New Canaan's TDAC nears completion of business guide after two-year effort
Other Committee · Meeting of September 15, 2026
New Canaan's TDAC panel nears release of a long-delayed business guide amid downtown storefront turnover. The committee, meeting for the first time since March, unanimously approved its prior minutes and heard that a commercial-tenant welcome guide, edited by staff member Greg Riley, should be finished by month's end after roughly two years of work. Members reported the Adirondack store and the Splash of Pink boutique have both closed on Elm Street, with committee member Laura saying of Adirondack, "the rent was so high, they just couldn't make it work." A wayfinding kiosk designed by member Mark is out to bid for installation near Elm Street and South Avenue.
Officials also said the Park Street free lot is "almost maxed out" many days, and that a Burgess Avenue construction project has displaced street parking for nearly two years, hurting nearby businesses.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,393 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
Minutes Approval
The meeting opened at 7:03 p.m., the committee's first gathering since March 4. Committee member Laura moved to approve the March 4 minutes, committee member BJ seconded, and members reported no edits before approving them unanimously by voice vote. The long gap between meetings was noted at the outset by the chair, referred to in the meeting as Tucker, who told members "it's been a while" but that everyone had "still been busy doing their thing."
Business Development Guide
Background and stakes: The guide project traces back roughly two years, to the period just after the COVID-19 pandemic when the town moved much of its permitting online. Organizers, including Tucker and staff member Sarah, wanted a single resource for anyone considering opening a business in New Canaan, whether still searching for space or already holding a lease and navigating sign permits and construction approvals. The project stalled for a period while the town implemented its online "invoice cloud" payment and permitting system and while the Planning and Zoning Commission completed a review of its own regulations, changes that took effect July 1 and made the commercial-tenant approval process easier, according to committee member Brock.
The question before the body: Members were being updated on the guide's near-final status, not asked to take formal action.
Substantive content: Tucker described the guide as "sort of a welcome brochure for commercial tenants" that walks a prospective business owner through each town department, covering where to begin, online permitting, and department-by-department requirements. Town staff member Greg Riley has served as editor; staff member BJ will manage the final layout before the document is printed and posted online. Staff member Sarah reviewed the document for accuracy against the post-July 1 approval rules and signed off on it. Tucker said the guide would be completed by the end of September, with a press release to follow its release, and that the guide would need continual updating given that it lists specific staff names and email addresses by department.
The deliberation: Committee member Mark asked where online the guide would be posted. Tucker said it would appear "in multiple places," including individual pages for the planning and zoning and health departments as well as the general town website, and that community partners such as the board of realtors might also host it.
"I mean, he's such a good editor. So I'm anticipating that to be completed by the end of this month in terms of our editing." [00:02:51] — Tucker, TDAC chair, on Greg Riley's editing work
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken; the update was informational. Tucker said she would circulate the finished guide to members once complete.
Implications and what is next: Once posted, the guide is intended to reduce the number of calls town departments receive from prospective business owners asking basic permitting and signage questions, according to Tucker, who said she has discussed the goal with department heads across town hall.
Elm Street Wayfinding Kiosk
Background and stakes: The kiosk project, designed by committee member Mark, was funded in the town budget approved last year and is intended for a brick "bump-out" area at the corner of Elm Street and South Avenue.
The question before the body: Members received a status update on bidding and construction timing.
Substantive content: The kiosk is currently out to bid with contractors. Members discussed materials, settling on a durable painted wood rather than pressure-treated lumber after a contractor, identified as Bill Ostman, raised the question directly with Mark. The new town budget, available since July 1, funds the project, and organizers said their goal is to have the kiosk built and installed within the next few months.
The deliberation: Tucker said Ostman had called her directly with questions about the project before she redirected him to Mark, who designed the renderings the committee had previously reviewed.
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was required; the kiosk remains in the contractor-bidding phase.
Implications and what is next: If installation proceeds on the stated timeline, the kiosk would be in place before the end of the year, serving as a wayfinding feature for pedestrians on Elm Street.
Downtown Business Update
Background and stakes: Committee member Laura gave the group's standing downtown report, covering recent storefront closures and openings, event weather, and the state of outdoor dining.
The question before the body: This was an informational report, not an action item.
