Eric Bernheim Secures Norwalk Planning and Zoning Approval for Revised Site Plan

Eric Bernheim, FLB Law Managing Partner and head of the firm’s Land Use and Zoning Practice, obtained approval from the Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission for a revised site plan and associated special permits for FLB Law’s client’s contractor yard at the former state armory property along the New Canaan Line.

The approval represents a significant step forward in resolving zoning and environmental issues while ensuring the continued operation of a facility that supports critical infrastructure services across the region.  Our client began using the site after learning in 2016 that the state of Connecticut would take its long-standing contractor yard by eminent domain for the Walk Bridge Project, the multibillion-dollar replacement of the railroad bridge spanning the Norwalk Harbor.

Our client provides essential emergency response services to local utility companies and municipalities, handling more than 500 emergency calls annually related to water main, sewer main, and electrical outages, among other urgent infrastructure needs.

Since being retained, FLB Law secured conservation approval for environmental remediation, including restoration of the cleared area, installation of a subsurface stormwater management system, and approval of a planting plan.

The revised site plan approved by the commission enhances circulation and usability of the yard, introduces an acoustic barrier to reduce impacts on nearby residents, and creates a more efficient operational layout. With this approval in place, the violations have been resolved, and the site is positioned to function in a compliant and effective manner.