East Norwalk Neighborhood TOD Plan Prepared for the City of Norwalk Prepared by Harriman | NV5 | RKG Draft Report: April 2020 Last Updated: 06.16.2020
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East Norwalk Neighborhood TOD Plan Prepared for the City of Norwalk Prepared by Harriman | NV5 | RKG Draft Report: April 2020 Last Updated: 06.16.2020 1 Acknowledgments City of Norwalk Planning Team Mayor Harriman Harry Rilling Lead - Urban Planning and Design NV5 Planning Department Subconsultant - Transportation and Infrastructure Steven Kleppin, Planning and Zoning Director RKG Subconsultant - Market Analysis Oversight Committee Brian Baxendale, Planning Commission Deb Goldstein, Zoning Commission / Third Taxing District until 11/19 Diane Cece, East Norwalk Neighborhood Association (ENNA) Pam Parkington, Third Taxing District as of 11/19. Stephanie Thomas, Zoning Commission John Kydes, Common Council Judith Dominguez, East Norwalk Business Association (ENBA) Vanessa Valadares, Department of Public Works 2 Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EAST NORWALK TOD PLAN: RECOMMENDATIONS 7 INTRODUCTION 1 Economic Development 7.1 Land Use and Urban Design 7.2 VISION AND GOALS 2 Multi-modal Connectivity and Access 7.3 7.4 PLANNING CONTEXT Parking 3 Open Space and Recreation 7.5 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Utilities and Infrastructure 7.6 4 Implementation 7.7 March Visioning Workshop 4.1 July Choices Workshop 4.2 November Open House 4.3 Online Surveys 4.4 Stakeholder Interviews 4.5 EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS 5 APPENDICES Land Use and Current Projects 5.1 Market Analysis - RKG A Existing Zoning 5.2 Transportation Analysis -NV5 B Parcel Sizes 5.3 Community Engagement - Harriman C Property Ownership 5.4 Recommended Zoning - Harriman D Circulation and Access 5.5 Design Guidelines - Harriman E Sanitation, Stormwater, Flooding, and Utilities 5.6 Sea Level Rise 5.7 Market Analysis 5.8 SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CHANGE ANALYSIS 6 3 East Norwalk Neighborhood TOD Plan Plan Purpose and Process Plan Inquiries and Intent The purpose of the Plan is to develop East Norwalk is a complex study area due to the existing a vision and path for the future of road constraints, the established and stable neighborhoods the East Norwalk Neighborhood surrounding the station, some thriving businesses in the area, based on its proximity to the disjointed land uses, the area being a gateway to the Sound commuter train station. The City and the existing traffic concerns. As indicated in the Request recognized the opportunities for Proposals for this effort, the City sought answers to the as well as the challenges this following questions: neighborhood faced and was aware 1. What is the vision for this area? of community concerns regarding the proliferation of new apartments 2. What are the infrastructure (roadways, sanitation, energy, leading to increased density and etc.) possibilities and limitations in this area? traffic challenges. In response, the 3. How will planned roadway improvements and the eventual City initiated this transit oriented replacement of both the East Avenue Bridge and Walk development (TOD) planning study Bridge affect the area and potential for redevelopment? in conjunction with Harriman. The plan was developed with input by 4. What are the employment numbers and types of an appointed Oversight Committee, businesses within the Industrial One and other zones and comprised of City staff and residents what impacts would regulation changes have on these who represented government, the businesses? business community, and residents Based upon the data and conclusions reached from the initial at large. Over the course of 16 phase of this plan, the planning team addressed the following months the oversight committee additional questions and issues: held numerous meetings to discuss plan progress and direction. Three 1. What should be the bounds of the TOD area? public meetings were held to gather 2. What are the impediments to realizing the vision from ideas and input about the plan the standpoint of economy, mobility, environment, and from the community. The public implementation? meetings and meetings with the oversight committee, as well as 3. What is the appropriate mix of uses for this area? the data gathered and analysed 4. How can we leverage the existing assets in the area? by the planning team lead to the creation of this plan. It is the intent 5. What’s the appropriate density and massing of the TOD of this plan to be incorporated into area? the Citywide Plan and serve as the 6. Establishment of building and streetscape design overarching planning guide for the guidelines for the TOD area. study area. 7. Recommended zoning regulations for the area. 4 Executive Summary Figure 1: INTRODUCTION TO EAST NORWALK TOD East Avenue Strawberry Hill Avenue Winfield Street Fort Point Street Van Zant Street Gregory Blvd. Seaview Avenue 1st Street Plan Area East Avenue, which is the main desires. corridor connecting I-95 to The areas surrounding East Avenue The East Norwalk station provides East Norwalk is comprised of and the other core streets (Fitch, commuter