Substantive content: Laura said the Adirondack store, known for its coffee bar, closed after its rent became unsustainable, though its owners have expressed interest in returning to New Canaan "in some format." Splash of Pink, a Lilly Pulitzer-affiliated boutique, also closed its Elm Street location and is consolidating operations at its Westport store; that space has since been leased by a women's clothing retailer Laura described as offering "a different look than we have here in town." Nearby, a pop-up shop called Case Set — run by the daughter of Mary Jane Setter, longtime owner of the Togs store in town — is subletting space from Ski and Sports on Elm Street and filling a gap left when Karen Forbes' shop closed. Case Set is negotiating for a permanent New Canaan location, which Laura said would help draw a younger shopping demographic. Laura also reported that this year's sidewalk sale and Taste of the Town Stroll events were both scaled back by rain, while a Halloween block party is planned for October 25 and the holiday stroll is set for December 4.
The deliberation: Laura also described strong recent outdoor-dining activity, recounting driving through downtown on a Friday night and finding Elm Street "so alive," in contrast to Darien, where outdoor dining is confined to the backs of restaurants. Committee member Jack praised recent physical improvements near the movie theater, including a new staircase and a relocated, gated trash enclosure that replaced what he described as a previously foul-smelling area behind the building.
"You know, they loved it here. They embraced the town. ... But the rent was so high, they just couldn't make it work." [00:07:17] — Laura, committee member, on the Adirondack store's closure
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken.
Implications and what is next: The turnover leaves at least one Elm Street storefront (the former Adirondack space) still vacant, while the Splash of Pink space and the space formerly held by Karen Forbes' shop are both in transition to new tenants.
Parking and Commuter Lots
Background and stakes: New Canaan rolled out a paid downtown parking system beginning last October, fully in place by December. The committee has continued to track its performance and gather resident feedback.
The question before the body: Members reviewed usage data and possible refinements, without a formal vote.
Substantive content: Laura and Tucker said the Park Street lot, now offering three free hours of parking, is "almost maxed out" on many days, particularly around lunchtime. Commuter lots near the train station are notably fuller Tuesday through Thursday than on Mondays and Fridays. Tucker said the town received an email that day reporting the Talmadge Hill lot — which she said "always had excess space" — was full, an unusual occurrence she attributed to more people working from downtown offices midweek. The lumberyard lot allows unrestricted parking for anyone after 10:30 a.m., a policy intended to accommodate commuters who left for city jobs earlier in the morning; that lot also serves visitor parking for the Glass House.
The deliberation: Tucker said she met with staff from the Norwalk parking department in July and came away with "confirmation and affirmation" that New Canaan's approach to paid parking, while "painful," is keeping downtown spaces cycling rather than permanently occupied. She said a joint "best practices" meeting with Norwalk and Darien officials was scheduled for later that week. Members also discussed resident suggestions under internal review, including a possible senior parking permit that would let older residents avoid using the parking app, and expanded short-term parking options. Jack noted he had personally received a parking ticket after misunderstanding permit-space signage; Tucker said the town has since improved signage and painted some permit spaces directly on the road.
"The Park Street lot, which is now the free lot, is being heavily used, almost maxed out." [00:09:18] — Laura, committee member, on downtown parking demand
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken. Staff will continue compiling resident suggestions for internal review.
Implications and what is next: The Norwalk-Darien best-practices meeting was expected to take place the week of the meeting; any resulting recommendations, such as a senior permit option, would require further town review before adoption.
Storm Resilience and Infrastructure
Background and stakes: Recent storms, including a major July storm and additional heavy rain the Sunday before the meeting, prompted member questions about the downtown power grid, flooding and stormwater infrastructure.
The question before the body: Members asked whether infrastructure changes were needed following repeated flooding and outages.
Substantive content: A member said he had spoken with residents who lost electricity and had food spoil as a result of a recent outage, and asked whether the downtown power grid had changed in a way that made outages more likely. Tucker said she was not aware of any grid changes but described the existing system as unpredictable, "like a spider web," where one building can lose power while an adjacent one does not. She said downtown "rarely lost its electricity" in the past but that outages have become more frequent, citing the July storm that heavily affected Forest Street. She noted temporary rental fans had been in use at J. McLaughlin since the July storm after the store's air conditioning failed and could not be repaired. Tucker said the health department went door to door after the July storm to address spoiled food at affected businesses, and that the town had circulated a state damage-assessment worksheet to downtown merchants, which she believed may relate to a FEMA damage threshold, though she was not certain.
