The City of Norwalk, Connecticut, Historical Commission will consider public comment on proposed revisions to the city’s demolition delay ordinance (Sec. 55 of the City Code) during its December 10, 2025, meeting. Following comments raised by the Commission and residents regarding the way on which the existing ordinance is administered, the Commission undertook efforts to craft revisions to resolve issues and strengthen the existing demolition code provisions. During the December 10 Zoom meeting, the Commission will elicit comment from the public.
The proposed revisions address a broad range of topics. First, additional definitions are proposed including “applicant,” “architectural and historical analysis,” “delay,” and “pre-demolition application.” In addition, the proposed language also defines “significant building” and “third-party review,” the latter of which reflecting a new component to the process.
The proposed ordinance revisions also specify that a “significant building” is one that “in whole or in part, is known or presumed to be at least seventy (70) years old” and which has been determined by the Commission to meet one of more of the following criteria: listing on the State or National Register of Historic Places or is partially or completely within the boundaries of an area so listed; or the structure has been determined by the State Historic Preservation Office and/or the National Park Service to be eligible for listing on the State or National Register of Historic Places; or the building has “documented historical or architectural importance in terms of period, style, method of construction, specific use, or association with a recognized builder or architect, either by itself or in the context of a group of buildings.”
Most importantly, the proposed ordinance amendment sets forth a process for “Objection-Based Review and Delay” (Sec. 55-6). Of significance in this proposed text is the requirement that “when an objection is received, the Norwalk Historical Commission shall determine whether the structure is a Significant Building,” and if so or if the structure “may have considerable merit to be a Significant Building, the Commission may procure an Architectural and Historical Analysis to be conducted by a qualified Third-Party Reviewer.” Such analysis must be completed within 30 days and the fee will be borne by the Commission. The proposed text further explains next steps regarding the evaluation of the Third-Party Reviewer report.
The Historical Commission’s meeting, which commences at 7 PM, will be held remotely via Zoom. Instructions on how to access the meeting and share comments can be found at norwalkct.gov/meetings. The entirety of the proposed revisions is available for review at norwalkct.portal.civicclerk.com/event/512/files/agenda/2542. Following the December 10 meeting, the proposed ordinance revisions would then be brought to the Ordinance Committee of the Common Council for consideration and recommendation, and then to the Common Council for review and action.
For more information, please contact Carmody’s Zoning and Land Use lawyers:
Liz Suchy
Partner
203.252.2656
[email protected]
This information is for educational purposes only, to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.