Norwalk committee authorizes two Eversource gas easements after public hearing; Sierra Club voices concern

The Norwalk Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee on July 9 voted to authorize the city to grant two gas utility easements to Eversource Energy: one of about 3,360 square feet near Strawberry Hill Avenue (near William Street) and a smaller roughly 100-square-foot easement at 15 Calf Pasture Beach Road. The action followed a public hearing in which a community member urged the city to reconsider placing new gas infrastructure near school properties.

Diane Loracella, who identified herself as a resident and a member of the Sierra Club, told the committee she opposes expansion of “fracked gas facilities” in Connecticut and urged officials to consider cleaner alternatives for school energy projects. “We’re on record for opposing expansion of fracked gas facilities throughout Connecticut,” Loracella said during public comment. She added, “I don’t like greenwashing,” and urged the city to evaluate rooftop, carport or ground-mounted solar and other clean-energy options before approving easements that enable more gas infrastructure near schools.

City staff and Eversource representatives said the easements are for neighborhood distribution infrastructure and safety upgrades rather than new large-scale service lines directly intended to add gas to school buildings. A staff member who spoke to the committee said, “these aren’t being installed for the sole purpose of gas to the schools. These are upgrades to the neighborhood, gas system.” Wilbur Garan, who the committee identified as having worked with Eversource, said the equipment is intended “to enhance the safety of the gas distribution system” and that the installation was required by updated regulations.

Committee staff described the negotiated compensation for the larger easement as a settlement the city can recommend: Eversource’s initial offer on the roughly 3,360-square-foot parcel was about $13,000, then roughly $18,000, and the parties settled on $25,000 total — which staff described as about $7.50 per square foot after accounting for the easement’s encumbrance. For the smaller 100-square-foot easement at Calf Pasture Beach Road, staff said the offer was $1,500. The staff report cited an MAI appraiser’s view that full-fee land value would range “between $6 and $10 a square foot,” and staff said the agreed figure reflects an easement-related discount.

The committee also discussed risk mitigation. Staff said Eversource is “fully self-insured” and that the city will require indemnification and will press for contractor insurance that names the City of Norwalk as an additional insured. As staff summarized, Eversource “accepts all risk on their balance sheet,” and the city will seek contractual protections, including insurance from contractors, consistent with city requirements.

After public comment and staff presentations, the committee voted to authorize items a and b together, approving the two easements. The motion passed with the committee recorded as approving the authorization and with one abstention by a member. Committee discussion noted that Eversource was eager to complete infrastructure upgrades before winter and that the city legal and public works staff would finalize easement language and standard risk-mitigation provisions before closing the agreements.

The authorization directs staff to finalize the easement agreements with Eversource under the terms described to the committee and to ensure required insurance and indemnification clauses are in place. City staff said the work is intended to regulate and monitor the existing neighborhood gas distribution system and not to expand service to new customers beyond existing neighborhood usage.

The item was first discussed in earlier meetings, and staff told the committee the departments of Recreation and Parks, Public Works, and the city’s legal team have been negotiating with Eversource for several months. The committee’s authorization sends the negotiated terms back to city staff for final execution and closing.