Norwalk council declines to rewrite C2 zoning for online-only retailers; owner told storefront or rezoning paths available

At a Feb. 20 council work session, the owner of the former Fairway building asked the council to allow online-only retail businesses in C2 commercial districts without a storefront. Staff and councilors said the current code treats exclusive online sales with substantial storage and shipping as warehousing — a use excluded in the C2 district — and that a zoning change would raise spot-zoning and comprehensive-plan concerns.

Blake Schultz, who identified himself and his address and said he owns the old Fairway building, told council he sought a permit to use the entire structure for his online business and had encountered obstacles because the use has no walk-in storefront. "I just wanted to get the permit to use the whole entire building," Schultz said. He said he had obtained permits for…