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NORWALK, Conn. – There has been recent discussion about changing the configuration of the streets in East Norwalk in the Seaview Avenue area and farther on to the beach. This effort affected local businesses, social clubs, residents, as well as commuters of all kinds. The Traffic Commission, the body responsible for considering all of the factors influencing our streets, met and after some discussion, input from affected parties, and reviewing alternative plans, decided on a course of action.
This course of action, which includes striping some curbs, moving a no parking sign, allowing for traffic calming measures and adding some parking spots, in most likelihood does not please everyone completely. In my mind, that is the sign of a good compromise. A body with the necessary skills and experience meets, considers all of the needs of citizens and makes an actionable recommendation. If everyone walks away a little disappointed, most likely the decision was just.
Part of the discussion for this neighborhood was to add bike lanes in that busy strip and through the neighborhood beyond to eventually connect to the beach. Unfortunately, that solution as presented is not tenable in a neighborhood filled with businesses that need on-street parking and many households without garages or driveways.
A longer review of the area with more input and agreement from neighbors and local business owners might result in some accommodations, but as presented, the planned lanes would disrupt traffic flow, and inconvenience the neighborhood and business patrons for a relatively few bicyclists, who don't seem to have a big issue getting by today. I am certainly not against the concept, but the plan as presented goes too far in one direction.
The problem with the plan for bicycle lanes becomes evident when you look closely. Initially, there were misleading statements made that certain civic leaders and local business owners (and even the mayor) were in support of the specific plan being advanced. The compromise was struck after all stakeholders communicated and expert opinion as well as neighborhood input was received. Unfortunately, rather than following the process and retooling their proposal, adherents of this plan started a petition and appealed to emotion rather than doing the necessary work.
I notice that one signatory to the petition is newly elected Board of Education member, Michael Barbis, who is also a commissioner in Rowayton. If he thinks going against the wishes of the residents, the Traffic Commission and the local elected representatives is the "right thing to do," I wonder what he would think if proposals were made to open Bayley Beach to the entire population of Norwalk or to put bike lanes in and eliminate parking in front of the Rowayton Market? Irresponsibility is not a trait admired in many elected representatives.
The addition of bike lanes and other pedestrian amenities around our city is an appropriate thing to consider as we focus on redevelopment and the eventual changes we should try to make our city better. To accomplish this, the process is clear. We must use the appropriate technical experts and weigh the needs of all neighborhood constituencies. We should follow the path through the right boards and commissions and not make mad rushes around them or try to foist extremist agendas on anyone.
Comments (15)
Nora - what a wonderful breath of fresh air!
Nora: My animosity? Over an election that I won? You cast aspersions on my character and then say that I have an issue? I won't dignify your name calling with a response, but I will set the record straight.
You say that Mike Barbis and the other 2 commissioners have been fighting for safety in Rowayton, that is great, I never said they didn't. I have only seen them write letters asking for the speed limit to be lowered or asking for the radar trailer, but you can correct me if you have other information.
As far as the traffic study, yes, Roton (south of McKinley to Pine Point Rd and beyond) was part of the traffic study that you fought so hard against (http://www.thehour.com/story/491504). I took part in the bike portion of that study and do hope that traffic calming measures are implemented, including bike lanes.
In this case, I merely asked, respectfully, for them to include the lower Roton/Pine Point area in the traffic and parking study they have said they will undertake for lower Rowayton Av. My thinking is that an extra day of a consultants time is cheap when you are already engaging them. To date, they have not responded to my request to work with them, or at least be kept in the loop, but I am sure they will.
At present, Mr. Igneri is chairman of the Public Works Committee. If anyone has a better position to coordinate a bit of study and get small changes made, I don't know who that is. I have swapped emails with him on bike lanes in this area and don't seem to have any issues at all with him, so I am confused by your statements.
The changes around Roton School (which is nowhere near Roton Av) were the result of Mr. Conroy's laudable work under the Safe Routes to School Program. Anna Duleep played a role in the study, but to my knowledge, neither you nor any of the people you seek to defend did. I made a point of calling that work out during the discussions over using Roton as a polling place, so I too hope it is completed.
Congratulations on the new baby. You never mentioned that you were adding to the family. I am very excited for you. Good luck.
