Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
TDAC hears downtown updates: new retail, outdoor dining start date moved to May 1, banner program and parking changes debated
Summary
Members reported multiple retail openings, a town decision to move outdoor dining to begin May 1, plans to fence and key controlled dumpsters, a proposed lamppost banner program under consideration, and a parking plan that would add short‑term meters (Iron Mike’s) on Elm Street to increase turnover.
TDAC members reviewed several downtown business and operations updates, including new store openings, a change to the outdoor‑dining season, plans to fence and control communal dumpsters, debate over a proposed lamppost banner program and discussion of short‑term parking measures.
Committee members reported new downtown openings including a bagel shop on Burdess, a carpet store on Main, and other tenant moves; members said Flower Salt Water (a bakery) plans to open on East Avenue and Lombardi’s restaurant is scheduled to open this spring near J.Crew. “Outdoor dining starts May 1 this year,” a TDAC member said, noting the Board of Selectmen approved shifting the start date from April 1 to May 1 to reduce merchants’ concerns about empty sidewalk seating taking spaces during slow periods.
On solid‑waste management, members reported the town is addressing a problem of unsecured dumpsters behind the mobile station on Morseport; organizers said they will fence the area and restrict access with keys so only authorized users may access the dumpsters.
TDAC devoted extensive discussion to a proposed banner program for lampposts. Presenters said towns they researched (including Fairfield and State College, Pa.) use banner campaigns to support local businesses and town messaging; a vendor estimated the printed banner cost at under $70 each and noted hardware is a one‑time expense. Committee members debated whether banners should be limited to New Canaan businesses and nonprofits or open to outside advertisers, whether they should carry logos, and whether an initial launch should prioritize townwide messaging (for example, tied to October for Design) rather than immediate commercialization. A TDAC member summarized the near‑term next step as meeting with the town planner and the first selectman to confirm regulations and design guidelines.
On parking, members discussed a town proposal to add more short‑term parking via Iron Mike pay stations along Elm Street. Under the plan described at the meeting, the first 15 minutes at those spaces would be free to encourage short errands, and paid options would allow stays up to two hours; the initiative seeks to increase turnover on prime downtown blocks. Several merchants attending raised concerns that the change would not necessarily create more true 15‑minute quick‑stop spaces if drivers simply pay for two hours. The meeting included references to a budget submission to the board of finance that would fund additional Iron Mike installations.
No formal TDAC votes were recorded; the items were discussed for planning and guidance.
