Government

‘A Big Safety Issue for Us’: Nursery Road, Area Residents Voice Concerns Over Heavy, Speeding Commuter Traffic 

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Responding to concerns from residents that speeding commuter traffic on Nursery Road is creating a safety hazard, town officials on Wednesday said they would request a formal study to figure out how to best address the problem. Navigation apps such as Waze appear to be sending motorists stuck in Merritt Parkway traffic along Nursery Road—as well as Gerdes and White Oak Shade Roads—as a cut-through between Exits 37 and 38, officials said at the regular meeting of the Police Commission. According to Police Capt. John DiFederico, data from speed sentries shows that Nursery Road is getting a major spike from 7 to 9 a.m., where traffic rises from about 30 to 40 cars per hour to 200 cars per hour. For Nursery Road residents such as Charlein Megherby, the traffic on the street has been “horrible.”

“It really is a big safety issue for us,” Megherby said at the meeting, held at the New Canaan Police Department. About 20 residents of the roads affected by the surge in traffic attended the meeting.

Government

‘Pop Up Park’ Under Threat As Organizers Scramble for Insurance, Town Approval

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The Police Commission voted unanimously Wednesday night to require the organizers of the Pup Up Park to return next month with proof of insurance and coordination with the town in order to retain a planned six-week road closure needed to operate the makeshift gathering space. In the past, officials noted during the Commission’s regular meeting, the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce had provided insurance and also coordinated with the town, though a separate, small group of volunteers oversaw the actual day-to-day operation of the summer park at South and Elm. Yet “the sponsoring organization obviously has withdrawn from the entire concept,” Commission Chairman Sperry DeCew said at the group’s regular meeting, held at the New Canaan Police Department. “So at this point, we have a group of five well-meaning citizens who want to have a Pop Up Park, but at this point there is no appointed liaison to the town of New Canaan. So far as we know, there is no approval by the town of New Canaan on the special permit level, and there is certainly no insurance.

Government

Citing Past Concerns, Town Approves July 21 to Labor Day Season for Pop Up Park

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Saying an originally requested two-month run was too long given opposition from some merchants and residents, New Canaan’s traffic authority on Tuesday night unanimously approved a July 21 to Labor Day (Sept. 3) summer season for the Pop Up Park at South and Elm downtown. Police Commissioner Paul Foley said that although he personally likes the Pop Up Park, a 9-week season starting July 4—what was formally proposed by the volunteer committee that runs it—would be “excessive” given the “outspoken” concerns of some business owners. “I like the concept of the park, I think it’s been fairly successful,” Foley said at the commission’s regular meeting, held in the New Canaan Police Department. “I just think closing it for two months is a bit excessive for everybody else who uses Elm Street and South Avenue.

News

New Canaan Police To Start Fundraising for Second K-9 Dog

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Town officials on Monday night voted unanimously to allow the New Canaan Police Department to start fundraising for a second K-9 dog. Some $75,000 must be raised to acquire the new dog, possibly a Labrador retriever, that focus on narcotics detection as well as the tracking of missing people, Chief Leon Krolikowski and Officer Shane Gibson told members of the Police Commission at their regular meeting. The current K-9 dog, Apollo the German shepherd, performs those tasks as well as patrol and apprehension, they said. A second dog would be used for more community relations—such as demonstrations at schools, churches and events—and would work on a different shift from Apollo and his handler, K-9 Officer David Rivera, they said. Gibson said he understood that Apollo is the department’s priority and “I am more than willing to try to raise the funds and put myself out there to get the money for this second dog.”

“And primarily what the second dog would be narcotics and tracking,” he said during the meeting, held at NCPD headquarters.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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[Editor’s Note: One item was removed from this installment of “Did You Hear?” at a reader’s request.]

New Canaan Police responded Sunday to a report of damaged property after a snowplow operator in clearing the roads overnight apparently jumped the curb on Old Stamford Road, smashing a mailbox and its post, sending both flying into a neighboring driveway, and carving a trench in the grass. The driver didn’t stop. ***

The town on Feb. 16 received a building permit application for an interior retail fit-out to create a new nail salon at 78 Main St.