Plan To Close Part Of Greenwich Avenue Approved: Report

GREENWICH, CT — Plans to close a portion of Greenwich Avenue to vehicular traffic and allow more space for outdoor dining was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen during a meeting Thursday, according to the Greenwich Time. First Selectman Fred Camillo had hinted at the plan in earlier remarks, however now the plan can officially move forward.

According to a detailed outline of the plan provided by the Greenwich Police Department and accessed through the town website, the goal of the closure is to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown area where people will be able to shop and dine.

The plan will close a portion of the avenue, from Havemeyer Place to Railroad Avenue, from the first week of June until Sept. 2 as part of "phase one" of the plan. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

The Greenwich Time reports the official start date for the closure will be Tuesday, June 2, to allow the town time to sweep the streets and install new signs, among other preparations, between Friday and Monday. The town will also further communicate with area businesses during that time.

As part of the plan, participating businesses must obey all federal, state and local laws and ordinances regarding public health, and social distancing must be adhered to in accordance with health department standards.

The town will also create a number of handicap parking stalls on side streets close to Greenwich Avenue to make up for any lost spaces as a result of the transformation. Curbside pick-up locations for restaurants will also be established on certain streets.

Commercial vehicles and other services, including garbage removal, will be permitted access to the avenue before 10 a.m. each day, and street sweeping in the area will be suspended so it doesn't interfere with dining set-ups.

Police said Friday on Twitter that all vehicles must be removed from Greenwich Avenue south of Havemeyer Place by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, or they will be towed.

Plans for further phase of the plan concerning the rest of the avenue will likely be discussed at the Board of Selectmen's next meeting on June 11.

Earlier this month, Camillo said he was working with town officials, including police and fire, on a plan to close off a portion of the avenue during limited hours this summer and open up the street to more outdoor dining and shopping.

He also said the town was taking a "crawl before you can walk" approach to closing off sections of the avenue and working within a "fairly reasonable" timeframe, as each block of Greenwich Avenue presents its own unique issues.

See also: Plan To Close Off Parts Of Greenwich Avenue In The Works

Camillo announced these plans at the same time a petition calling for Greenwich Avenue to close to vehicular traffic and allow restaurants to expand their seating options had been circulating and garnering support. In response, Camillo said the town was working on its own plan to transform the downtown area.

"We have been working on this for over a week," Camillo said in a May 19 email to Patch, "and [we] look forward to both a short-term plan and a long term one that I feel will be transformative for our downtown business district for years to come."

Patch has reached out to the First Selectman's office for futher information.

Read the full Greenwich Time story here.