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Despite the objections of neighboring homeowners, the Norwalk Zoning Commission voted unanimously last night to approve the Norwalk ferry terminal project for the Cove Marina on Beach Road. I feel this is a completely inappropriate use of this land, said Marie Kenney during public forum. It will bring additional traffic that we cannot handle. This should be situated in a commercial area.
The project calls for passenger ferry boats traveling from Manhattan to Marthas Vineyard to stop in Norwalk to board additional passengers. From July through September, Sea Streak LLC will run one high speed catamaran on Thursday evenings with a return trip on Sunday evenings. James Barker, the president of Sea Streak, estimated the cost of the round-trip passage to be $200 for those who boarded in Norwalk.
People forget Skippers restaurant operated in this area for years and years and we never had any problem, said Commissioner James White, chairman of the projects review committee. The city has been looking for something like this for many, many, many years. I think it would be a tremendous resource.
Commissioner Michael OReilly was not as confident. He expressed concern that people rushing to make the boat would speed along the residential streets that surround the marina. Unlike restaurant traffic, he noted the 75 cars would all arrive in a narrow window of time.
Jennifer Herring, the president of the Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk, was the only member of the public who spoke in support of the plan. She expects the service will attract people from New York City to Norwalk and will help get cars off interstate 95, improving traffic and reducing pollution.
The Commission approved the plan with conditions that included the ferry having a police escort as it entered and exited the harbor, the four diesel engines must be shut down while the boat was docked and boarding passengers, 100 parking spaces at the marina must be dedicated to ferry traffic and the company must inform area kayaking, rowing and sailing clubs of the schedule.
After the meeting, Kenney gathered outside with neighbors. The group expressed their disappointment with the commissions vote. They let us speak but the decision was already made, she said.
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