Planning agency refers Calhoun Place discontinuance to council for new Kobe Cathedral campus

The Bridgeport Planning & Zoning Agency voted to forward a favorable 8-24 referral to City Council for the discontinuance of a section of Calhoun Place to accommodate a new campus for Kobe Cathedral High School.

Jonathan Delgado, deputy director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development, told commissioners that the city was seeking a positive recommendation as a step in the process. He summarized the path: the council will consider the discontinuance and engineering review and the local traffic authority and police commissioners will review traffic and safety implications.

Attorney Chris Russo, representing the applicant, said the school's buildings are currently split by a public street and that closing the segment would create a more enclosed and safer campus for students. Russo described plans for a vehicular gate, emergency access from Washington Street, a conversion of the street to allow bus turning and parent drop-off, and said final traffic engineering would be completed by city staff and reviewed by the local traffic board before any abandonment is made official.

Delgado and Russo noted interjurisdictional coordination: the proposal crosses operational concerns with city engineering, the traffic authority and, because of proximity to Fairfield, the neighboring jurisdiction will be kept informed. Commissioners did not record a contentious exchange and moved the item forward as a referral to City Council for subsequent approvals and technical reviews.