The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of February 26.
Monday, February 26
Happy Monday! This week, we have some updates to our previous reporting on the area around the Merritt 7 train station in Norwalk. The region is at the heart of the city’s development plans, with more than 1,200 units planned for the area, and the new train station and platform is also officially open, better connecting commuters.
In partnership with NancyonNorwalk, we covered how this past week, Building and Land Technology, the developer proposing the projects around the station, presented updates to the Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission for its Phase 1 plans.
BLT now plans for a 12-story, mixed-use building with 266 apartments, a town square, and a dog park across from the Merritt 7 train station. While previous plans called for two separate buildings on the master plan—1.1 and 1.2—the updated proposal combines them into one building. The number of units has decreased slightly from 273, and the amount of retail space in this phase has also been reduced from 17,166 to 8,492.
The Merritt 7 Train Station is fully open and includes a long-awaited pedestrian walkway. This means that commuters and residents can now walk up and over the train tracks and immediately be connected to Main Avenue.
This particularly benefits the Merritt 7 office buildings, located along Main Avenue, as the station is now directly connected. Previously, commuters would have to walk more than half a mile down and around to the station.
Learn more about the updates to this region or check out our video highlighting the new Merritt 7 Train Station.
Let’s see what’s happening this week.
Stamford
The Fiscal Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. to vote on advancing a grant for the creation of a microtransit pilot program in the city. The Board of Finance approved the grant, which also has to be accepted by the Board of Representatives. Learn more about how microtransit is expanding across the region.
On Monday, February 26, the Water Pollution Control Authority will meet at 5:30 p.m. and receive an update on the Perna Lane Sewer. Learn more about the history of the project.
And on Wednesday, February 28, Transportation Committee will meet at 7 p.m. to review an ordinance authorizing automated traffic enforcement safety devices. Learn more about why Stamford advocated for these devices last year.
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, February 26: Operations Committee at 6:30 p.m. | Mayor’s Multicultural Council at 6:30 p.m. | Zoning Board at 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 27: Legislative and Rules Committee at 7 p.m. | Planning Board at 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 29: Public Safety and Health Committee at 6:30 p.m. | Education Committee at 7 p.m.
Norwalk
Residents are invited to a public forum on the Hospital Hill Safety Enhancement Project on Monday, February 26 at 6 p.m. to see options and provide feedback on the intersection enhancement project.
On Wednesday, February 28, the Facilities Committee of the Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. and receive updates on the construction projects at the Cranbury School, Norwalk High School and South Norwalk School.
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, February 26: Traffic Authority at 4 p.m. | Police Commission at 4:15 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 27: Board of Health at 8 a.m. | Special Police Commission at 11 a.m. | Conservation Commission at 6 p.m. | Tree Advisory Committee at 6 p.m. | Common Council at 7:30 p.m. | Board of Education Workshop at 5:45 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 28: Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee at 6 p.m. | Harbor Management Commission at 6 p.m. | Parking Authority at 6 p.m.
Fairfield
The public budget process officially kicks off this week with three budget hearings:
- Monday, February 26: Board of Selectmen Budget Hearing at 10 a.m. featuring the First Selectman’s Budget Summary Presentation
- Tuesday, February 27: Board of Selectmen Budget Hearing at 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, February 28: Board of Selectmen Budget Hearing at 10 a.m.
On Monday, February 26, the Representative Town Meeting will meet at 8 p.m. and receive an update on how the town is reallocating some of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as well as accept a grant of $2,500,000 for the Rooster River Flood Mitigation Project.
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, February 26: Board of Education Facilities at 11 a.m. | Condemnation Board at 2 p.m. | Tour at McKinley Elementary School at 5:45 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 27: Fire Commission at 6 p.m. | Town Plan and Zoning Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Board of Education at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 28: Police Commission at 8 a.m.
- Thursday, February 29: METROCOG at 10 a.m. | Parking Authority at 7 p.m.
- Friday, March 1: Sustainable Fairfield Task Force Food and Waste Committee at 8 a.m.
Greenwich
The Sustainability Committee and League of Women Voters are hosting a special event called Present Tackling Climate Change: The Importance of Finding Bipartisan Solutions on Monday, February 26 at 11 a.m. The event will feature Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy and Former Rep. Bob Inglis, currently the Executive Director of RepublicEn, who will discuss the “importance of bipartisan cooperation on the issue of climate change.”
Also, the Sustainability Committee, along with the Energy Management Advisory Committee are hosting an event on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. called Geothermal: The Future of Energy in Greenwich at 7 p.m. This event is an “opportunity to better understand the benefits of geothermal heating and cooling technology in reducing energy use and costs in the public schools and other municipal building projects.”
And on Thursday, February 29, the Connecticut Department of Transportation is hosting a Cos Cob Station Power Upgrade Public Hearing at 6 p.m. to give an update on the project that will “replace and upgrade the railroad signal power infrastructure on Metro North Railroad, New Haven Line signal substations at Cos Cob and Fair Street [in New Haven.]” The DOT said that the power generation equipment at these stations have reached the end of their useful lives,” and that “the technology and equipment are outdated, unreliable, and impacting rail services.”
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, February 26: Board of Estimate and Taxation at 6:30 p.m. | Board of Health at 6:30 p.m. | Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency at 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 27: Central Middle School Building Committee at 6:30 p.m. | Old Greenwich School Building Committee at 7 a.m.
- Wednesday, February 28: Board of Parks and Recreation at 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 29: Budget Overview Committee at 7 p.m.
Darien
The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Monday, February 26 at 8 p.m. and will receive an update on American Rescue Plan Act funds and an update on Great Island.
On Tuesday, February 27, the Board of Education will meet at 7:30 p.m. and discuss some modifications to the board’s add/cut list for the operating budget of $121.9 million.
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, February 26: Board of Education Finance Committee at 8 a.m. | Board of Selectmen at 7 p.m. | RTM Public Health and Safety at 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 27: Darien Housing Authority at 6:30 p.m. | Planning and Zoning Commission at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 28: Parks & Recreation Commission at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 29: Police Commission at 4 p.m.
Westport
The Board of Finance will continue its budget review on Tuesday, February 27 at 6 p.m. with a look at the budgets for human services, parks and recreation/Wakeman Town Farm, and public works/sewer fund.
Other meetings this week include:
- Monday, February 26: RTM Parks & Recreation and RTM Public Works Committees at 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 27: Board of Education Policy Committee at 11 a.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 28: Board of Selectwomen at 9 a.m. | Library Board of Trustees at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 28: Parks and Recreation Commission at 7:30 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