The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

Tuesday, October 10

Happy Tuesday! This week, we’re highlighting how Stamford and Norwalk are planning to invest at least $1 million each in tree-related projects. This follows our reporting from earlier this year on how trees help improve air quality, provide shade and cooling benefits, mitigate the impacts of flooding, and enhance neighborhoods—all reasons why communities around southwest Connecticut said they wanted to add more of them.

Learn more about the tree-related investments or dive into why trees are important to the region. You can also check out our in-depth video into tree-efforts across southwest Connecticut.

Let’s see what else is happening around the region.

Stamford

Two boards will review and vote to accept a $1 million grant to fund a new initiative, “Growing Stamford,” which aims to “establish trees in the public right-of-way planting locations in disadvantaged downtown Stamford neighborhoods.” The Planning Board will review and discuss the item at its meeting on Tuesday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Board of Finance on Wednesday, October 11 at 7 p.m.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, October 10: Steering Committee at 7 p.m. | South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Initiative at 6:30 p.m. | Board of Education Special Meeting at 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 11: Stamford Transit District at 3 p.m.

Norwalk

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, October 11 at 6 p.m. to continue discussing and reviewing the proposed zoning rewrite for the city. This meeting will focus specifically on the citywide zoning map, development parcels, and parking.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, October 10: Conservation Commission/Inland Wetland Agency at 6 p.m. | Common Council at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 11: Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 12: Finance and Claims Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Library Board of Directors at 7 p.m.

Fairfield

The Town Plan & Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. and start reviewing a new transit oriented development application, featuring both residential and commercial, for 81 Black Rock Turnpike.

Also on Tuesday, October 10, the Board of Education will meet at 7:30 p.m. and review a report it is planning to send to the state on its school facilities utilization and racial balance work across the district.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, October 10: Capital Plan Working Group at 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 11: Zoning Board of Appeals at 3 p.m. | Police Commission at 4:30 p.m. | Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority at 6:30 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7 p.m. | Affordable Housing Committee at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 12: Fire Commission at 7 p.m. | Sustainable Fairfield Task Force at 7:15 p.m.

Greenwich

On Tuesday, October 10, residents and community members are invited to The Foodshed Forum’s A Tale of Two Towns: Addressing Food Insecurity in Greenwich at 7 p.m. The event will feature a panel discussion of the challenges some members of the community face, despite the relative wealth of others in town. According to the forum,  “Greenwich is home to some of the wealthiest families in Connecticut, it is also home to families who struggle to afford their basic needs, such as housing, child care and food.” The Greenwich United Way’s Needs Assessment in 2020 found that 7% of the town's population live below the poverty level, and 22% are ALICE—Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed—a measure that aims to capture those who might not be at the poverty level, but are struggling with basic needs.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, October 10: First Selectman's Diversity Advisory Committee at 12 p.m. | First Selectman’s Youth Commission at 7 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 11: Affordable Housing Trust Board and Advisory Council at 7:30 p.m. | Board of Estimate and Taxation Budget Committee at 1 p.m. | Greenwich High School Vestibule Committee at 8 a.m. | Operations Planning Committee at 11 a.m. | Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee at 8 p.m.
• Thursday, October 12: Board of Selectmen at 10 a.m. | Budget Overview Committee at 7 p.m.

Darien

The Representative Town Meeting Town Government Structure & Administration Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. and discuss the structure of the current standing committees that are part of the RTM.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, October 10: Planning and Zoning Commission at 4 p.m. | Board of Education at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 11: Operations Planning Committee at 8:30 a.m. | Beautification Commission at 9 a.m. | Advisory Committee on Sustainability at 12 p.m. | Blight Review Board at 5:30 p.m. | RTM Finance and Budget at 7:30 p.m. | RTM Parks and Recreation at 7:30 p.m.

Westport

On Friday, October 13, the Conservation Commission will do site visits starting at 9:30 a.m. One of the main locations for review on their list includes Parker Harding Plaza. The town is proposing to revise the existing roadway and parking lot, build sidewalks, a riverfront boardwalk and park areas and to relocate the trash and recycling dumpsters in the area.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, October 10: Arts Advisory Committee at 12 p.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 6 p.m. | RTM Employee Compensation, RTM Finance, RTM Parks & Recreation & RTM Public Protection Committees at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 11: Board of Selectwomen at 9 a.m. | WestPAC at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 12: Downtown Plan Implementation Committee at 8:30 a.m. | Civilian Review Panel at 10 a.m. | Public Site and Building Commission at 5 p.m. | Blight Prevention Board at 7 p.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