The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
The What is your look around southwest Connecticut, from Greenwich to Fairfield, for the week of July 5.
Happy Tuesday!
Hope you all had a fun, relaxing long weekend.
This week, the Stamford Public School district is kicking off its series of summer “Miles Make Smiles” mental health walks. Every Wednesday from July 6 until the end of August, the community is encouraged to come out at 5 p.m. for a walk at Cove Island Park. The goal is to help fight “the isolation of summer and the impact this may have on mental health.”
Here’s more information about mental health in Southwest Connecticut:
- ‘Everything Has Been Magnified’: How Mental Health-Related Issues Are Impacting Southwest Connecticut
- ‘I Know We’ve Saved Lives’: How Southwest Connecticut Providers Are Working to Meet the Need for Mental Health Services
- Working to Improve Mental Health Resources in Southwest Connecticut
- VIDEO: ‘Everything Has Been Magnified’: Exploring the Mental Health Crisis in Southwest Connecticut
Let’s take a look at what else is happening around our area.
Stamford
Representative Jonathan Jacobson, from District 12, told the Board’s State and Commerce Committee in June that speeding was “the most pressing issue in my neighborhood.”
That’s part of why Jacobson and more than half of the 40 members of the Board of Representatives have drafted a resolution calling on the state to allow local municipalities to use speed cameras near schools. The resolution passed the Board’s State and Commerce Committee unanimously and will be in front of the Board of Representatives at its Tuesday, July 5 meeting at 8 p.m.
The resolution calls on the state legislature to “enact a statewide law permitting the use of automated speed safety cameras within a reasonable distance of school property.”
The board will also vote on amending its ordinances to bring in more funding to its affordable housing trust fund. Right now, 5% of the fees the city collects on building permits for “repair, additions, alterations and renovations to commercial buildings and for construction of new mercantile, business and industrial buildings” go into the affordable housing trust. The updated ordinance would change that to 10%
Other meetings this week include
- Tuesday, July 5: Harbor Management Commission Application Review Committee at 5:30 p.m.
Norwalk
The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Thursday, July 7 at 6 p.m. and consider the application to create an Executive Office Development Park off of Glover Avenue that would allow for about 1,300 units and 50,000 square feet of retail space in seven buildings.
The commission will also hold a public hearing on the proposed Wegmans’ store for Connecticut Avenue.
Also on Thursday, July 7, the Economic and Community Development Committee of the Common Council will meet at 7 p.m. and consider authorizing the mayor to opt-out of the state’s new requirements for parking requirements for multifamily housing and accessory units. City officials have said opting out of the state’s requirements would allow them more flexibility in implementing their own regulations.
Other meetings this week include
- Tuesday, July 5: Public Works Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 6: Land Use & Building Management Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Fair Rent Commission at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, July 7: Mayor’s Water Quality Committee at 6 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7:15 p.m.
Fairfield
The Board of Selectmen will meet on Tuesday, July 5 at 2:30 p.m. to review and potentially act on the recommendations made by the Charter Revision Commission for updates to the town’s charter. The board received a presentation on the recommendations last week and held a public hearing to allow members of the community to provide their feedback.
Learn more about the recommendations.
Other meetings this week include
- Wednesday, July 6: Inland Wetlands Agency at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, July 7: Economic Development Commission at 8:30 a.m. | Greater Bridgeport and Valley Metropolitan Planning Org. at 9 a.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 2 p.m. | Board of Finance Purchasing Policy Committee at 4 p.m.
Greenwich
The Planning & Zoning Commission will host a public hearing on Renamba Greenwich LLC’s application to construct a new “Managed Residential Community” at its meeting on Thursday, July 7 at 4:30 p.m. The community would include 30 memory care studio units, 97 one-bedroom assisted living apartments, and seven two-bedroom assisted living apartments.
Other meetings this week include
- Thursday, July 7: Conservation Commission at 6 p.m. | FS Sustainability Committee at 11 a.m. | Public Tree Hearing Notice-45 Glenville Road at 1 p.m.
Darien
This week, the Darien Representative Town Meeting voted to approve the $100+ million purchase of Great Island. The town is currently in a 75-day due diligence period to examine the property before the sale is officially final. Check out our guide to the purchase of the island to learn what could be next for the property.
Meetings this week include
- Tuesday, July 5: Sewer Commission at 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 6: Environmental Protection Commission at 7 p.m.
Westport
The Flood and Erosion Control Board will meet this week on Wednesday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. and discuss the town’s prioritization of flood-related projects.
The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. and hold its first in-person meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also be live streamed on the town’s website.
Other meetings this week include
- Wednesday, July 6: Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, July 7: TEAM Westport at 8 a.m.
Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Monday morning. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.
Thank you for reading!
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
