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Planning & Zoning Commission adopts multiple zoning text amendments after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing, the commission voted to adopt revisions to zoning regulations (item 2025-56R) that adjust setback measurements, incorporate the NOAH Complete Streets design guide, clarify accessory building setbacks, update stormwater and WPCA drainage language, tweak parking rules and add incentives for workforce housing.
The Planning and Zoning Commission closed the public hearing and voted April 2 to adopt a set of text amendments to Norwalk’s zoning regulations (referral 2025-56R). The amendments cover multiple chapters and topics, including setback measurements, reference standards, parking and workforce housing incentives.
Planning staff presented the package and said most changes implement technical clarifications, requests from the Traffic & Mobility and WPCA departments, and alignment with the city’s Complete Streets design guide. Key changes adopted include:
- Measuring principal front setbacks in industrial zones from the front property line (10-foot minimum) rather than from the roadway center line, with an accessory-structure setback defined as the front setback plus 20 feet. This simplifies surveying and avoids variable setbacks created by changing road widths. - Mirroring similar setback clarifications and accessory-structure setbacks in marine commercial and other zones. - Replacing references to DPW roadway standards with the NOAH Complete Streets design guide across multiple sections. - Allowing larger multifamily buildings in certain commercial districts where a mixed-use frontage standard or compatible frontage is provided. Small multifamily buildings on lots ≤5,000 sq ft may be permitted without a mixed-use component. - Removing the compact-parking-table and establishing an 8-foot minimum width if a compact dimension is needed, per TMP recommendation. - Adding WPCA and MS4-related stormwater and drainage best-practice language, making drainage-maintenance plans mandatory where applicable and authorizing the commission to require additional water-quality measures. - Incentives for workforce housing: developments opting to provide 10% of units at 60% SMI (instead of 80% + fee) may reduce parking to one space per unit; two-bedroom workforce units may count as 1.5 units toward affordability goals to incentivize family-sized units.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Commissioners discussed compact parking and enforcement concerns; staff said existing compact spaces are vested and the change applies prospectively to new approvals. The commission referred the proposed text to the required reviewing agencies in advance and received concurrence from CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEP)/Coastal Management on coastal consistency.
A motion to approve the zoning text amendments carried on roll-call vote; the record shows unanimous support. Staff said additional tweaks on workforce housing and flood-related language are under development and will be brought to the commission later.
