The Virtual Charrette

Thank you for joining us for the Virtual Charrette Sept 17 & 20-23!

The virtual Charrette was an opportunity for you to work directly online with friends, family, neighbors, City staff and officials, and a team of talented planners to build a stronger future for the City of Norwalk. On the first day of the Charrette (Sept 17th) the team held the virtual Opening Presentation and Workshop. This same meeting was held at 12pm and 6pm.

For the entirety of the virtual Charrette (Sept 20-23), the Team had a virtual open studio Zoom. Any citizen, business owner or official who wished to join in and provide comments, suggestions, or simply watch us work, was able to drop into the open studio Zoom. Our Team members were available to engage with the community, ask questions and accept feedback and ideas.

Monday, September 20th and Tuesday September 21st of the virtual Charrette featured topical Focus Meetings via Zoom, where the community could share their hopes and concerns related to how the new regulations may affect transportation, architecture and design, community character, land use, development, neighborhoods, housing, green infrastructure and sustainability. 

On the final evening of the virtual Charrette, the Team presented their findings so far, and began to discuss how community input has begun to shape the new Building Zone Regulations.

If you were unable to attend you can watch all the presentation and meeting videos below.

Charrette Videos

Play Video

Opening Presentation

Streets & Connectivity

Character & Development

Sustainability & Green Infrastructure

Work in Progress Presentation

Mapping Workshop

Add your markers to the map to tell us what you love about the character of Norwalk and what opportunities you think there are for improvement! You will need to be registered and signed into the site in order to place your markers!

Just zoom in to find a location you are looking for, right click to place your marker and then you can use your mouse to drag it to the correct location. Choose the category that represents your marker:

  • Places of Opportunity (blue)
  • Character that Needs Improvement (red)
  • Character You Love (green)
  • Something We Should See (anywhere in the world)

Be sure to tell us WHY you placed markers in each location using the marker description. 

Repeat as many times as you’d like! 

Note: If you have an idea about a neighborhood or a larger area, just put your marker near the area, and let us know in the comment.  If your idea isn’t location-specific, you can still put it on the map, just note that it’s “Not Location-Specific.”

The Virtual Charrette Events

Virtual Opening Presentation & Workshop 12:00pm-2:00pm (Time Option #1) Please join us for a presentation to learn more about the project and how the Charrette works, then then there will be time for Q&A, and we will walk you through the online workshop. This same meeting will be held from 6-8pm. This meeting will be recorded and the workshop will be online so that you can do it on your own time if you’re unable to attend either session. Please register here for the Zoom:


Virtual Opening Presentation & Workshop 6:00pm-8:00pm (Time Option #2) If you were unable to attend the meeting from 12-2pm please join us during this time. We will show the presentation from the 12-2pm meeting and then there will be time for live Q&A, and we will walk you through the online workshop. This meeting will be recorded and the workshop will be online so that you can do it on your own time if you’re unable to attend either session. Please register here for the Zoom:

Virtual Open Studio (9am – 7pm) Please register here for the Zoom:

Virtual Focus Meeting: Streets & Connectivity (11am-12pm) This meeting is all about streets, transportation, mobility and connectivity in Norwalk. We will discuss the ways people are able to move through and around the City on foot, on bicycle, and by car; and the connections between neighborhoods and common destinations. If you walk, drive, bike, or want to take public transportation in the City, this meeting is for you! Please register here for the Zoom:


Virtual Focus Meeting: Character & Development (6pm-7pm) This meeting is about community character and development in Norwalk. We will discuss architecture and design and its affects on your community’s character; neighborhoods and housing including housing affordability and choice; and land use, conservation and growth including the types of development you want to see in the future Please register here for the Zoom:
Virtual Open Studio (9am – 7pm) Please register here for the Zoom:


Virtual Focus Meeting: Sustainability & Green Infrastructure (6pm-7pm) This meeting is about all things green in Norwalk. We will discuss parks and open space, natural resources, sustainability and green infrastructure. Please register here for the Zoom:
Virtual Open Studio (9am – 7pm) Please register here for the Zoom:
Virtual Open Studio (9am – 12pm) Please register here for the Zoom:


Virtual Work-in-Progress Presentation (6pm-7:30pm) This is the culmination of 5 intense days of planning work between the public, City staff and the consulting team! Tune in to hear what we heard and how we’re incorporating your ideas into regulations for the future! Please register here for the Zoom:

Focus Meetings Discussion Forums

Focus Meetings will be held on Monday September 20th and Tuesday September 21st online via Zoom. These meetings will cover the following topics: Streets & Connectivity, Character & Development and Sustainability & Green Infrastructure.


See the events area for the time and links to register to attend via Zoom. Visit the forums to share your comments!

Are You Ready to Get Involved?