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‘BJs’ development goes kaput: Approval has expired, Norwalk P&Z says
The zoning approval for “The Village” at 272-280 Main Ave. has expired, according to Principal Planner Bryan Baker. Commonly called “BJs,” the proposed 100,000 square foot retail development was approved in 2017. It’s not officially a proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club site but many people suspect it eould be because that’s what it was originally pitched…
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Earth being moved at ‘BJ’s site;’ Norwalk P&Z says owner wants to make it ‘presentable’
Heavy machinery has been toiling on the “BJ’s site” at 272-280 Ave., and City officials said Tuesday they don’t know why. On Wednesday, Assistant Planning and Zoning Director Alexis Cherichetti said, “Per the contractor, they are prepping the site to make it more presentable. It appears they seek to remove concrete and fill piles, cut…
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Main Ave. big box store given a fourth one-year extension by Norwalk Zoners
NORWALK, Conn. — “BJ’s” is moving forward, over the objections of nine Norwalkers who responded to a last-ditch appeal for protest. The Planning and Zoning Commission agreed Thursday to grant The Village, a proposed 100,000 square foot retail development at 272-280 Main Ave., its fourth one-year extension. It’s not officially a proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club…
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Norwalk Zoning roundup: Pinnacle, BJs and regulation overhaul
NORWALK, Conn. — Here’s some Zoning Commission news for you: The Village expects to move ahead on ‘BJ’s site’ Waypointe Pinnacle may be tweaked West Avenue dirt pile diminished, portions heading for NY Zoning regulation overhaul touched upon
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NASH’s hoped-for Main Ave. Zoning change died in Committee – twice
NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk’s Zoning regulations should have been changed to prohibit a big box store on Main Avenue, some say. Former Zoning Commission Chairman Adam Blank led discussions in March and May 2016 in an effort to do that, but Zoning Commissioners Emily Wilson and Linda Kruk said they saw no justification to change…
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Blank withdrawn from Norwalk Redevelopment nomination
NORWALK, Conn. – Adam Blank was not appointed to the Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday. Mayor Harry Rilling announced at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting that he was tabling the appointment of the former Zoning Commission chairman to Redevelopment, after a conversation with him that afternoon.
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Norwalk Dems grill Rilling, Igneri, on GGP, ‘BJ’s, Grasso
NORWALK, Conn. — The optics aren’t good for Norwalk Democrats, Diane Lauricella said Monday, putting Mayor Harry Rilling and Common Council President John Igneri (D-District E) on the spot about recent events. While Lauricella was focused on the “BJ’s Wholesale Club” for Main Avenue and on the awarding of a $3.4 million paving contract to…
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Norwalk Zoning approves ‘The Village’ for ‘BJ’s site’
NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk Zoning Commission on Wednesday approved the application for The Village, planned for the property commonly called “the BJ’s site,” with a 5-2 vote. The majority of the Commissioners felt that the traffic situation for the development had been sufficiently addressed, said Commissioner Galen Wells, who voted for the project.
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Traffic engineers assert Main Avenue would improve with ‘BJs’ development
Correction, 4 a.m., March 27: Cars would take right hand turn from southern driveway, turn around in parking garage. NORWALK, Conn. – Three letters are key to the defense of traffic studies that say a big box store will work on Main Avenue: D-O-T. Traffic engineer Michael Galante used those letters over and over again…
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‘BJs’ opponents press on in Norwalk Zoning battle
NORWALK, Conn. — Opposition continues to the application for a big box store on Main Avenue, with work underway to present a new traffic study at Wednesday’s Zoning Commission public hearing. The Commission on March 1 continued its public hearing on The Village, planned for the Superfund site at 272-280 Main Ave., specifying that the…
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Norwalk political notes: A home for A.J. Penna, Washington Village update
Update, 4:14 p.m., Nov. 9: Tonight’s meeting on the Walk Bridge is a joint meeting of several Norwalk Boards and Commissions. NORWALK, Conn. – Here’s what we have for you in political notes this Tuesday: Pennas poised to take over old National Guard Armory ‘BJ’s’ on agenda for Wednesday Democrats at the Norwalk Inn? (Seriously,…
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Developers floating new idea for ‘BJ’s site’
NORWALK, Conn. — There’s a new plan brewing for that piece of Main Avenue land where developers had hoped to build a BJ’s Wholesale Club. It would include a street-friendly frontage of small retail and restaurants that would conceal a big box store component in the rear, architect Bruce Beinfield said. The box store would…
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Report: Main Ave. parcel back in play – but not for BJ’s
Updated 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, with comments from Mayor Harry Rilling.: NORWALK, Conn. – The long-dormant former Superfund site at 272-280 Main Ave. – the site proposed a year ago for a BJ’s Wholesale Club – is attracting some renewed interest, according to a City Hall source who requested anonymity. The five-acre parcel is…
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Norwalk BJ’s ‘strip club’ prompts look back to Zebra Club
NORWALK, Conn. – In an odd twist of Norwalk politics, the application to put a BJ’s Wholesale Club on Main Avenue has resulted in a Norwalk councilwoman suggesting she might open a business that would showcase the Chippendales male exotic dancers. Westport’s Alexander Gurevich reportedly threatened in September to put a strip club on the…
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Rilling talks speed bumps, water quality in West Norwalk
NORWALK, Conn. – Mayor Harry Rilling’s latest effort to “bring City Hall to the people” Thursday night brought a strong turnout of West Norwalk residents, whose topics included speeders, the water quality of the Five Mile River and a potential BJ’s Wholesale Club on Main Avenue. Rilling and a contingent of department heads faced more…
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Once Around the City: Catching up with the mayor
NORWALK, Conn. – It hasn’t been easy to pin Mayor Harry Rilling down for a few words lately, but we finally caught up by phone for a short chat Tuesday afternoon. We asked him to bring our readers up to date on a trio of topics: Island Belle: The Mississippi-style sternwheeler caused a commotion in…
