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Norwalk: Master Plan Headed To Council Floor, Sort Of


by turfgrrl


September 11th, 2007 · 36 Comments

In today’s Hour article about the Master Plan, it seems that council members have opinions about it that sort of puzzle me. For instance, Bill Krummel to The Hour: “I’m concerned about the objective of encouraging a golf driving range.Where else would it go other than in Oak Hills? And the Oak Hills mini-master plan said the community had rejected a golf driving range at Oak Hills. What community group would encourage a golf driving range. It’s a bad idea to put it out in the master plan.”

Doug Hempstead according to The Hour: Believes the plan lacks “some details.” Pointing out that the plan proposes
more park space, but doesn’t spell out legislatively how to get there.

Which brings me to wonder if any of the council members had an opportunity to work with the planning commission on the master plan. Did the planning commission consult with the council to determine if ordinances were needed, if maintenance budgets needed to be adjusted, if redevelopment projects were fitting within the goals, if street paving and infrastructure plans meshed with the goals etc.

Or is the master plan yet another silo of wish lists compiled without input of the very people that are elected by the people of Norwalk to decided on such matters? I suspect that the planning commission did itself a disservice by not involving the council members earlier on. Bill Krummel shouldn’t be surprised about a proposal for a golf driving range in his district, and Doug Hempstead shouldn’t be, after 6 years, wonder where the details are.

source:The Hour, Fate of Master Plan could be in hands of new Council members by Robert Koch, September, 11, 2007

Tags: In the News

36 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: Master Plan Headed To Council Floor, Sort Of”


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  • 1 Anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 9:05 am

    To late for a master plan now with all the new proposed condos, Norwalk is going to be another Stamford soon. A driving range we need it like a hole in the head and I’m a glofer trafic and more trafic. Lets hope we have a new council to vote on the master plan that should have been in place long ago since the council we have now seems to think over building and over crowding is the best future for Norwalk. How about less crime, less traffic, better roads, less condos, and fix whats broken before adding more stress to a infrastructure thats shot. Is anyone out there interested in making Norwalk a beautiful place to live, and a place that an outsider visiting Norwalk would say positive things about when they leave. We need to pay the mayor more money so we can attract good people to the job that will care about the people who live in the city. You get what you pay for. Stop Norwalk from being the place where nobody else wanted it so put it in Norwalk! It’s easy to say yes and hard to say no but yes is not always the right answer.

  • 2 Anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 9:11 am

    Condos are a viable form of housing. Not everyone can afford a house, a lawn, and the maintenance costs that go along with it. Condo development is not the problem. Condo development at the expense of preserving our neighborhoods is the problem. There should be areas that condos get built, and areas that they should not. Instead we have developers trying to squeeze in condos everywhere.

  • 3 Anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 10:27 am

    It doesn’t take six years to create a master plan. Shame on Walter Briggs for taking so long and thinking he can get elected mayor based on this pathetic record. Are there any Democrats that can manage not to bobble head through anything these days?

  • 4 Anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 1:58 pm

    All though I agree with # 1 I also agree with # 2 Condo development at the expense of preserving our neighborhoods is the problem. I too agree there should be areas that condos get built, and areas that they should not. The elected officials and poor zoning laws are allowing developers to squeeze in condos everywhere.

  • 5 Mr Greenpeace // Sep 11, 2007 at 2:54 pm

    how can we plan on land or a commision can act objectively on things when the browfield report is not ready?

    Isn’t that report a detailed listing of spaces that are not or can’t be used right away? or where a city takes over?

    your right posting number one take care of what we have first,,

    Only for what I have read in the paper it tells me we are pushing for someones deadline and its not the taxpayers.

  • 6 Anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 3:51 pm

    Norwalk borders Westport, Darien, New Canaan and Wilton all very affluent communities that have zoning laws that would never allow what Norwalk has. The number of condominiums is outrageous and should be stopped ASAP before Norwalk becomes another concrete jungle. Tighter restrictions need to be made to preserve any integrate this town has left. Stop over building and over crowding.

    Fresh ideas need to be hatched and it is not going to happen until someone who really cares about Norwalk as a community steps forward and grabs the reins.

  • 7 anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 4:24 pm

    Yes, #3 it shouldn’t take 6 years to create a master plan for Norwalk because it is so easy to get everyone in Norwalk to agree!

  • 8 anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 4:27 pm

    Hey Greenpeace. Have you actually taken time to look at the master plan draft and understood what it is and what it isn’t? …don’t you know where the brownfield report fits into the plan?

  • 9 anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    So Turfgirl, are you saying that it is the planning commission’s fault that Hempstead and Krummel didn’t bother to read the drafts of the master plan? I’m a private citizen and I read it and I gave my input back to the commission - somehow I find it really hard to believe that any council member didn’t get a copy and didn’t give their input if they thought it was necessary. If they didn’t bother to read it months ago, or give their opinion, given how much press, time, energy and all the review meetings that the planning commission sponsored and all of the input given by many, many private citizens and organizations, then they should be voted off of the council for complete negligence. I guess you would have the planning commission feed the plan to the council members with a silver spoon or, gee, are we trying to make the master plan a political issue for the mayoral election? Doh!

