The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of October 31.
Monday, October 31
Happy Halloween! It was a beautiful fall weekend and southwest Connecticut showed out with some beautiful fall foliage. Take a look!
We’re just about a week away from Election Day so we’ve put together a voters’ resource guide to help you find out information about where you can vote, what’s on the ballot, and more. Spend a few minutes before you head to the polls learning about who you’ll be voting for.
Also, ICYMI, check out our coverage of a new exhibit at the Norwalk Art Space that dives into the “nitty-gritty” of motherhood.
Let’s see what else is happening across the region this week.
Stamford
The Zoning Board will meet on Monday, October 31 at 6:30 p.m. to host multiple public hearings including on potentially opting out of state regulations around accessory dwelling units and parking regulations. Learn more about why communities are discussing accessory dwelling units and what the state regulations are. The Land Use/Urban Redevelopment Committee of the Board of Representatives will also discuss and potentially vote to advance opt-out resolutions related to accessory dwelling units at its meeting on Thursday, November 3 at 7 p.m.
There will also be a public hearing on text changes to the zoning regulations in the area surrounding the train station which would allow for more transit oriented development near the transportation center.
The Board of Finance will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. to discuss the Board of Education’s long-term facilities plan and how to finance it.
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, October 31: ADA Advisory Council at 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 1: Planning Board at 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, November 4: Health Commission at 9 a.m.
Norwalk
There will be a special joint meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission and Economic and Community Development Committee of the Common Council on Thursday, November 3 at 6 p.m. The groups will review and discuss the city’s waterfront industrial study, which aims to lay out how properties along the Norwalk River can be developed. Following that meeting, the Planning & Zoning Commission will have a special meeting at 7 p.m., which will include a preliminary discussion around zoning regulations for cannabis retailers. Learn more about the city’s decision to legalize cannabis sales earlier this year.
Other meetings this week include:
- Tuesday, November 1: Arts Commission at 6 p.m. | Public Works Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Board of Education Workshop at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 2: Charter Revision Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Land Use & Building Management Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Fair Rent Commission at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 3: Mayor's Water Quality Committee at 6 p.m. | Economic and Community Development Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7:15 p.m.
Fairfield
The Board of Finance will meet on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m. and discuss with both town and board of education officials ways to improve Fairfield’s budget process before the next budget season kicks off. Take a look at how local communities across southwest Connecticut allocated their funding this year.
Other meetings this week include:
- Tuesday, November 1: Board of Education Policy Committee at 5 p.m. | RTM Redistricting Committee at 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 2: BOE Finance and Budget Committee at 7 p.m. | Inland Wetlands Agency at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, November 3: Economic Development Commission at 8:30 a.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 3 p.m.
- Friday, November 4: Sustainable Fairfield Food and Waste Committee at 8 a.m.
Greenwich
The Energy Management Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, October 31 at 3 p.m. and work on planning a December 5th Zero Energy Ready workshop.
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, October 31: Energy Management Advisory Committee and Planning and Zoning Team at 9:30 a.m.
- Thursday, November 3: Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. | FS Sustainability Committee at 11 a.m.
Darien
On Wednesday, November 2, there will be a joint meeting of two Representative Town Meeting Committees—Finance & Budget and Education at 7:30 p.m.—to discuss increasing funding for the Hindley and Holmes renovation projects. The requests call for increasing the funding for Hindley from $26 million to $27.5 million and the funding for Holmes from $24 million to about $25.6 million.
Other meetings this week include:
- Tuesday, November 1: Sewer Commission at 4:30 p.m. | RTM—Rules at 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 2: Environmental Protection Commission at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, November 3: Darien Police Commission at 4 p.m.
Westport
The Board of Finance will meet on Wednesday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. to review and potentially approve a plan from the Board of Education to use $216,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to enhance the social supports for students at all five of the town’s elementary schools. The board will also review and vote on spending $350,000 to maintain and replace sidewalks leading to Bedford Middle School, Coleytown Middle School, and sections along Riverside Avenue.
Other meetings this week include:
- Tuesday, November 1: Representative Town Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 2: Shellfish Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Planning and Zoning Commission at 7 p.m. | Flood and Erosion Control Board at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 3: TEAM Westport at 8 a.m.
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.
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