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Upcoming meeting:  Regular monthly ENNA-NIC meeting was held on Sunday, October 26 at 3:30 PM at 20 Raymond Terrace

Attendees at October 26 meeting: Laurel Lindstrom (President), Denise Callahan (Locust Street)

Update since September 28 meeting

Minutes/Key items discussed at October 26 meeting

89B Strawberry Hill Avenue nonconforming Contractor's Yard - update on negotiations to conform to zoning regulations

71 &73 Osborne Avenue - construction that was approved several years ago of a 14-unit condominium development on the bank of the Norwalk River, just south of the Yankee Doodle Bridge, had been delayed. Saving the beautiful historic house on the front of the property was a condition of the permit to construct. Excavation has occurred up to and beneath the historic house. Construction has occurred within feet of the waterline, without public access to the river.  Apparent lack of adequate attention to environmental impact on the river has been a concern reported by some residents.

Partner's Café at Cove Ave. and First St. - zoning status of recent paving of parking area that extended over public walkway on First St.

Others?

2. Traffic
 

Traffic calming - streets likely to receive speed bumps next, and when. Review of process. (See Traffic Calming Guidelines for Norwalk on the calmtraffic.org website for details of process).

Others?

3. ENNA involvements in 'Beautification'

ENNA Adopt-A-Spot in center median on East Avenue at City Hall - winter plans
 

Commercial signs in front properties of businesses on East Avenue, north of the I-95 in the Village District and south of the I-95 in Neighborhood Business Zone - issue of aesthetics, and legality of some signs that are larger and closer to street than legal by zoning standards
 

Billboards and lack of aesthetic consideration in the historic area on East Avenue near the E. Norwalk Metro-North station - the ENNA is involved in the renewed effort to beautify
 

Others?

4. City scan
 

A webpage is now in place specific to Norwalk - A link to the page can be found on the ENNA Home Page on the calmtraffic.org website.

5. Wall Street revitalization to be added to the City's Plan of Conservation & Development (Master Plan)
 

Planning Committee of the Common Council public hearing is scheduled for October 27 at 7 PM in the 3rd floor Council Chambers at City Hall on the  draft (available for review at the P&Z office at City Hall). Several public hearings, as required by Ordinance, have already taken place. The ENNA has participated throughout the process.

6. Waterfowl hunting on the beaches of E. Norwalk
 

Each year at the start of hunting season, as gun shots are heard by residents and those walking the beaches see hunters with guns, concerned calls/email are made to the authorities and to the ENNA. Although no injuries to persons have been recorded the risk is always present as populations grow in areas that were once sparsely populated. For reasons of safety it is important for hunters and residents to be aware of Connecticut DEP Hunting Rules & Regulations. The website link can be found on the Neighborhood Issues page (linked to the ENNA Home Page) on the calmtraffic.org website.

7. Proposed Power lines (Phase 2) from Norwalk to Middletown will pass through 24 towns
 

ENNA is attending all the informational meetings to keep abreast of the proposal that was just submitted by Northeast Utilities (NU) to the Connecticut Siting Council.

The current proposed route through Norwalk is underground, following the Post Road. The alternate proposal is for overhead lines. It is extremely important that the public attend the Siting Council Listening Session to speak, or submit written documentation, to go on record as supporting the underground line proposal because once the Listening Session is over it will be too late for the public to have input, but NU can do an about-face and argue for overhead lines after the public has lost anymore opportunity to speak. The Siting Council will accept arguments from the public related to environmental, historical, cultural and architectural impact. Property values and health reasons are not currently accepted as valid argument. The City CEOs (Mayor Knopp, in the case of Norwalk) are involved in arranging for submission of technical evidence related to the comparable reliability and cost of underground versus overhead wires. Mayor Knopp has already spoken in support of the all underground proposal.
 

The Listening Session for our area has not yet been scheduled. The ENNA will let you know.

8. Others?

Next meeting:  Sunday, November 23 at 3:30 PM at 20 Raymond Terrace

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