  • 10 Leon Novac // Sep 11, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    If you notice we are beginning to pay the price for over crowding and building with little or no picture of the future. Bus parking in Vets park, Parking problems with the Farmers Market, parking problems all over the city. Reed Putnam with no visitor bus parking. It will only get worse as open space becomes a memory, and we will have to pave and use “The Green” and every other park in the inner city to supply parking to this endless growth of vechicles looking for a place to park.

  • 11 Leon Novac // Sep 11, 2007 at 4:41 pm

    Post #9

    I even think there we several reports in Braille

  • 12 Anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 5:02 pm

    #6, Norwalk is not Westport, New Canaan, Darien or Wilton. Norwalk is a city with a diverse population spanning all socio-economic levels. I think there’s a lot of people in Norwalk who don’t want to recognize this reality, or it’s politically incorrect to say that the public will is to drive those who are less affluent out of the city. Norwalk’s not going to reverse and become an affluent suburb. So I think we have to struggle through to make Norwalk the best City it can be among all the cities that surround Manhattan. This means finding the right balance among dense affordable housing and AAA zones and everything in between.

  • 13 anon again // Sep 11, 2007 at 5:08 pm

    Wasn’t the first draft on stone tablets?

  • 14 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Sep 11, 2007 at 5:15 pm

    Wasn’t the first draft on stone tablets?

    NOW THAT WAS FUNNY.

  • 15 Mr Greenpeace // Sep 11, 2007 at 5:16 pm

    no I don’t #8 I need to do some homework,where do i find a copy?

    I only ask about the Brownfield report becuase I want to read that also..

    when a article comes out on Oyster park where not even the person from the EPA that has it in his section knows whats going on, and the state is at a loss also ,then why presume any other parcel in town is good hands with this master plan.

    so with comments like that I need to do some reading I’m lost,,where can I find a copy at the library?

  • 16 anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 5:29 pm

    Why bash stamford. It is a great city that managed to get rid of most of its housing complexes, property values increased, businesses increased, and crime decreased. Seems like we should be more like stamford.

  • 17 Anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 5:59 pm

    #12: Enough with the dense affordable housing! Norwalk needs to drop all plans it has to add more affordable housing and encourage young working professionals to inhabit the community which would breathe life back into this town in so many ways.

    I have no problem with towns or communities that span all socio-economic levels and recognize that is Norwalk, and that is what makes Norwalk more interesting then surrounding areas combined. However, I believe that there are enough condos, and that the zoning laws are failing.

    Why don’t we get together and fill in some potholes?

  • 18 anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 6:09 pm

    Let free market prevail.

  • 19 turfgrrl // Sep 11, 2007 at 6:59 pm

    anonymous 9: You asked, are you saying that it is the planning commission’s fault that Hempstead and Krummel didn’t bother to read the drafts of the master plan? I’m a private citizen and I read it and I gave my input back to the commission. Sort of. What I’m saying is that when you want to accomplish something that requires legislation, you need to have meetings in order to discuss how that needs to be accomplished. It’s not a matter of reading the plan and submitting comments, its about taking an idea and figuring out what the action item is. I think it is up to the plan writers to have done this. Not really a political observation, just as someone who has written business plans, you just don’t throw down B.S. buzz words if you actually want to get something accomplished. I would say, knowing both Krummel and Hempstead, that they of all people have read the drafts and the plan and obviously have concerns, which they are now voicing in the planning committee. A little more effort on the part of the planning commission would have started that process sooner, not now, and certainly not in the thick of an election.

    Just look at the restricted industrial zone recommendations. Not anywhere does it speak to the actions that would have to happen in order to change the permitted uses. It’s all fine to say allow housing, but what about all the rest of the issues that occur as a result of that?

    So yes, the timing speaks to the politicization of the master plan. It didn’t have to happen this way.

  • 20 anonymous // Sep 11, 2007 at 9:26 pm

    I have developed and implemented business plans as well, and I agree with you that the implementation part of the master plan needs work, but you have to get agreement on goals and parameters first. Building an actionable implementation plan for something as comprehensive and broad as a master plan for a city the size of Norwalk is going to take time, a lot of time. Plus, the council has to agree to the overall parameters and goals of the master plan before you can build an actionable implementation plan.

    No doubt the planning commission could have done more to involve the council, one can always do more. But, quite frankly, it was no secret that the master plan development was going on and for those council members who are now saying they have serious concerns and felt that not enough of their input was being solicited, then SHAME ON THEM! They should have been proactive and beaten down the doors of the planning commission to be heard for something as important as the city’s Master Plan.

