Almost all Norwalk residents today depend on a car to get around. Most of them would walk, ride a bike, or take the bus if it made sense - but too much of our city is designed around cars as the default mode of transportation.

Most amenities are clustered along Route 1 or other high-traffic arteries, separated by massive parking lots. Most housing is too far from daily needs to make anything but driving convenient. Even new apartments closer to everything come with massive parking lots or garages built-in, raising the cost of housing and ensuring that new residents bring their cars with them and contribute to the traffic on our streets. All of these are a direct result of our outdated, decades-old zoning code.

Now, though, for the first time ever, the City of Norwalk is rewriting our zoning code from scratch. We have the opportunity to get rid of antiquated, arbitrary, harmful rules - like exclusionary zoning and parking requirements. We have the opportunity to legalize building blocks of walkable neighborhoods - like townhouses and corner stores. We have the opportunity to unlock housing that's inherently more affordable - like duplexes and apartments - in more neighborhoods. But it will only happen if we get this new zoning code right.

If we don't get it right, we'll end up with more of the same isolating, environmentally harmful, expensive development that we have now.

The Planning & Zoning Commission is currently deciding on the zoning rules that will shape the future of Norwalk. They plan to finalize and adopt the new zoning rules this September. Add your name to our petition to tell them you want modern zoning laws that will allow Norwalk to build a more walkable, sustainable future.