Sympathy with the Developers? District A Candidates Disagree

The four District A candidates for two seats on the Norwalk Common Council largely agreed with each other on many issues at Thursday night's debate at Norwalk Public Library.

About 70 people attended the one-hour forum, held in the upstairs auditorium of Norwalk Public Libary.

What would be your approach to making progress on the major redevelopment projects that have stalled in Norwalk?

Matthew Miklave: From 2001 to 2007, he was on the Common Council, and he was chairman of the council's Planning Committee, working on the larger development projects. "In 2008, we got hit by the largest economic downturn in Post World War II history," and that's what's stalled the larger projects. By allowing the 95/7 District project to build housing on the southernmost block rather than Class A office space, the city is making a mistake, in part because the housing won't increase the tax base as much while increasing the need for city services.

Richard Bonenfant: "We [...] only allowed them to switch the footprint" for 95/7. "They're still on the hook for the mixed use that they promised," only that will come later, elsewhere on the site, because of the economic downturn. The city did a lot to encourage 95/7—improving sidewalks, adding street lights and traffic lights, sewers and abandoned part of Crescent Street to give the developers more space. "They're basically telling us they're not building anything without a tenant. [...] Because nobody can get a mortgage, retail housing seems to be an active market."

David Watts: "I just have one question for the developers: Can you please hurry up?" The city needs to do more to encourage the developers to build.

Karen Cosco: "We've had an economic disaster. It's going to take time, but they've gotten started. [...] Unforeseen things are going to come up, and they're going to have to go to the council to make changes."

How would you balance the goals of fighting blight with protecting people, like some seniors, who just aren't able to do much to maintain their property?

Miklave: "We don't need legislators sitting in City Hall passing more laws. We need to enforce the laws that are on the books.

Richard Bonenfant: Earlier this year, neighborhood groups in the Golden Hill and Harbor Shores neighborhoods asked city officials to try to strengthen anti-blight ordinances. Bonenfant and other city officials said they wanted to wait until next year to pass an ordinance because they thought it would be rushed through too fast, without enough thought, if officials tried to pass one this year. It's hard to craft an ordinance that would prevent more buildings from having too much trash, being a health hazard or have unsafe living conditions but avoid putting too much pressure on senior citizens who have difficulty maintaining their homes.

Watts: "As long as it wasn't too restrictive and didn't pick on seniors or someone who lost their job, I don't see anything wrong with it [a stronger anti-blight ordinance]."

Cosco: A blight ordinance is needed, but the city should try to "identify people in need. That's where I think the neighborhood needs to come in," and help out seniors and others who need assistance in maintaining their property.

Would you promote multi-purpose trails, open space and the Norwalk Harbor Loop Trail?

Bonenfant: There are some gaps in the Norwalk Harbor Loop Trail "and it would be nice if we could continue it." City officials plan to provide more funding for the loop trail, and they also intend to apply for grants for it. "District A doesn't have a whole lot of open space, so Mathews Park is very important to us."

Watts: We need to preserve our open space. I definitely support it."

Cosco: "We do need to preserve open space. [...] Cranbury Park has an organization of people who help to maintain it. Getting the community involved is very important."

Miklave: "We need to take more active steps to preserve open spaces." He walked the Norwalk Harbor Loop Trail a few weeks ago. "At least one developer was given an easement to develop along the waterfront in return for developing part of the trail, and this administration has not enforced that [...] I will work with the corporation counsel to hold that property owner to the easement agreement."