David,
You don't have a clue regarding Roton Ave! Mike Barbis has been an advocate for Rowayton safety for years. He as well as Tammy and John have fought hard for safety, better foot paths and safe passage for walkers, bikers etc in our community.
We were told very clearly by Hal Alvord that Roton Ave was part of the traffic study that was being done. He made it clear to all Council Members that this was part of the study now being released. In the prior two years we had $75,000 approved for a traffic light and safety calming in front of Roton School (which has yet to be delivered by DPW) and $150K put into the budget for restoration of footpaths (which also has yet to be delivered by Hal Alvord the head of our DPW department. ) Both Republicans and Democrats wanted this. This was not a political battle but one that made sense for children and the safety of our community.
You clearly cannot move on after this election and cannot clearly let your animosity towards Mike Barbis and John Igneri go. It is time to grow up and move on! I think we all have moved on and our goal is to make Norwalk a better city. It seems like all the past candidates and current elected officials have done this but you.
Focus on what you were elected to do and try to do a better job of working for those who are taxpayers in this city. We want bike paths, traffic calming, safe passage on roads, low crime and great schools.
Nora King
To be clear, I am a supporter of a bike lane plan and think that it will add character, recreation, and encourage a healthier alternative mode of transportation. However, the bike route plan was presented to me as one plan and not two or more sections being designed independently. I am well aware how narrow and agree the sidewalk in the area of Marvin School is dangerous as one of my children did in fact attend his entire elementary years at Marvin Elementary School and I do walk this road often. This particular area should be corrected whether it is the bike lane or not. Due to the fact that I expressed concerns for the proposed plan does not mean that I have no regard for the safety of children. The suggestion that I would do anything against their safety is upsetting and wrong. As I stated in my letter to the editor on February 3rd 2012, the bike route plan as presented, concerns me in the Seaview Avenue area. I have spoken to most of the stakeholders in the affected area and contrary to what has been stated by individuals promoting the bike lane, are not in agreement with the proposed plan.
“Extremists” was the wrong word to use. The point I was trying to get across and what concerned me were the extreme measures being used to keep momentum for the acceptance rather than following the proper channels. I was told verbally and read in print that certain stakeholders and elected officials had given their approval or support of the plan as presented. I found this to be untrue and therefore unsettling. Perhaps better communication by all those involved would have prevented my assumption that Mike Barbis signed a petition supporting the Bike Plan as presented to me and not just Calf Pasture Beach Road. I feel that the Norwalk Harbor Loop Trail is a great concept and a bike lane on Beach Road will have my support as long as the Traffic Authority approves the plan. It will add to the popular Calf Pasture Beach Park and likely raise property values in the area. This would make a great addition to the City of Norwalk. It must be presentenced with transparency and be approved by a body that will weigh the pros and cons of those directly affected.
Thanks Michelle and as a family living in East Norwalk with two young kids, one attending Marvin, I am glad to read that you are in support of adding bike lanes to Calf Pasture beach road. That said I am still not sure what you mean by 'extreme measures being used to keep momentum for the acceptance'.
Can you let the many families of East Norwalk who agree with your assessment on how it would better the community know how we can show our support for the bike trails and for making Norwalk better so we can pull together as one to help make it a reality?
If there is a way to do this, such as attending a scheduled hearing, can you let us know ahead of time?
OHH Mr. McCarthy,
You make it too obvious sir. You wouldn't normally respond, but since you wrote the original letter, you now feel obligated to respond.
This might not even be about the bike lines.
You make it more evident that it really is about your personal vendetta against Mr. Barbis.
What a shame, Mr. Councilman!
If you have a comment on a fact being discussed, please let me know. I have stood up to Mr. Barbis when I feel he is advocating improperly and against local interests, if you feel that is a vendetta, I think you have a poor understanding of vendettas.
I would not normally reply to something like this, but since all of the facts are not out there, I will.
I met with the group advocating for these changes last month. As a supporter of "Complete Streets" and having written about the liveability principals, and bike lanes etc., I was happy to do so. I said I would help them on the gaps on the Harbor Loop Trail.
When I got a copy of the plan for this area, which ran from Vet's Park to the Beach, there was a lot of confusion. While many people received the plan, I don't think anyone held a public review or agreed to its specifics.
