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Residents press Darien council on sidewalks, trees and backyard flooding
Summary
Multiple residents urged the council to address a disconnected sidewalk on Farmingdale Drive, hazardous cottonwood trees near a condominium, and recurring backyard flooding on Gale Avenue; staff offered follow‑ups, explained floodway and grading limits, and said some fixes may require resident action or outside approvals.
Several residents used the public‑comment period to press the Darien City Council on safety and infrastructure issues that affect daily life on neighborhood streets.
John York, who lives on Somerset Lane, asked the council to complete a roughly 300‑foot connector on Farmingdale Drive where short gaps in the sidewalk force pedestrians onto grass. He also complained about long‑term street parking by nearby apartment residents and asked about the neighborhood’s eligibility for resident reimbursement to fund sidewalk construction. Staff explained that the missing segment is partially in a floodway and that Army Corps permitting and local policy on resident petitions would affect whether the city can build and fund a connector. "About 300 ft," York said when asked for an estimate of the missing section.
Another resident described a trip and fall on an uneven panel and was asked to give staff the address so the city could inspect and, if necessary, schedule repairs. Jim KC, a resident of Hinswood Park condominium, said several large cottonwood trees in a ditch behind his property are pushing on a fence and could fall on buildings during high winds; staff took his contact information and promised follow‑up.
Tafun Bisawas raised repeated flooding at a property on Gale Avenue, saying heavy rain leaves yards standing in water for about an hour to an hour and a half and that water sometimes enters basements. Public‑works staff who visited the property told Bisawas their inspections had found grading and pitch issues on the lot and said the property was not eligible for city remediation without corrective grading; staff offered to follow up with the resident and neighbors to confirm and coordinate next steps.
Council members and staff repeatedly asked residents for addresses or contact information so staff could investigate specific claims and promised to follow up. Several of the responses noted limits to city authority (floodway permitting, property grading eligibility) and emphasized resident responsibilities where applicable.
The council did not take formal action on these items during the meeting; staff committed to follow up individually with residents and to return with any options that require committee or council consideration.
