June 2002 EANA Update

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June 2002

Sea To The Green

An Update of the East Avenue Neighborhood Association ______________________________________________________________________

Last meeting: EANA met on May 25

Attendees: Laurel Lindstrom (President), Tony Rossi (Raymond Terrace), Josephine Martuccio (Myrtle Street), Kathleen Morrow (Willow Street), Marija Bryant (Morgan Avenue), Peter Wien (District A Councilman)

Actions update since April meeting

	Advocates for Calm Traffic (ACT) well represented at the May 7 meeting at City Hall for informational meeting for the 10 streets with speed bump approval. Turn-out was incredible
	ACT represented at Transportation Choices Coalition of CT (<TC3>) Traffic Calming Presentation at Redding on April 18
	EANA members spoke at May Planning Commission Public Hearing in favor of Village District designation for East Avenue, encouraging inclusion of land west of Smith Street to the Harbor
	ACT participated in <TC3> meeting at CT Fund for the Environment in New Haven on May 15
	ACT represented at Rowayton meeting of 20 residents on April 28 about potential change in use of the Ambler property on Rowayton Avenue that could cause increased traffic
	ACT participated in May 7 meeting with a Norwalk-Darien Route 136 committee to study traffic solutions
	Citywide Traffic Summit re-scheduled for May 29 and 30. EANA -- with the East Norwalk Beautification Committee -- will co-coordinate the East Norwalk neighborhood summit on May 30
	EANA members spoke at Harbor Commission meeting on April 24 against 6 Smith St. change to allow Refuse business on the Harbor
	At the May 2 ZBA public hearing about allowing Aadvantage Refuse business at 6 Smith St. many members of the public (including members of EANA) spoke against it. Aadvantage withdrew its application
	EANA spoke to Water Quality Committee on May 13 about the need for its involvement in decisions regarding the Harbor
	Seligson preferred developer status for Norwalk Center extended for two more years -- but lost his status for Wall Street
	ACT and EANA represented at Public Hearing before the Zoning Commission on May 15 cautioning against Restricted Industrial zoning change for Norden , encouraging completion of Citywide Master Plan of Development prior to making changes and advocating for immediate promotion by Spinnaker (owners of Norden Park) for alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles for office workers so as to decrease traffic impacts as Norden expands
	Tree Inventory Workshop sponsored by the Norwalk Tree Alliance on May 11 was a success. First working session in the field was on May 18
	EANA met with Don Nelson of Clean and Green on May 18 about the Adopt-A-Spot at Exit 16 on East Ave. He says the State only allows one at that location and it is maintained through the Rotary Club. He will continue to work with us as the DOT does construction on the area around the bridge over the next couple years. He also provided information about other Adopt-A-Spots in our area
	ACT represented at a meeting in West Norwalk of 30 residents on May 19 at the home of Councilman Krummel. Residents concerned re traffic that would result if a proposed zoning change occurred at the Prudential property on Weed Ave.

Key items discussed at May 25 meeting

	Tree Ordinance and Tree Board soon to be in place in Norwalk once passed by the Council
	Next Tree Inventory Field Trip will be June 1 -- and every other Saturday through June.
	Zoning document indicates that the Duncan Donuts on East Avenue next to Mike's Deli can be open 24 hours.
	Norden update.
	Strawberry Hill -- new street striping good as traffic calming measure and can be used like a bike lane. Concern discussed re school children using striped road as a pedestrian walkway is a safety issue.
	Continued discussion re pros and cons of plans for widening East Avenue and bridge at exit 16.
	Allstate sign on East Avenue at Myrtle is probably out of zoning compliance.
	Grumman-St. John House (93 East Avenue) awaiting outcome still.
	Morgan Avenue is a deadend but cars still enter it believing they can use it as a cut-through. Recent incident recounted where police were called and guns were drawn. Resident of Morgan is looking into traffic calming measures.
	Not all of the 10 streets that have funding available for speed bumps have got the 66% approval of residents. The DPW are allowing until the end of May for the streets to get the needed approval.
	EANA pages are expanding on the CalmTraffic.org website. Monthly newsletter -- Sea To The Green -- is posted.
	Village District designation currently being presented by the City for Public Hearing. Discussion on the idea of expanding the East Avenue Village District to include all of East Avenue -- or at least down to Fitch Street since the stretch of East Avenue from the I-95 to Fitch has structures worth protecting. Everyone present was in agreement.
	89B Strawberry Hill received a variance more than 2 years ago and is just now constructing an industrial-type structure in this Residential B zone. The landscape supply garage could cause air pollution with dust and also noise pollution and a lot of truck traffic. Hatch and Bailey comparison made re the neighbors' issue in South Norwalk. They brought it to the Council Health and Public Welfare Committee. Peter Wien is a member and was able to offer suggestions for EANA. Concerns discussed: close proximity to Fitch Park where children play (immature immune systems) and the nursing home (compromised immune systems); statute of limitations on variance?
	Traffic Summit on May 29 and 30. EANA members making plans for attendance and presentation of information

Next meeting: Sunday June 23 at 12 Noon at 20 Raymond Terrace

Contact numbers:

Phone: 855-7668

E-mail: SeaToTheGreen@cs.com

Website: CalmTraffic.org

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