Norwalk council amends moratorium to exempt housing uses and approves several street and signal projects

The Norwalk City Council on an 4‑0 roll call on Aug. 6 adopted an amended urgency ordinance that removes housing-related uses from an ongoing moratorium and extends the revised moratorium on several non‑housing commercial uses for one additional year.

The amended urgency ordinance — listed as Urgency Ordinance No. 25‑1758U — strikes emergency shelters, single‑room occupancy, supportive housing and transitional housing from the moratorium and extends the remaining restrictions (including convenience stores, liquor stores, discount stores, personal‑use laundromats, automobile washing and payday‑loan establishments) through Aug. 5, 2026 or until the council adopts an implementing ordinance, city staff said.

The amendment follows prior urgency ordinances the council adopted in 2024 that initially included housing uses. City staff and the city attorney told the council the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) revoked the city’s 2021–2029 housing element after the earlier moratorium and that settlement discussions and steps toward recertification of the housing element are underway. Staff recommended omitting housing uses from the moratorium so the city can pursue recertification with HCD while retaining time to develop development and performance standards for the non‑housing uses.

In separate votes, the council also:

- Award…