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Norwalk committee sends Chapter 95 (streets and sidewalks) to Common Council after public comment on sidewalk encroachments
Summary
After public comment urging clearer enforcement for vehicles on sidewalks, the ordinance committee voted to forward the coordinated Chapter 95 draft — intended to align with the recently passed Complete Streets ordinance — to the Common Council.
Norwalk’s Ordinance Committee voted on Dec. 17 to move Chapter 95 (streets and sidewalks) to the Common Council for further consideration, after a public hearing that drew comments about enforcement of sidewalk encroachments.
During the public hearing, resident Diane Loricella (21 Little Fox Lane) praised coordination with the Complete Streets ordinance but urged stronger, explicit enforcement language for vehicles and trucks that obstruct sidewalks. She asked the committee to define cars and trucks as obstructions in 95.3, to adopt a warning‑then‑towing protocol for repeat offenders, and to clarify whether police or planning and zoning officers would issue written citations or warnings.
Chair Lisa Shanahan responded that some of the suggested substantive changes would require returning to the Common Council and additional work with the Department of Public Works; the committee’s immediate task was to align Chapter 95 with Complete Streets. After committee discussion, a motion to take Chapter 95 to the Common Council was put forward and the committee recorded five raised‑hand votes in favor.
The committee did not adopt the public commenter’s suggested enforcement amendments at this meeting; staff and committee members said any substantive enforcement changes would follow the city’s established amendment process and further coordination with DPW, police and Planning & Zoning.
Next steps: the committee forwarded Chapter 95 to Common Council for further action; specific enforcement language requested by public commenters was left to subsequent drafting and council consideration.
