Government

State Approves Soundview Lane Cell Tower; AT&T and Verizon Service Planned for May

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AT&T and Verizon customers in northeastern New Canaan could start seeing vastly improved service as early as May, following a state agency’s approval last week of a planned cell tower near St. Luke’s School. Construction of the 85-foot, stealth “tree” monopole at 183 Soundview Lane could start in December or January and should take about 40 days, according to property owner Keith Richey. The Connecticut Siting Council on Wednesday published its Sept. 24 decision in favor of an application filed on Richey’s behalf by Homeland Towers LLC.

Government

‘There Has Been a Lot of Abuse’: Commissioner Flags Poor Parking Downtown

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The restaurant “bump-outs” and revised parking and sidewalk schemes downtown have led to safety hazards because motorists are pulling into no-parking areas and even blocking crosswalks, official say. Trucks are pulling up along crosswalks so that it’s impossible to see pedestrians, according to Parking Commission Secretary Pam Crum. “There has been a lot of abuse going on as of late,” Crum said during the Commission’s regular meeting, held Sept. 10 via videoconference. 

Crum questioned whether appropriately sized planters could be set up in areas such as Elm Street near Dunkin Donuts in order to prevent vehicles from parking where they shouldn’t. “The planters were there before and it wasn’t a problem,” Crum said.

Government

Commission Recommends Extending Parking Permit Renewals to Jan. 1

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Saying they expect New Canaanites to continue working from home through December amid the COVID-19 virus pandemic, town officials last week recommended pushing back the renewal date for those holding permits for commuter lots. Commuter lots such as Lumberyard, Railroad, Richmond Hill and Talmadge Hill should remain free and unregulated through Dec. 31, according to members of the New Canaan Parking Commission. “As long as the town can afford not to charge for these lots, I would say let’s put this off to January 1st,” Commission Chair Keith Richey said during the appointed body’s Sept. 10 meeting, held via videoconference.

Around Town

Town Upholds $25 Ticket Issued To Woman Who Got Her Hair Done

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Town officials last week upheld a parking ticket issued to a Norwalk woman who’d overstayed in a two-hour spot on Main Street this summer. The Parking Commission voted 5-0 to uphold the $25 ticket issued to Cornelia Henning. In making her appeal to the Commission during its regular meeting Thursday night, Henning conceded that she was “definitely guilty” of exceeding two hours, yet also said she was “shocked when I came back out, because I thought my hair appointment was going to be under two hours.”

“But you never know,” Henning said during her appeal hearing, held via videoconference. “For those of us who have blonde hair, sometimes it takes longer. It definitely took longer.

COVID-19 New Canaan

First Selectman: Parking Enforcement Suspended, Decision To Come on Starting It Up Again

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New Canaan is not enforcing parking regulations and will decide whether and how to do so as the business district reopens, the town’s highest elected official said last week. Parking Bureau enforcement officers are not out in the streets ticketing motorists “nor are police writing tickets,” according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan. He told members of the Parking Commission at their most recent meeting that they should make a recommendation on what will happen after May 20, when some types of businesses—including restaurants with outdoor seating—can reopen or begin to operate in a more accustomed way. “Are we going to charge parking meter fees?” Moynihan said at the May 7 meeting, held via videoconference. “There is a sense that we shouldn’t.