The Norwalk Traffic Authority on Oct. 20 voted to table a proposal setting 2-hour, unmetered parking on Cemetery Street, adjacent sections of East Avenue and portions of Gregory Boulevard after public comment and requests for more information.

The proposal would have created new on-street parallel parking as part of streetscape work tied to the 1 Cemetery Street development, with a 2-hour limit from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays (holidays and weekends excepted). City staff described the restriction as consistent with nearby Van Zandt and Rowan streets and said it was intended “to encourage parking turnover for retail uses and discourage commuter parking.”

The tabling followed public comment from a representative of the East Norwalk Neighborhood Association who said the new spaces could effectively serve the adjacent development and its guests unless overnight or other additional restrictions are added. The commenter said the association had received resident correspondence about recent authorized parking changes on Howard Avenue and requested a post‑implementation evaluation; she also asked the authority to delay action until those concerns were addressed. The Traffic Authority took that request into account and moved to postpone consideration.

City staff explained which spaces the regulation would cover: new parallel parking on Cemetery Street, new spaces along the east side of East Avenue next to 1 Cemetery Street, and future spaces on the east side of Gregory Boulevard across from the cemetery. Staff also said the created spaces would be unmetered; outside the 8 a.m.–6 p.m. window the spaces would be technically unrestricted.

Mayor Rilling told the public commenter, “I think the best way to handle that is to draft a letter to the traffic authority so it can be reconsidered.” City staff said they would provide additional background, including any traffic studies or impact analyses, at a future meeting.

Commissioner Fran Collier Clemons moved to table the item “until the next meeting when we get pertinent information regarding what we discussed and do not know about.” The motion carried on a voice vote.

The authority noted that, if implemented as proposed, future traffic authority meetings could revisit and change the regulations.

The item will return to a future meeting with additional materials and responses to public concerns about overnight use and traffic impacts.