Norwalk zoning staff continue review of 108 Connecticut Ave. after police raid reports; owner told to file special-permit application

Hearing Officer Robert Maslow continued consideration of the zoning status of 108 Connecticut Ave. on Oct. 22, 2025, after staff said police activity and recent zoning changes raised questions about whether the location now requires a special permit.

Maslow said the matter would be continued to Dec. 3, 2025, to allow the owner or tenant to file a special-permit application and provide required state and city registrations. “If that's in process, it'd have to be submitted to the commission and they'll go over it,” city planner (Mr. Hall) told the hearing.

Why it matters: Norwalk amended its zoning definitions earlier in 2025 to distinguish vape/tobacco specialty shops from general retail, and staff said that after a February 2025 change in the city rules, vape/tobacco uses now can require special-permit review where previously a convenience/retail designation might have been sufficient.

At the hearing, the property representative and on-site manager identified themselves. A person who identified himself as the tenant/manager, giving the name “Abdulan” (spelled on the record), said he had been in contact with staff and that the owner had applied through the city portal for licensing; the building owner, who gave a name recorded as Manis (tax-record name uncertain on the record), said he owns the building and was coordinating with the tenant. Maslow and staff advised that zoning staff need the special-permit materials and that the applicant must provide any state tobacco/vape dealer registration and public-health approvals before the Planning & Zoning Commission will consider the special permit.

Staff summarized the regulatory background. Mr. Hall said the property had previously been approved as “convenience/retail” in 2023, but two weeks after that signoff the city amended definitions (Feb. 14, 2025). “If a building permit was initiated after this, we would honor this as being grandfathered in. However, since the building permit was not” taken out, Hall said, the city’s working position is that the current standard applies and a special permit for a vape/tobacco dealer will be required.

Police activity at the business was referenced in news reporting and brought up by staff; Hall said the police did not directly notify the zoning office but staff learned of the incident via public reporting. Hall told the tenant to submit the special-permit application materials to staff member Brian Baker’s email and to supply any state registrations. “When you send me send it to Brian Baker...because he's the one who handles the application,” Hall said.

Outcome and next steps: The hearing officer continued the matter to Dec. 3, 2025, at 2 p.m. and instructed the property representative and tenant to provide (1) a completed special-permit application for electronic nicotine delivery system / vape tobacco retail, (2) any state dealer registration and public-health (PHD) documentation, and (3) documentation of recent communications with the police if relevant to zoning conditions. Staff said they will not impose a fine before the Dec. 3 hearing but reminded the parties that a zoning citation had been issued recently and remains outstanding.

Reporting note: Speakers’ names and spellings are taken from the hearing record; some names were provided orally and spelled phonetically in the transcript. The article does not infer criminal facts from the police reporting; it reports only on what zoning staff said in the hearing.