I told Dr. Libre, David Marcus, and Mike Mushak to take this through Planning and Public Works. More recently, I spent an hour on the phone with Mr. Mushak asking for his help in ending the "over-aggressive" pursuit of certain goals, while agreeing that bike lanes and traffic calming measures are laudable goals overall, where appropriate.
It seems Michelle, Nick and I all believed that this was one plan as it had been presented to us. Since no one had reviewed anything in detail, there was a lack of clarity on what was being proposed. If I added to the confusion, I regret it. I told all concerned I had no intention of being involved in a neighborhood issue in E. Norwalk.
Mike Barbis: Did you call Michelle before you began suggesting things be done in her part of town? Are you now advocating for removal of parking on Rowayton Av as a part of the study you have said you would be undertaking? Do you really think your "history lesson" is an appropriate response to someone whose point was merely that you ought to mind your own business and stay out of East Norwalk's? I also question
Further to the traffic study of Rowayton Ave, since they took this on, I asked the 6th Taxing District Commissioners to look at Roton Av and consider investigating making small changes (or leveraging Mr. Igneri's dual status) for pedestrian and bike safety (by letter on January 10th) and have not received a reply to date.
I'm not an activist, I'm just a guy who lives in Norwalk and wants to ride his bike to Calf Pasture with his kids. I do it now on my own but it's not safe for the kids, people drive too fast. Which is why more people don't do it. Which explains the "relatively few" bikers. So I would say, yes I do "have a big issue getting by". This article is short on common sense.
This letter is so full of crap, its not even worth responding to. Surprising Michelle would stoop this low, attacking a Norwalk resident for signing a petition supporting safe bike lanes to protect children and families in front of a school, and for the ride to the beach where everybody speeds.. It is obvious Michelle didn't write the letter, or somebody wrote poarts of it to get back at others.
The question is, who wrote the letter, and why wouldnt Michelle support bike lanes that her consituents are demanding by the hundreds? Not a smart move on her part.
Michelle,
You could have picked up the phone and discussed your concerns with me. For future reference my number is 203-838-7887. I put my name on a petition advocating bike paths by Calf Pasture Beach -- there was nothing about Seaview Avenue on that petition.
Now, regarding your attacks on me and Rowayton ... I think most residents would love to lose parking on Rowayton Avenue in front of the Market and have bike lanes ... this is a state road, though, and trying to get something like that out of the State Traffic Commission would be very difficult. The City of Norwalk has no jurisdiction although they could encourage the STC to look into this. I've dealt with the STC and they are not the most user friendly group to work with.
Regarding Bayley Beach -- let me share some history with you. The Roton Point Park was going belly up with the arrival of World War II. The owners divided the property into a 10 acre package and a 13 acre package. The 10 acre package, today's Bayley Beach, could have been bought by Norwalk but they did not do so. In the end, Rowayton's taxpayers spent $400,000 in today's dollars to buy it. Maybe the City of Norwalk would like to buy it from the 6TD and then allow all Norwalk residents free access? Would you vote on the Common Council to proceed with the purchase? If you think you could get it through, give me a call!
All beaches are open to everyone, you just need to pay parking if you live out of the district. So the comment to open Bayley Beach to everyone is somewhat moot, as all Norwalk as well as anyone is welcome to Bayley Beach, it already is open to all, just need to pay parking fee is all.....
Some corrections on this op-ed:
The photo caption states that activists would have liked to replace this existing parking with bike lanes. This is totally wrong. We want to have both new parking spots and bike lanes along the whole of Seaview, narrowing the super-wide lanes to more reasonable widths. The only people who should be upset about this are teenagers driving sports cars...they'll hardly be able to go above 30.
* the text of the article refers to a petition for Seaview bike lanes. The petition is for a different, worth project: calf pasture bike lanes. Please sign it at
http://chn.ge/calfpasture
The Calf Pasture project is also the one that has been endorsed by a host of civic leaders including the mayor.
Hope this helps clarify!
FYI,
David is referring to a problem I fixed. The photo was deleted and another put in its place.
Seems to me that the wording of this letter is written by David McCarthy. David - looks like you are still up to the same tactics you used during the campaign trail, writing letters and having other folks attach their name to it.
What's the matter, are you scared to allow your contiuents to see the real Mr. McCarthy? Moreover, the next time you would like to write a letter to the editor, you should really stop attacking Mike Barbis who is out of your own district.