Rezoning plans raise concerns among residents in Norwalk

Mayor Harry Rilling says it's important to make the zoning consistent with a city that is growing, and that density is not a bad thing, but he wants to make sure the process is not rushed.

Abby Del Vecchio and Caren Pinto

May 19, 2023, 12:15 AM

Updated 587 days ago

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Some Norwalk residents say they're concerned about potential changes in how their neighborhoods could be zoned.
Mayor Harry Rilling says it has been 40 years since the zoning code was updated in the City of Norwalk. He says he agrees with some of the recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Committee, but says he shares some of the community's concerns.
He says the most common feedback he has gotten from the community is concern about where some single-family areas are being proposed as two family.
Rilling says it's important to make the zoning consistent with a city that is growing, and that density is not a bad thing, but he wants to make sure the process is not rushed.
"I share those same concerns. I think we all can agree that Norwalk needs more housing. More housing helps a city grow," he said. "But I think It's a little too much too fast."
Lisa Brinton has lived in Norwalk for 26 years. She says she believes the city's infrastructure should be dealt with first before changes in zoning.
"We welcome the update and clarifying them and making them easier to understand but we don't support the further increase in density in single family neighborhoods-- that's a concern. The other concern is the increase in building height. We aren't Stamford, we don't want to increase to 8-story building height," said Brinton.
The mayor says the zoning to be more consistent with a city that is growing, but they want to make sure there are adequate accommodations.
"We want to make sure we get it right. It's critically important to the people that live there, it's critically important to the future of our city," said Rilling.
There will be two more public hearings on this issue on June 21 and June 28.
Rilling encourages all residents to reach out with any concerns.