monday, July 1) before we officially step away for July, and that will feature Part 3 in our Getting Around series, so stay tuned for that. 

If you have any thoughts about how we can better serve you, feel free to reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com. Otherwise, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Getting Around before next week! 

Let’s see what’s happening around southwest Connecticut this week. 

Stamford

The Land Use-Urban Redevelopment Committee of the Board of Representatives will meet on Monday, June 24 at 7 p.m. and host a public hearing and review of a petition that is appealing the Zoning Board’s approval of Application 224-05. The application from the city aimed to “incorporate the changes” made by a new state law into the Stamford Zoning regulations.

“Changes in the State Statute included the addition of energy efficiency, protection of historic, cultural and environmental resources and the provision of housing to address equity issues. It deleted references to neighborhood character and property values which have been used in the past to justify exclusionary zoning practices and perpetuated inequities,” a memo from Land Bureau Chief Ralph Blessing read.

However, more than 300 residents signed a petition to appeal these provisions stating that the “changes to the regulation negatively impact our residential neighborhoods” and are “not in accord with the city charter.”  

The Board of Representatives now has to decide whether to rule in favor of the appeal or reject it. The first step is going through the Board’s Land Use-Urban Redevelopment Committee.

The Land Use-Urban Redevelopment Committee will meet again on Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. to potentially wrap up any parts of the public hearing—if needed—and discuss and potentially vote on a consultant to help create the city’s next 10-year comprehensive plan.

Other meetings this week include: 

Norwalk

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, June 26 at 6 p.m. and continue its public hearing on O&G Industries’ plans to store and transfer aggregate materials, including stone and sand, to their site off Smith Street along the Norwalk River. The materials would be brought primarily by barges, then distributed to construction sites throughout Norwalk, Fairfield County, and the state by trucks arriving at the site. Read more about part 1 of the hearing through our partnership with NancyonNorwalk.

On Monday, June 24, the Affordable Housing Plan Advisory Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. and receive a presentation on the draft of the city’s housing needs assessment report. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Fairfield

The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and vote on approving the 2024-2035 Fairfield Public Schools Long Range Facilities Plan for its buildings. 

The Board of Selectmen will meet on Wednesday, June 26 at 4 p.m. to discuss and potentially vote on an agreement between the town Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. to provide a response to comments from the U.S. EPA on the investigation of the fill pile. Learn more about the history of contamination and violations at the site. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Greenwich

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, June 25 at 4 p.m. to review an application from the Mill Owners Company LLC; to construct a 27,456 square foot, 2.5 story building at a property that includes ​​6 and 10 Glenville Street and 328, 334, and 340 Pemberwick Road. The proposal calls for 15 rental dwelling units and 23 parking spaces, along with improvements to the landscaping and property. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Darien

Meetings this week include:

Westport

The Board of Selectmen will meet on Wednesday, June 26 at 9 a.m. to review and vote on multiple items including approving a master agreement between the town and the Connecticut Department of Transportation related to joint construction projects between the two as well as on a contract between the town and Vision Government Solutions for appraisal services for the 2025 town-wide property revaluation.

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.

If you are interested in being a part of our reporting or just want to share your thoughts, please reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com. 

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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