Norwalk Zoning Decisions: June 2026

In June 2026, Norwalk held 7 public meetings covering zoning matters. 13 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 10 approved (91% approval rate), 1 denied, 2 deferred. Activity was up 13% compared to May (318 activity items across 6 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Coastal site plan modification to extend hours at 314 Wilson Avenue beer garden

Approved.

Modification request to conditions of approval for a coastal site plan to extend operating hours of the 314 Wilson Avenue restaurant/beer garden (SDLI zone, ~30 acres). Proposed extension to 1am Mon-Sat and 9pm Sunday, with live entertainment still concluding at 11pm (6pm Sunday). Resolution restructured to no longer regulate restaurant hours of operation but to restrict live-music hours, with added conditions. Approved with 1 abstention (Hempstead). Dissenters named in roll call: Shulman, Lankowski, Langalis.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Variance continuance at 38 Westmere Avenue

Deferred.

Application for front setback (30 ft required, 14 ft proposed), side setback (6 ft required, 2.9 ft proposed), building height (32 ft max, 38.4 ft proposed) and total building height (40 ft max, 44.2 ft proposed) variances for a proposed front addition and raising an existing single-family dwelling for flood compliance in CD1S zone and coastal area management overlay. Item opened and continued to the July 16 meeting; will be read fully next meeting.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Manresa Wilds zone change, text amendment, and development park master plan special permit

Deferred.

Public hearing opened for application 2026-41 by Manresa Osprey LLC to (1) rezone the ~125-acre Manresa Island property on Longshore Avenue from CD1S to a new Special District Manresa Wilds (SDMW), (2) a companion zoning text amendment, and (3) a special permit for a development park master plan to create a publicly accessible waterfront park with adaptive reuse of the former power plant. Property is District 5, Block 86, Lots 1 and 2. Only the applicant's presentation was heard; no merits vote taken. Continued to July 15, 2026, likely at City Hall.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Height variance denied at 1 Westmere Avenue

Denied.

Catherine Giusti sought building height variance (32 ft max, revised 35.25 ft mid-roof proposed) and total building height variance (40 ft max, revised 42.6 ft roof peak proposed) to construct a new single-family dwelling replacing an existing 1994 home to be demolished, in CD1S zone and coastal area management overlay. Property directly abuts Long Island Sound; partially in VE-17 and AE-15 flood zones. Motion to approve the zoning portion failed. Board then voted to deny the application without prejudice, 4 in favor, allowing the applicant to return. Concern centered on approving a new build (not a raised existing structure) exceeding the 40-foot height limit.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Rear setback variance approved at 12 Pine Hill Avenue

Approved.

Peter and Alexandria Benavides sought a variance of table 4.3.1-B for rear setback (15 ft required, 10.5 ft proposed) to install two AC condenser units at an existing single-family dwelling built in 1929, in CD-1M zone. Corner lot on Lenore Street; required setbacks are unachievable as the lot depth (about 47 ft) is less than 50 ft, creating a non-existent building envelope. Approved unanimously subject to screening.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Special Permit for car rental agency at 200 Connecticut Avenue

Approved.

Special permit for a proposed car rental agency (Avis Rent-A-Car) within the existing multi-level parking garage of an 8-story office building at 200 Connecticut Avenue (District 5, Block 64, Lot 42). Involves a ~200 sq ft office and ~31 dedicated parking spaces (out of 313 existing; 279 required after residential conversion). Approved unanimously (9-0).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Architectural peer review expenditure for 11-unit multifamily at 65 Van Zandt St and 28 Rowan St

Approved.

Coastal Site Plan Review application (Millen-Privilsky) for construction of an 11-unit multifamily building; item was an approval of an architectural peer review expenditure, to use DeCarlo and Dahl (Bob Griswatz) who reviewed the prior iteration. Passed with one abstention (JJ/Ms. Jordan Byron passed), otherwise unanimous.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Coastal Site Plan Review for new single-family home at 22 Lowndes Ave

Approved.

Lowndes Ave Partners LLC / Sylvan Dundon application at 22 Lowndes Ave, District 2, Block 90, Lot 10, for construction of a new single-family detached dwelling on a half-acre lot; increases impervious coverage by ~1,150 sq ft to ~6,600 sq ft with permeable paver driveway and infiltration system; seawall replacement/repair to be handled in a future coastal site plan review. Carried unanimously.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 13 recorded zoning decisions. See all Norwalk meetings →

Zoning Changes

• CD1S → SDMW, approximately 125 acres at Longshore Avenue, Norwalk (District 5, Block 86, Lots 1 and 2) (Manresa Osprey LLC)
• CD4, mostly lots under 0.5 acre; majority under 7,000 sq ft at Wall Street neighborhood, Norwalk (parcels within proposed overlay) (Wall Street Neighborhood Association)
• CD4 at 23 Isaac Street, Norwalk (Wall Street Opportunity Fund LLC)

Top Keywords This Month

• zoning: 110 instances
• residential: 31 instances
• variance: 25 instances
• commercial: 19 instances
• adu: 18 instances

What to Watch

• Adu is new this month with 18 mentions, not present in May.

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