The Norwalk Planning & Zoning Commission approved a site plan to demolish two existing structures at 38 Lois Street and 1 Bishop Street and redevelop the combined parcel with two townhouse buildings containing a total of 12 dwelling units.
The development team—represented by attorney Liz Saatchi and civil engineer Andy Sumalidis—told commissioners the combined half-acre site would provide two separate townhouse buildings with 12 units (a mix of two- and three-bedroom townhouses), approximately 18 parking spaces, underground stormwater detention and pretreatment, new sidewalks and street tree plantings, new utilities and an internal circulation network with one curb cut on Fulton. The team said the project had received Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency approval for the upland review area and had received or expected sign-offs from the fire marshal, Transportation, Mobility and Parking, DPW, WPCA and the health department.
Commissioners asked detailed questions about landscaping and buffering for neighbors along Fulton (Fulham in the presentation), tree sizes and species; the landscape architect said seven tulip trees would be planted at 2.5-inch caliper and would grow to roughly 35–50 feet and that the team could increase size to 3-inch caliper if the commission preferred. The design includes a landscaped courtyard, porous pavers in hatched interior parking areas, shaded amenity spaces, street trees and a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs for screening. Commissioners also questioned materials and the use of fiber-cement siding; the team said the product would be used above grade with stone veneer at the base and that staff confirmed cementitious siding is permitted in the CD-3C (cited by staff).
On housing affordability, the architect said one unit is being offered to meet the workforce/affordable requirement: a three-bedroom unit that counts as two workforce units under the rules. The developer said units are planned as rental rather than condominium.
After discussion and staff recommended conditions addressing tree caliper and driveway details provided by TMP and DPW, Commissioner Chapin moved to approve the site plan; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with no recorded opposition.
The commission’s approval includes standard conditions: securing final departmental sign-offs (DPW, WPCA, health), compliance with conservation permit conditions, conformance with the town’s drainage manual for stormwater pretreatment and infiltration, and a staff-added comment to increase caliper for certain street trees per commissioner request. The approval authorizes demolition, site grading and construction subject to those conditions.