Zoning Commission Chairman Lou Schulman questions the lighting plan for the Brien MccMahon High School softball field, shown in a photo rendering by Stantec.
NORWALK, Conn. Somehow, the discussion stemming from years of parental public pleading for an state-of-the-art girls softball field at Brien McMahon High School did not reach the people who would be most affected by the sought-after changes, the people who live across the street.
The Norwalk Zoning Commission has therefore delayed its decision on the proposed field and its 60-foot-tall light poles. Zoners have kept their public hearing open, suggesting that the City show the neighbors other fields, to support the claim that new technology keeps light from spreading to surrounding properties. They also said they wanted to hear from the Board of Education.
The athletic complex behind Nathan Hale Middle School. (File photo)
NORWALK, Conn. Who gets access to city-owned fields in Norwalk? How are they being used? What impact do the COVID-related scheduling concerns have on field usage?
These are some of the questions that came up at the Feb. 10 meeting of the Common Council’s Recreation and Parks committee. For a long time, access to the fields has been run by “an old boys’ group,” Council member John Kydes (D, District C) said, stating that many agreements were made verbally or through “handshake” arrangements.
“A lot of these leagues have gotten comfortable with the ‘old boys league,’” he said. “And now we’ve grown to the size where I think we need to just reign them in, and just kind of streamline this process.”
The City plans to demolish this former home, next to Nathan Hale Middle School.
NORWALK, Conn. An unusual hearing ended Wednesday with a unanimous Board of Condemnation vote to demolish 162 Strawberry Hill Ave., deemed unsafe due to a fire. The house is located near Nathan Hale Middle School.
“It’s come to our attention and concern about the structural stability of the building,” Chief Building Officer William Ireland said. “Since we have an adjacent school and tennis courts, and we are in fear of collapse really structurally because of the weight of snow. There’s also some health and fire issues there. And of course, like you just mentioned the significant fire damage over the past year.”
NORWALK, Conn.
Contrasting opinions on turf fields and a would-be welcome center, disappointment over another possible delay regarding Cranbury Elementary and a consensus that the Silvermine Elementary School is dangerous and some school bathrooms disgusting marked the Planning Commission’s virtual hearing Wednesday on the capital budget.
More than 30 people spoke to the Commission, many of them responding to austere recommendations made by Chief Financial Officer Henry Dachowitz, characterized by citizen Jennifer Romano as “really disproportionate to the needs and ask, especially for the schools.” The comments prompted Planning Commission Chairwoman Frances DiMeglio and other Commissioners to point out that they have their role in the process, but the buck stops with the Common Council.
Briggs welcome center and pretty flat operating budget request considered by Norwalk BoE nancyonnorwalk.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nancyonnorwalk.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.