  • 21 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 7:25 am

    During the 2005 campaign, Moccia proposed a six month moratorium on condominium development in order to “provide a period for developers and preservationists to talk about how to cooperate for the preservation of Norwalk’s historic character”. (11/10/2005 Hour article)

    What happened to this campaign promise? A moratorium could have provided more time for serious review and input into the Master Plan.

    Yes, condos are a viable form of affordable housing, but there is a limit to what Norwalk’s schools, infrastructure and roads can handle. Over the last 2 years developers, with the complicit consent of the mayor and council, are cramming condos into every possible spot often without consideration of neighborhoods. Does Norwalk want to become more urban, such as Stamford, or retain its traditional character? Serious soul searching should be done and the pols should follow the people’s wishes.

  • 22 Stop the NIMBYs // Sep 12, 2007 at 8:22 am

    Proof that you must be careful what you wish for…West Norwalk Assoc. managed to block condos and office buildings on Connecticut Ave in the last Master Plan. They of course, did not want “all that traffic” in their back yard. Well now they must live with the box stores that they “invited” into their back yard and they have no choice but to live with “all that traffic”! Letting neighborhoods dictate for their own selfish reasons, frequently provides us with unintended consequences.
    Condos and offices combined with commercial would have been a much better use of that road and there would be less traffic. Condos are not the culpret. Planning is. NIMBY mentality rules in Norwalk and too many of them also serve on the Planning Commission. Be careful who you vote for this year - some are also running in the fall.

  • 23 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 10:41 am

    Over one thousand condos are planned to be built in Norwalk 95/7, Reed Putnam Down town Norwalk area everyone I have talked to say the same thing we are over building norwalk. Who is to blame our elected officials that allow it, and make it so easy for developers to come in and do what they want. The developers know if you say affordable housing norwalk will jump and bend all the rules enough already. They know our planning and our zoning laws are so antiquated that almost anything goes in norwalk. They know if you cant do it in another town do it in norwalk its ok. This needs to stop now thats not the way I want to see norwalk in the future. Why we dont have anyone in office looking out for norwalk is beyond me, why they choose to look out for the developers that get rich off norwalks very laxed planning and zoning laws makes you wounder. Why we dont fix these laxed planning and zoning laws I will never understand. Why the people living in norwalk understand better than the elected officials running norwalk i will never understand. Maybe we do get what we pay for. Sad so sad. Last but not least I was stopped at the light accros from city hall yesterday and looking across all I could see is condo roof tops instead ou the water I once saw. What a shame if that is progress then we dont need any more progress. Belden ave route seven ext you get off and now there is a big brick building in your face with MUCH more to come. Progress????????????????

  • 24 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 10:46 am

    What about fixing what already exists? Wall Street could be retail dreams. There is parking and valuable store fronts that are completely vacant or not being used to the full potential. Also, what about that marvelous Victorian on East Avenue that the town is getting ready to demolition for an extended parking lot for the Norwalk Inn / Adam’s Rib Restaurant. (as if they need more parking)

  • 25 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 12:09 pm

    No MORE CONDOS!!! This should be the new political platform

  • 26 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 12:13 pm

    #25 - why don’t you say what you really mean: No more low- or moderate-income people!

    While you’re at it, why don’t you add no more minorities?

  • 27 anon // Sep 12, 2007 at 12:51 pm

    #9-apparently you’ve never served on the council. These folks attend not less than 3-4 meetings a week and cannot always be at meetings that are not in their jurisdiction. I’ve seen quite a few council people attending meetings after rushing from one of their own and sometimes missing their own in order to get important information from other committees. For you to say they don’t care is absurd. Mr. Hempstead’s comment was justified in the fact it was exactly what our councilmen and women are supposed to do ASK QUESTIONS, DISECT INFORMATION, MAKE COMMENTS, ASK MORE QUESTIONS, make suggestions..vote for or against an issue. Can you honestly believe that by reading a proposal or in this case a master plan that you can really digest every morsel without hearing the input from others?

  • 28 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 1:13 pm

    26 Grow up.

  • 29 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 1:20 pm

    #25/28 Well, what else can you possibly mean? No more of the less expensive form of housing means somebody that cannot afford a high-priced single-family house here on the gold coast should just go away. Who is that? The low- and moderate-income, and especially minorities.

    So enlighten me. What other outcome do you expect / desire?

  • 30 Anonymous // Sep 12, 2007 at 1:24 pm

    # 26 what people are trying to say is the over building of norwalk is going to further tax a infrastructer that cant handle what is on it now which in turn will further tax every homeowner in norwalk to pay to fix it. Aside from that taking every peice of open space away and crowding norwalk is not what I want. Traffic noise and nothing to look at but roof tops and buildings. Grow up. Build houses that fit the community, leave open space, create more open space, and dont line the pockets of developers. Thats what norwalk is doing. Work on the failing school system in Norwalk that is known for being poor. No one I know says lets move to norwalk they have great schools. Even Corda wont move to norwalk.

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