Norwalk P&Z approves site plan for new central water tower amid questions about siting and future uses

The Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission on March 24 approved the site plan for the Norwalk Central Water Tower, a nonresidential utility facility proposed at the east end of Chatham Drive. Commissioners and staff debated siting trade-offs, future uses for the tower grounds and whether cellular equipment could be mounted on the structure.

The commission heard from city planning staff and engineers that elevation and immediate capacity needs drove the site choice; commissioners raised concerns about placing a prominent utility structure in the city’s planned town-center area, and asked about landscaping, potential noise from antennas and timing for when the tower must come online.

Elliot (city planning staff) said the water tower is needed to increase system capacity and that all nonresidential uses require site-plan approval. He described the site as being at the end of Chatham Drive, adjacent to a future street shown in a pending subdivision, and noted that a study by consultants pointed to the east side of Chatham as a suitable general area. "This one's fairly straightforward. As you guys know, we're needing a second water tower," Elliot said. He added the city owns the site, which staff said allows future changes to how the immediate frontage is programmed.

Commissioners pushed on alternatives and aesthetics. One commissioner asked why the tower could not be sited in an industrial area to avoid placing the facility beside the planned town-center streetscape; Elliot and staff responded that elevation is a key factor and the chosen site better meets immediate water needs. Staff noted that locating the tower at a much lower elevation would require building a taller structure, increasing cost and complexity.

Discussion touched on potential co-location of cellular antennas. Elliot explained federal law requires the city to permit attachment when companies request to locate antennas on municipal structures, and commissioners asked whether a tower-mounted antenna would create audible noise or affect use of any future public plaza. "I don't know the sonic physics there," Elliot said, but staff said they had not observed buzzing from existing Norwalk towers during park use. City staff also confirmed the tower will tie into the same water system and provide capacity for fire suppression, irrigation and other system needs; staff said adding capacity supports the city's property-insurance rating.

The commission also noted that the current staff report did not include a finalized landscaping plan, and commissioners discussed using the tower grounds for more than utility access—ideas mentioned included community gardens, hardscape gathering space or programming to connect with the planned library to the south. A participant noted plan sheets showing approximately 1.25 to 1.5 million gallons of capacity, but the exact design-capacity number was not finalized in the hearing.

Commissioner Henders moved to approve the site plan; the motion received a second and passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting yes. Staff said the water tower's need is relatively imminent and that the city will proceed with engineering and construction scheduling.