NORWALK, Conn. Neighbors and property owners who are supporters of "Keep 127 Fillow Street Residential" want to make sure the public, the media and the Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission understand the context for their concerns about the Al Madany Islamic Center's proposal for 127 Fillow St.
The project is far too dense for the neighborhood. The mosque and community center the applicant seeks to build will total 27,000 square feet and when the square footage of the historic little red farmhouse is added in, the total square footage is 28,252. By comparison, this density far surpasses other houses of worship in the neighborhood. For example, Temple Shalom, United Congregational Church, St. Matthew Church and Beth Israel Synagogue, all have smaller buildings on significantly larger lots. As it currently exists, the iconic little red house on the parcel for over 100 years takes up only 8 percent of the 1.5 acre lot, whereas the proposed building and parking area would occupy almost 75 percent of the property.
Too dense is also unsafe. The residential property at 127 Fillow St. is located at the intersection of Fillow Street and North Taylor Avenue. Larry Pakkala, president of the Fillow Ridge Condominium Association, located adjacent to the site, stated, "This is already a dangerous intersection, and Fillow Street is used as a way to avoid busy Route 1 as well as access to residential neighborhoods like ours. The city in its wisdom turned down the idea of a driving range at the nearby Oak Hills public golf course because of traffic concerns. Traffic and safety and size of the proposed structure remain our top concerns." Children also walk to and from nearby schools, passing the property at 127 Fillow Street to get to Kendall Elementary School on Fillow Street and Ponus Ridge Middle School on Hunters Lane, both in close proximity.
Pakkala said, "The applicant has stated 89 parking spaces, which is the minimum requirement, but has said the prayer hall would be built with a capacity of 435 members. The numbers don't add up." There is no on-street parking available on the narrow two-lane street with no shoulder.
A traffic consultant hired by the group will present his findings to the Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission when its hearing on the application continues at 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall with members of "Keep 127 Fillow Street Residential" in attendance.
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