The deliberation: On flooding, Tucker said the town now owns a large vacuum truck used to proactively clean storm drains, including in the Forest Street area, and to inspect drains by camera for blockages, particularly ahead of forecast storms. She noted that storms once described as "one in 100 year" events are increasingly described as "one in 200 year" events. Members also discussed the town's wastewater treatment facility, which Tucker said is monitored closely during major storms and has come close to, but not reached, capacity.
Procedural steps and outcome: No formal action was taken; the discussion was informational.
Implications and what is next: Continued proactive storm-drain maintenance and wastewater monitoring were described as ongoing town practices rather than new initiatives tied to a specific budget item discussed at this meeting.
New Canaan 250th Commemoration Recap
Background and stakes: New Canaan's 250th anniversary commemoration has run from a Flag Day kickoff in June through a planned conclusion around Veterans Day in November, with the anniversary parade as a centerpiece event.
The question before the body: Members received a recap rather than an action item.
Substantive content: Tucker described the parade as a highlight, with floats from numerous town organizations. A historical reenactment featured Keith Simpson portraying the signing of the Declaration of Independence at a period-style desk. Five town-themed floats featured large banners built by the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), coordinated in part by committee member Lisa Milland; those banners have since been preserved and are being displayed as part of a "New Canaan" exhibit opening the following week for a two-week run at the Powerhouse Theater. Tracy Carl and Lisa Milland co-chaired the parade event.
The deliberation: Committee member Mark confirmed he rode in the historical society's carriage during the parade. Tucker said light drizzle during the event caused some concern given the number of vintage cars and marchers involved but that the parade "was really fantastic."
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken.
Implications and what is next: The Powerhouse Theater exhibit featuring the parade banners was set to open the week after the meeting and run for two weeks.
Grace Farms Update
Background and stakes: Grace Farms representative Val McVeigh, joining by video conference, gave the committee an update as the nonprofit entered its 11th season.
The question before the body: Informational report; no action requested.
Substantive content: McVeigh said Grace Farms' new season, running September through May, launched over the weekend despite rain. She said Leslie Odom Jr. will headline the organization's annual fundraiser on September 26, and that the season's lecture and concert series will include three new lecture offerings, including an appearance by a Harvard scholar on democracy identified in the meeting as Daniel Allen. McVeigh also referenced a local figure, Sian Baloch, in connection with the town's 250th commemoration, though the audio describing that connection was difficult to parse. McVeigh said Grace Farms continues its nature, education and community programming alongside the new offerings.
The deliberation: McVeigh introduced herself to the group, noting "we haven't met before," suggesting this was her first appearance before the committee in this capacity.
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken.
Implications and what is next: The Leslie Odom Jr. fundraiser on September 26 was the most concrete near-term date mentioned.
Fall Cultural Calendar and Community Programs
Background and stakes: Several members gave brief updates on nonprofit and cultural programming heading into the fall, tying into both the 250th commemoration and the town's ongoing cultural-institution promotion efforts.
The question before the body: Informational roundtable; no action requested.
Substantive content: A member noted that area nonprofits are actively planning events and pointed colleagues to Laura's community calendar to avoid scheduling overlaps. An all-day, multi-stage music festival organized by Michael Lewis-Smith is planned at the Nature Center for the coming weekend. Members also discussed a printed pamphlet listing New Canaan's cultural institutions, distributed in part through local real estate offices, which one member said he had not previously seen despite its apparent longstanding availability; it is also available for digital distribution.
A series of "October for Design" events was outlined, tied to programming organized in part by a committee member identified as Nancy, who was absent from the meeting. Events cited included an antique house tour on October 17, a Lakeview Cemetery tour on October 8, a "Lunch and Learn" program on restoring old houses on October 13, a wine tasting on October 15, and a Lunch and Learn lecture on the Bauhaus movement on October 22.
