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Council approves first reading to rezone 818½ North Avenue after city staff describes split lot history
Summary
The Norwalk City Council on March 27 approved the first reading of an ordinance to rezone 818 and a Half North Avenue from C‑4 Founders (commercial) to RF Founders (residential) after staff said the lot had been split decades ago and the owner needs residential zoning to obtain financing.
The Norwalk City Council on Thursday approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend the official zoning map and rezone 818 and a Half North Avenue from C‑4 Founders (commercial) to RF Founders (residential).
City staff told the council the parcel appears to have been split in the 1950s and that part of an existing house lies in the commercial zone, which is complicating the owner's efforts to sell or refinance. “Basically, what this is is this is a lot that was somehow subdivided into two different lots… the north part of that lot is in the C‑4 zoning district,” said Jim, a city staff member who presented the item.
The rezoning was presented during a public hearing that opened at about 6:04 p.m.; no written or oral comments were filed with the city for this item. Council Member Cool moved to approve the first reading; Council Member Livingston seconded. The roll call votes recorded by city clerk Lindsay were Brown: yes; Cool: yes; Livingston: yes; Baker: yes. The motion carried.
During discussion, council members noted the split lot appears to be recorded with the county, although city records do not show when the division occurred. “The county shows that it's legally divided. There's two lots according to the county,” a council member said during the hearing. Staff confirmed the house on the property was built in 1952 and said the rezoning would align the zoning designation with the existing residential use so lenders will treat the property as residential.
Council and staff characterized the action as correcting an existing irregularity rather than creating a new land‑use change; staff said they did not anticipate any negative impacts to the city from granting the rezoning. The ordinance will return for subsequent readings as required by city code.
Action details: Council approved the first reading of the ordinance to rezone 818 and a Half North Avenue from C‑4 Founders to RF Founders (motion: Council Member Cool; second: Council Member Livingston). Roll call votes recorded: Brown — yes; Cool — yes; Livingston — yes; Baker — yes. Outcome: first reading approved.
The council’s approval of the first reading sets the matter for the city’s upcoming ordinance process; staff will finalize the official zoning map update if later readings pass.
