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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 September 5.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
Anyone else feeling the post-Labor Day blues this week? (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Tuesday, September 5

Happy Tuesday! I can’t believe it’s September already but I hope everyone has had a good start to the school year.

This week, we’re exploring the Merritt 7 region of Norwalk—an area that impacts both the city and the region as a whole. It’s where multiple major roadways connect, it has a huge economic impact with many office buildings and businesses, and it’s home to a new train station that the state is investing in. The Norwalk River Valley Trail is planned to run through it, and there’s hundreds of residents who already live there—with plans to add more.

In addition, massive roadway infrastructure projects are in the works for the area, so with all of these moving pieces, we thought it would be a good idea to dive into what’s planned for this area of southwest Connecticut.

You can also check out our video highlighting some of the projects proposed for this part of Norwalk.

Let’s take a look at what’s happening this week.

Stamford

The Board of Representatives will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. The board is set to vote on approving a plan to reorganize the emergency communications center by creating five civilian dispatch supervisor positions. It will also vote to authorize funding for Westhill High School. The total project is estimated to cost more than $300 million, with the city responsible for 20% and the rest eligible for state reimbursement.

There will also be a Board of Representatives Special Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. where the board will vote on adding the charter revision proposals to the November ballot.

Other meetings this week include:

Norwalk

The city is in the midst of acquiring six properties along the new site for the South Norwalk Elementary School in an effort to “provide for enhanced vehicular and student access, additional parking, recreational and open space, and right-of-way improvements.” The Planning and Zoning Commission will review this proposal on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m., while there will be a Special Meeting of the Finance and Claims Committee of the Common Council on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. to review and recommend to the full council a plan to spend $2.9 million to acquire the properties. The finance committee will also review allocating an additional $2 million for improvements to the site and surrounding area to address flooding and traffic concerns.

At those meetings, both groups will also review a request from the city “to acquire a portion of 11 Belden Avenue for the expansion of Norwalk Library.”

Other meetings this week include:

Fairfield

Following a community conversation last week on redistricting, school facility usage, and racial balance plans for the school district, the Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. to continue to review and discuss options.

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, there will be a public community meeting at 6 p.m. hosted by the town and the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG)—the regional planning agency that includes Fairfield—to update the region’s hazard mitigation plan. Fairfield residents and businesses are invited “to learn about the plan and share their knowledge of, experiences with, and concerns about natural hazards, vulnerabilities and opportunities for mitigation.” The meeting will take place in the Rotary Room of Fairfield’s Main Public Library.

Other meetings this week include:

Greenwich

There are three school building committee meetings planned for this week as the district looks to improve its school facilities. The Old Greenwich School Building Committee will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 7 a.m., while the Julian Curtiss School Building Committee will meet on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7:45 a.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m., there will be a Central Middle School Building Committee Forum and Public Hearing which will include representatives from the project’s team professionals who will share the building and campus design, and cost information. The forum will also be a chance for residents to share their thoughts with the building committee.

Other meetings this week include:

Darien

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, the Board of Selectmen will meet at 7 p.m. and host a public hearing on proposed changes to parking regulations. Some of the proposals are:

  • Increase the fee for daily parking at the train stations to $5/day
  • Increase the monthly fee option for non-permit lots to $80 when purchased through the mobile parking application
  • Increase the fee for annual permits to $450 plus sales tax
  • Allow for daily parking in available permit parking spaces in the Noroton Heights lot, Leroy West lot and Squab Lane after 9 a.m.

Other meetings this week include:

Westport

The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and discuss adopting a Westport Affordable Housing Fund, which would help support affordable housing efforts in the town.

Other meetings this week include:

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

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