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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 February 12.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
Hope you all had a great Super Bowl weekend. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, February 12

Please note this has been updated to reflect cancellations and schedule changes due to the snowstorm on Feb. 13

Happy Monday! Hope you all had an enjoyable Super Bowl Sunday. This week, we’re highlighting how microtransit, which is kind of a cross between public transportation and Uber, is expanding across southwest Connecticut. 

Microtransit has already been used in the region—in Norwalk and Westport, but new funding from the state will add microtransit options to Stamford and grow the offerings in Norwalk. 

“Microtransit is bringing additional transportation services to more people,” Governor Ned Lamont said in a statement. 

Stamford received a two-year $2.6 million grant from the state to launch a pilot microtransit program, while Norwalk received a two-year $2.1 million grant to expand its microtransit offerings. 

The cities must launch their microtransit services within six months of receiving the grant and the program will last for two years with the potential for two additional one-year extensions, based on performance and ridership.

Learn more about why officials say microtransit is important to the future of public transportation and how it will be implemented in southwest Connecticut.

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

Stamford

This week the Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. for a final review of the proposed 2024-2025 capital budget to prepare it to be transmitted to the mayor. 

Other meetings this week include:

Norwalk

The budget is the main topic of conversation in the city this week starting on Monday, February 12 with the presentation of the recommended budget to the Board of Estimate and Taxation at 6:30 p.m. 

VIRTUAL ONLY: The Common Council will receive its budget presentation on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m. On Thursday, February 15, there will be a public hearing on the proposed budget at the Finance and Claims Committee of the Common Council starting at 6 p.m. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Fairfield

At the Town Plan and Zoning meeting on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m., the commission will hear a presentation from Desegregate CT, an advocacy group that promotes housing in the state. The group will present proposed Work Live Ride legislation that calls for more housing near transportation centers. The board will also review a proposal for 81 Black Rock Turnpike for a 245-unit residential development with commercial mixed-use.

Also on Tuesday, February 13, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. and review the district’s long range facilities plan and capital project planning.

Other meetings this week include:

Greenwich

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED: There will be a Community Forum on a Greenwich Communities Project on Tuesday, February 13 at 6 p.m. First Selectman Fred Camillo said in a statement that there have been “a lot of questions out there and a lot of misinformation about the proposed Greenwich Communities project for Strickland Road by the Cos Cob Train Station.” While Camillo said that nothing has been approved just yet, they’ve heard from the public about “concerns about the potential impact on traffic and density in Cos Cob and I hope people can come and listen to the presentation as well as present their concerns and questions.” Camillo praised Greenwich Communities as an organization that has “done an excellent job adding to our housing stock in ways that enhance neighborhood character.”

Other meetings this week include:

  • Monday, February 12: Energy Management Advisory Committee at 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, February 13: First Selectman's Diversity Advisory Committee at 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 14: Board of Estimate and Taxation at 1 p.m.
  • Thursday, February 15: FS Active Transportation Task Force at 8:30 a.m.

Darien

CANCELED DUE TO SNOW: The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, February 13 at 7 p.m. and host a public hearing on a proposal to “permit the construction and habitation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on certain residentially zoned properties under specifically defined circumstances. Where permitted, one ADU may be allowed on the same lot as a principal single-family dwelling and may be attached to or detached from the principal dwelling.” Learn more about how municipalities around the region are adding ADUs to their communities. 

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, FEB. 15: Also on Tuesday, February 13, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. for further discussion and potential action on the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 year. 

Other meetings this week include:

Westport

There will be multiple budget review sessions this week: 

  • CANCELED: Tuesday, February 13: The Board of Finance will meet at 6 p.m. and review the following areas: Human Services; Parks and Recreation/Wakeman Town Farm; and Public Works/Sewer Fund.
  • Wednesday, February 14: The Board of Finance will meet at 6 p.m. and review the following areas: Transit District; Police ; and Fire.
  • Thursday, February 15: The Board of Finance will meet at 6 p.m. and review the following areas: Earthplace; IT; Library; Health District; and General Government.

The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Tuesday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. to vote on approving $6.8 million for the design of a new Long Lots Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool.

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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