Well, well, well. The whole point of a planning commission is to foresee what kinds of commercial uses you want in Norwalk. That’s why its called planning. But having a vision and idea about what the future Norwalk should be like is going to be the political theater this year and so today’s papers outline the first mild political battle over the oil tank distribution business that was planned for 350 Ely avenue. Many have referred to it as a tank farm, which connotes the idea that somehow oil tanks will be grown or raised, or something like that. In reality, the business is more akin to a gas station except that the fuel is home heating oil, the kind of stuff that sits in hundreds of gallons tanks in most Norwalk homes. But I digress.
The issue is now who has the bigger idea in the race to grab the high ground on moving Norwalk into a 21st century city. In one corner, we have Briggs, who managed to drop the ball on disallowing oil distribution facilities in restricted industrial zones. He then decides to come out against the application as planning commission chair, resigns his chairmanship and jumps on the bandwagon to express outrage and a staged political event on the site last week.
In the other corner we have Moccia who encourages a film production agency to buy the adjacent property and then suggests that this area be turned into a light industrial zone to accommodate film studios and sound stages.
We of course can expect to sit back and watch the spectacle of the self important political flunkies to make hay of “solving” this oil storage facility use problem over in the death cage floor of the common council. Our favorite pomposity Matt Miklave plans to discuss the master plan at an upcoming planning committee meeting. The planning committee is not to be confused with the planning commission. The planning committee being comprised of council members while the commission is of residents who are appointed. Miklave said, “The whole idea of having a master plan is that there be a long-range vision for our city,” in the Hour report. “I don’t think you create a long-range vision by responding to every little thing that comes up”
So while Miklave is thinking he’s throwing Moccia under the political bus, he’s actually throwing Briggs under the bus. Sometimes it helps if you have a plan before you speak about an issue your mayoral candidate is vulnerable on. But planning apparently is not a forte of this crew of Democrats. Meanwhile, Moccia has a plan, and has stated it. 21st century digital production, we welcome you. And with it the high tech jobs that will fill the SoNo eateries and, um, empty storefronts with people. Now that’s a plan.
source: The Hour, Moccia urges second look at zoning, by Robert Koch, August 30, 2007