railroad service to New disjointed development and non- Fort Point, Van Zant and Winfield) York and New Haven on the Metro complimentary uses, and uninspired boast vibrant, well established North rail lines, with over 700 site design and architecture, neighborhoods with key nodes like boardings occurring each weekday resulting in an unfriendly pedestrian the Cove Avenue area. These nodes (based on 2017 data), which is low experience. The pedestrian realm also provide access to idyllic public compared to similar stations. As is further hindered by poorly spaces such as Vets Park and Calf part of the Walk Bridge construction maintained, obstructed, and in Pasture Beach. This plan seeks program, the East Avenue rail bridge some places non-existent sidewalks to improve connectivity from the is scheduled to be rebuilt beginning and a lack of crosswalks. An neighborhoods to the commercial in 2021. As part of that project, industrial district runs west to east and recreational areas so they can the roadway will be lowered and in proximity to the train station. be safely accessed by pedestrians widened, which should ease some of The City has seen increased interest and cyclists. the current traffic bottlenecks that in small warehouse and industrial occur. In addition, a new, elongated, space in this area and should seek to The draft plan provides a roadmap station platform is planned as part of capitalize on this growth. The main for correcting many of these issues the Walk Bridge Program. This project corridors currently have disjointed and new incentives to revitalize is intended to increase ridership by zoning districts and numerous these areas. allowing ten train cars at a time to instances of nonconforming uses. drop off and pick up passengers in This results in land uses that prevent both directions and increase parking the vibrant, walkable area the public and ADA accessibility at the station. 5 East Norwalk Neighborhood TOD Plan TOP 10 ACTION ITEMS CREATE A NEW VILLAGE REZONE TO A NEW CREATE A PROMENADE DISTRICT: East Norwalk LIBERTY SQUARE ALONG SEAVIEW AVENUE: 1 TOD Village Zone (EVTZ). 4 VILLAGE DISTRICT: A 8 Connect the Cove Avenue ▶ Add 1 story and a separate in-house planning area to SoNo. The area moderate increase in exercise should be done can be used for multi- density. for this area, once the purpose recreational and Walk Bridge project is entertainment options. ▶ Requires ground floor complete and additional REZONE TO A NEW activation/commercial parcels are available for COVE AVENUE VILLAGE use. redevelopment. This has DISTRICT: A separate in- been considered in the past ▶ Required public 9 house planning exercise and is consistent with the amenities. should be done for this area. Citywide Plan. ▶ All development must This has been considered in adhere to design REZONE FROM the past and is consistent guidelines. COMMERCIAL TO with the Citywide Plan. RESIDENTIAL: Rezone AREA-WIDE ACTIONS: FACADE IMPROVEMENT: 5 to encourage a more The following actions are Explore the possibility of consistent development recommended throughout enacting a program in the pattern and concentrate 2 the TOD Study Area (not areas of Charles Street & growth near the train 10 mapped): Osborne Avenue, north of station and main corridor. Fort Point Street, similar to ▶ Improve connectivity the program employed in ALLOW RESIDENTIAL within the study area SoNo. This area functions UNITS ABOVE GROUND by completing sidewalk Within the as de-facto affordable 6 FLOOR: links and connecting Industrial-1 Zone, allow housing and should be bike routes. preserved. some residential units above the ground floor ▶ Increased green space RELOCATE THE DPW commercial uses, provided and public amenities GARAGE: Study options the commercial uses throughout the area. 3 to move the garage to remain, to enable property elsewhere in the city. If ▶ Explore job-generating owners to monetize their incentives such as TIFs possible, master-plan the properties. site for future uses such as or BIDs. marine commercial or open REZONE TO THE NEW ▶ Respect and preserve space. EVTZ: Undertake street and the character of the 7 sidewalk improvements surrounding residential on Gregory Blvd. in order neighborhoods. to improve safety for all modes of transit. 6 Executive Summary Figure 2: TOP 10 ACTION ITEMS 1/2-mile / 10-minute walk radius 1/4-mile / East Avenue 5-minute walk radius 5 Strawberry Hill Ave. 1 6 2 5 3 St. (Rte. 136) Winfield Plan Goals Enhance Quality of Life 7 Foster Community Stewardship Balance Growth Van Zant St. (Rte. 136) and Neighborhood 5 Character 4 Gregory Boulevard 5 E n h a n c e Neighborhood 8 Identity Coordinate with other Plans and Projects 8 Improve Multimodal Accessibility and Connectivity 7 Introduction The East Norwalk Neighborhood amenities. East Norwalk envelopes Recent Projects Transit Oriented Development Plan many sub-neighborhoods with (The Plan) is the product of many distinct qualities and characteristics Several recent development voices: homeowners, home-renters, ranging from thriving commercial projects in East Norwalk acted as a business owners, commuters, dog- nodes to strong, healthy residential catalyst for this planning process.