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Norwalk council votes to join Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority after debate over oversight and affordability
Summary
After public comment urging more committee review, the Norwalk Common Council voted to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority (CMDA). Supporters cited gap financing and a new 5% school-construction reimbursement; opponents warned of delegated authority and no affordability requirement.
The Norwalk Common Council voted Nov. 17 to authorize Mayor Harry W. Rilling to enter an agreement with the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, a state-created redevelopment authority that offers technical assistance and gap financing for transit-oriented and downtown projects.
Councilmember Josh Goldstein, who moved the resolution, said the CMDA is a voluntary statewide tool that helps close financing gaps for projects the city wants to advance. “All the assets and things with CMDA are entirely voluntary,” Goldstein said, adding that “it can’t impose zoning changes” and that local planning and zoning approvals must come first. Goldstein also highlighted a recently passed housing bill that raises state school-construction reimbursement by five percentage points—“that changes our reimbursement rate from the state from 60 to 65%,” he said—calling it a…
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