Neighbors press city over contractor yard at 98 George Avenue; hearing continued to Aug. 25 with $10,000 contingent fine

Norwalk City’s zoning enforcement staff presented evidence on July 14 that a property at 98 George Avenue has been used as a contractor’s yard and for commercial-vehicle storage in a zone that permits no such use. Neighbors testified that multiple vans and trucks, equipment and material storage create noise and safety concerns; staff documented the activity with inspections, neighbor photos and aerial imagery.

Deputy zoning inspector John Hayducki said the file was reactivated from complaints beginning in 2023 and that repeated inspections and neighbor-submitted photos showed multiple small commercial vehicles, racks and equipment parked on the property and in the rear yard. He displayed photographs and aerial images dating from 2023 to July 2026 showing vans, trucks, trailers and stored material.

Hayducki told the hearing that the local zoning table for CD1/CD2 residential zones allows one small commercial vehicle only (gross vehicle weight rating under 15,000 pounds and lacking commercial racks or permanent equipment) and that multiple vehicles and exterior material storage are not permitted. He explained how the new/enhanced contested-hearing process works and that fines accrue from the citation date; he noted a statutory maximum at this stage of about $11,700 under current calculation methods.

Neighbors described repeated disturbances. Deidra D'Amico, who lives adjacent to the property, said the trucks and maintenance work have occurred late into the night and produce backup alarms and other disruption. "They were working on their vans until 12, 1 in the morning," a neighbor told the hearing, saying the activity had persisted for years despite prior complaints.

Steve Mason, who identified himself as the property owner of No. 9 Laura Street across a narrow state-owned parcel, told the hearing he had documented roughly 300 cubic yards of fill and material placed on the adjacent state parcel (Parcel 11) that the respondent uses for access and storage. Mason said the fill is destabilizing a retaining wall on his property and that the storage and busy truck movements pose hazards near a local elementary school and new sidewalks.

Hayducki said the city had forwarded the state-property concerns to the Connecticut state right-of-way/transportation staff but that response from the state can be slow. The hearing officer said the city could attempt a citation to the state if warranted, adding that city staff have had mixed results pressing the state in other cases.

Because the owner had not fully remedied the use and because activity continues, the hearing officer placed a contingent fine of $10,000 on the record — a penalty that would be assessed if the owner fails to comply — and continued the contested matter to Aug. 25, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Staff committed to continued inspections and outreach to state officials about activity on the adjacent parcel.

Next steps: the hearing record remains open; staff will inspect the property and report progress at the Aug. 25 hearing. Neighbors were instructed to report ongoing activity to zoning staff.