Cece Olmstead, speaking for the East Norwalk Neighborhood Association during public comment, urged Park Norwalk to involve a broad stakeholder group when drafting a residential parking program ordinance and to consider equity in how streets become eligible.

“I hope you’ll consider doing that because I think getting the feedback with a really good robust ad hoc stakeholder group on the front end could go a long way,” Olmstead said, recommending representatives from neighborhood associations, police and planning and zoning be included in drafting before a public comment period. She also said petition requirements — commonly used in other cities to place residents’ streets into residential zones — may be unfair in portions of East Norwalk with high rental rates or illegal apartments.

Olmstead said she attended the ordinance committee of the Common Council the prior evening and urged the authority to confirm whether the Common Council could later amend or rescind an ordinance once the authority has implemented it; she said Councilman Josh Goldstein had suggested the Council retain that option.

Park Norwalk staff said the draft ordinance before the Common Council would, if enacted, designate the authority to develop program guidelines and to run a public comment process: an initial draft and public comment period, adjustments and another comment period, then a public hearing before the authority, and ultimately an up-or-down vote by the Common Council. Staff said if the Common Council rejects the authority’s proposed program, it would return to the authority for revision. Staff recommended that, once the council outcome is clear, the authority consider hiring a consultant experienced with residential permit programs to help design a citywide framework and to convene an internal work group and outside stakeholders to craft procedures and signage, budgeting and enforcement plans.

Commissioners said TMP staff have prior experience with residential permit programs in other cities and that a consultant could help tailor a program to Norwalk’s neighborhoods. Staff emphasized that the ordinance was still proposed and that no program would begin until Park Norwalk and the Common Council complete the public process and any required approvals.