Committee debates development moratorium near E. Norwalk station

NORWALK – A member of the East Avenue Transit Oriented Development Oversight Committee has recommended placing a moratorium on new development and infrastructure work within the study area pending its competition.

“(Otherwise) we could end up with a TOD plan and recommendation that would be completely counter to widening and lowering East Avenue,” said Diane Cece of East Norwalk.

She later backed off — “I’m willing to let it go for now” — after Director of Planning and Zoning Steve Kleppin explained the difficulties of imposing a moratorium, which he said would apply to all similar-zoned areas throughout the city.

Their comments came during a meeting of the oversight committee at Norwalk City Hall on Tuesday evening.

The city has hired Harriman Associates, Inc. to conduct a TOD study for the East Norwalk station, using a $125,000 state grant.

Transit-oriented development places housing, retail, office space and attractions within walking distance of public transportation facilities. Transit-oriented development places housing, retail, office space and attractions within walking distance of public transportation facilities.

The study comes as the city plans to widen East Avenue in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s upcoming replacement of the MetroNorth Railroad bridge over the busy roadway.

Meanwhile, Spinnaker Real Estate Partners-affiliate 230 East Ave. LLC is moving toward construction of “Brim & Crown,” a 189-unit transitoriented development approved for the old Factory Store building and other parcels next to the East Norwalk Train Station.

Common Council President John Kydes, a District C Democrat on the oversight committee, predicted no further major redevelopment proposals will come forward for the area until the TOD study is complete.

Deb Goldstein of East Norwalk, who sits on the oversight committee, isn’t so sure.

“That’s what we thought when (Spinnaker CEO Clay) Fowler swooped in with his application,” Goldstein said of the Spinnaker TOD project.

Goldstein and Cece are among a number of people in East Norwalk who’ve expressed concern that the planned widening of East Avenue, and lowering of the roadway beneath the railroad bridge, will bring more trucks to the neighborhood.

“What’s your end goal to this, Diane, stop the East Avenue-widening project?” Kydes said.

Answered Cece: “The end goal is that you don’t want to have a study of this magnitude, in that area, which is going to impact us for the next one hundred years, come back with a result or recommendation … that’s completely counter to the stuff that’s being approved right now.”

Vanessa Valadares, senior civil engineer in the Norwalk Department of Public Works, said the DOT has advanced the East Avenue road project to 60 percent design.

“A moratorium is actually a zoning regulation,” said Kleppin, who sits on the oversight committee. “And I don’t know how you put a moratorium on any infrastructure project.”