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Norwalk council approves ordinance to enable residential parking permits; committee and TMP to craft rules
Summary
The Common Council approved an ordinance authorizing the Parking Authority and TMP to draft a residential parking-permit program. The ordinance sets procedure (two 30-day public comment periods) and requires the authority return to council for final approval; council members pressed for broader enforcement and outreach.
The Norwalk Common Council on Oct. 28 approved an ordinance authorizing the Parking Authority to develop a residential parking-permit program intended to address nonresident parking near beaches, train stations and other local attractions.
Sponsor Council Member Shannon told the council the ordinance is enabling legislation: it does not set program standards now but empowers Transportation, Mobility and Parking (TMP) and the Parking Authority to draft guidelines. “This ordinance does not lay out any standards or guidelines for the program at this time… That work is left to the experts at the parking authority,” Shannon said, adding the process will include two 30-day public comment periods and then a council vote on the revised guidelines.
Anna Tabashnik, a current Planning & Zoning alternate speaking in her personal capacity, supported the ordinance and asked that TMP consider more than just petitions—suggesting TMP and council members should also be able to propose streets for permit consideration.
Council members discussed enforcement, commercial vehicles, abandoned cars, and equity in outreach. Council Member Young said South Norwalk “has been inundated” with nonresident and commercial vehicles and urged a prompt, comprehensive approach. Jim Travers, chief of Transportation, Mobility and Parking, told councilors the ordinance is only one step and that separate ordinances and enforcement actions address issues such as abandoned vehicles. Travers said the city has recently removed more than 60 abandoned vehicles and that the parking authority will undertake an open, transparent drafting process.
The council recorded broad support for moving the ordinance forward; the motion to approve the enabling ordinance carried unanimously.
What the ordinance requires
The ordinance authorizes the parking authority to prepare initial guidelines and requires two 30-day public-comment periods (first on the draft guidelines, second after revisions) before the authority returns the program to the council for final approval. Enforcement mechanisms and related ordinances (for abandoned vehicles, long-term parking and commercial-vehicle regulation) are to be addressed separately.
Next steps
TMP and the Parking Authority will draft the initial guidelines, conduct public outreach per the ordinance’s two comment periods, and then send the revised program back to the council for a vote.
