Norwalk Distribution Center Public Hearing Feb. 8: Update

NORWALK, CT — A public hearing on the proposed Norden Logistics Center scheduled for Thursday has been rescheduled to Feb. 8 to allow a neighborhood group to present reports on the application, according to Norwalk Planning and Zoning Director Steven Kleppin.

The project, which would place a warehouse distribution facility at the massive former defense contractor manufacturing site, is opposed by many nearby East Norwalk residents. Some have formed the Sasqua Hills Neighborhood Association, which petitioned to intervene in the project and will present opposition reports at the Feb. 8 hearing.

The hearing had been rescheduled from early January to Jan. 27, but the Sasqua Hills group needed more time to prepare its reports.

"A neighborhood group has hired an attorney who has brought on several consultants," Kleppin told Patch, referring to the Sasqua Hills group. "We were told we would get reports from them 10 days ago, and we haven’t seen them yet."

Farhan Memon, the group's founder, told Patch the consultants, organized by Bridgeport-based attorney Joel Green, will have the traffic, environmental and noise impact reports completed before the hearing on the 8th.

"The applicant has had two years to put together their application, while we're pulling our reports together in a matter of weeks," Memon said.

A GoFundMe effort was launched by the Sasqua Hills group last month to raise money to fight against the proposal, and as of Tuesday, it had generated nearly $12,000 toward an initial goal of $15,000. Memon estimates fighting the proposal will cost the group about $50,000.

"The onus should not be on private citizens to protect their neighborhoods," Memon told Patch. "It should be the city's job to scrutinize such applications."