Residents hear updates at first community forum of 2022
NORWALK — The City of Norwalk held its first hybrid community forum March 31, the first such forum event of the year.
The event took place at Paddison Elementary School, which is the first time that the event had been held at that location.
There were four short presentations prior to the questions and answers portion of the event. The presentations dealt with the most frequently mentioned topics that have been brought to the city’s attention: traffic enforcement, homelessness, street repairs, new development projects, and the state mandated organic/food waste recycling program.
Residents were in attendance both virtually and in-person to have their questions answered by city staff. Key highlights from the presentations included:
Traffic enforcement improved this year compared to the end of 2021, which led to an overall reduction in vehicle collisions during this time period.
The Homeless Operation Prevention and Engagement (HOPE) team has visited 599 locations, cleaned 39 encampments, referred 413 individuals for support services.
Concrete work and asphalt replacement will be completed in Zone 28 (the neighborhood within Excelsior Dr., Norwalk Blvd., Alondra Blvd., and Pioneer Blvd.) by the end of April 2022. Work will also begin in other parts of the City this summer.
The Norwalk Entertainment District, Norwalk Transit Village, and Heart of Norwalk projects continue to seek feedback from the community to determine how these projects can best suit the community.
Plans for the development of a Holiday Inn, Sprouts Farmers Market, and a second Chick-fil-A continue to move forward. The Sprouts is expected to open in the fall of this year.
A representative from Athens Services clarified the SB 1383 organic/food waste mandates that residents and businesses must comply with statewide. Athens created a recycling guide that can be found on its website to help residents determine how to properly use recycling bins.
Additional community forums are planned throughout the year and will be announced via the Norwalk Now newsletter and the city’s social media pages.