Wilton officials ‘concerned’ about cannabis retail near Norwalk line
WILTON — Zoning officials in town have voiced their concerns over the looming possibility of cannabis retailers near Wilton’s shared border with Norwalk.
Town Planner Michael Wrinn met with the Wilton Planning and Zoning Commission Monday and discussed the possibility of cannabis-related businesses opening in neighboring Norwalk, but more specifically near the Main Avenue border and how it might affect the town.
Wrinn explained that there are certain restrictions in place that would disallow a cannabis retail location to be within 200 feet of a residential zone, meaning that it could not stand near or attached to a multifamily housing building.
But multiple commissioners, along with Wrinn, brought up the concern of additional traffic near the border.
“I think they should have a certain distance from a neighboring community,” Planning and Zoning Commissioner Christopher Pagliaro said.
Vice Chairwoman Melissa-Jean Rotini asked if there will be any shared information with neighboring communities by the City of Norwalk and its police department when deciding on the location of these businesses.
Wrinn suggested voicing the commission’s concerns and making comment back to the City of Norwalk.
“I can make the comment back to them that we’re just concerned about anything that is close to the border,” Wrinn said. “I think that may be the way to do it, to just go on record and say, ‘Do what you want to do, but we’re very concerned about the possibility of a retailer being at our border on Main Avenue.”
Rotini said that she would prefer to use the term ‘interested’ instead of concerned.
Wrinn said he will write a letter to the the City of Norwalk noting the opinion of the commission.