Public opposition sends Norwalk hearing on 5 Blackberry Lane group-home application back to staff

A Proposal to open a residential group home for up to three residents at 5 Blackberry Lane prompted broad public concern Wednesday night and the Planning & Zoning Commission continued the public hearing to allow staff and the applicant to address outstanding issues.

Aris Valeton, who appeared with his wife Angela, said the home would provide 24-hour care for up to three elderly or disabled residents, and that both applicants are registered nurses. "We stick on the 3 patient alone itself," Aris said, adding that the couple does not plan to take people with violent behavior or criminal records and that state oversight and annual inspections will apply.

Neighbors disputed key operational details and raised site concerns: they cited narrow streets and snow/turning difficulties, a history of septic trouble that has led to runoff, on-street and lawn parking and uncertainty over how many people actually live at the property now. "If you have 2 vehicles from the Valentons, 2 vehicles for the Valentons, and then a third possible vehicle to just transport the patients and then visitors — where would they park?" said Jacqueline Lane, who lives on Blackberry Lane.

Several speakers asked how the facility would be staffed during day and night shifts and what would happen if both caregivers were ill. Amy Francis of 17 Blackberry asked whether the applicants’ family back-up plan would be sufficient in a public-health emergency. "What is your plan for a COVID situation where the entire house is down?" she asked.

Commissioners and staff flagged several technical items that must be resolved before the commission acts: whether the state licensing and Department of Social Services approvals align with the three-bed limit the applicants are now proposing, and whether the Norwalk Health Department has signed off on the septic capacity for the dwelling’s bedroom count. Planning staff said those approvals — and any required septic upgrades — will determine how many residents the site can serve. "The health department will base the septic system based on the number of bedrooms per person," staff said.

Commissioner Richard Kanter requested explicit conditions if the commission approves the use, including a clear written limit to three residents recorded with state licensing and permission for periodic inspections to verify the resident count. The applicants said they would accept a condition to limit the home to three residents and allow inspections.

After more than an hour of public comment — roughly a dozen speakers from Blackberry Lane and surrounding properties — the commission voted to continue the hearing and asked staff to coordinate a site inspection and obtain written confirmation from the health department about septic capacity and from state licensing about the allowable bed count. The applicants agreed to work with staff on documentation and welcomed a site visit. The commission set no new voting date and will reconvene the hearing after staff and the applicants supply the requested materials.