Members also recapped a summer history-trail program at Irwin Park, run with the help of student interns who each read two chapters of "Portrait of New Canaan," identified 10 historical facts per chapter, and created "did you know" signs displayed throughout the park for several weeks in June and July. Organizers said the trail drew visitors who lingered well beyond their planned walking time to read the signs, and that they hope to expand the program next year.
Separately, Tucker described a meeting with a New Canaan High School senior identified as Valentina, president of the school's business consulting club, who is working with downtown businesses on data analysis projects and has expressed interest in TDAC's work. Tucker said Valentina would return to report her findings to the committee at a future meeting.
The deliberation: "It's a business consulting club, Laura, at the high school?" a member asked, seeking to confirm the club's name; Tucker confirmed the description and said, "I was completely blown away... by the questions that she was asking."
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken.
Implications and what is next: Valentina is expected to report back to the committee at an upcoming meeting on her business analysis work with downtown merchants; Nancy was expected to be invited to a future meeting to discuss the October for Design programming in more detail.
Playhouse Update
Background and stakes: Members briefly checked in on the status of the Playhouse movie theater.
The question before the body: Informational only.
Substantive content: Members said the Playhouse has new general management and continues to host private events alongside regular screenings, including daytime showings members said they appreciated.
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken.
Implications and what is next: No further action was identified.
Burgess Avenue Parking Concerns
Background and stakes: A member raised concerns about ongoing construction at a Burgess Avenue development that has removed on-street parking spaces for an extended period.
The question before the body: Informational concern raised near the meeting's close; no formal action requested.
Substantive content: A member said that by December it will have been two years since the Burgess Avenue development eliminated street parking spaces, which the member said has adversely affected nearby businesses on Burgess Avenue and Cherry Street. The member said they had previously raised the issue with the town's police commission, and that while the development should be allowed to finish, there had been little consideration given to the parking impact on surrounding businesses.
The deliberation: Tucker responded that she understood the concern and sees related complaints regularly, saying she would check in the following day on the project's status. She said businesses that had struggled during construction should eventually benefit from new tenants once the development opens, "but I hear you. It's tough."
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken.
Implications and what is next: Tucker said she would follow up on the project's completion timeline; no date was given.
Adjournment
Committee member Jack moved to adjourn at 7:35 p.m.; Laura seconded, and the motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Tucker noted the committee's next meeting is scheduled for December 2, 2026, and said she would follow up with members on the completed business development guide before then.
Tucker — committee chair, presided over the meeting (role inferred from meeting conduct; not independently confirmed against a roster) Laura — committee member, gave the standing downtown report, moved approval of the March 4 minutes BJ — committee member, seconded the minutes motion, assisting with final layout of the business development guide Mark — committee member, designed the Elm Street wayfinding kiosk, participated in the 250th parade Brock — committee member, raised the July 1 commercial-approval rule change Jack — committee member, moved adjournment, raised questions about theater-area improvements and the Playhouse Val McVeigh — Grace Farms representative, joined by video conference to give the organization's season update Nancy — associated with "October for Design" programming and the Irwin Park history trail; absent from this meeting Sarah — town staff member referenced as having reviewed and signed off on the business development guide; attendance at this meeting unclear from the transcript Greg Riley — town hall staff member, serving as editor on the business development guide; attendance at this meeting unclear from the transcript Valentina — New Canaan High School senior, president of the school's business consulting club; did not attend but was discussed as a prospective future presenter to the committee
Grace Farms — nonprofit arts and nature organization; representative Val McVeigh gave the committee its season update Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) — built banners displayed on 250th parade floats, later exhibited at the Powerhouse Theater New Canaan Historical Society — Mark rode in the organization's carriage during the 250th parade; also maintains archival parade footage referenced in the discussion Powerhouse Theater — hosting a two-week "New Canaan" 250th exhibit featuring the parade banners, opening the week after the meeting Norwalk parking department — met with Tucker in July and participated in a planned joint "best practices" meeting on downtown parking Town of Darien — cited as a comparison point for outdoor dining and parking practices, and as a joint participant in the parking best-practices meeting New Canaan High School — home to the student-led business consulting club referenced in connection with Valentina's project Invoice Cloud — online town payment/permitting system whose rollout contributed to delays in completing the business development guide "Portrait of New Canaan" — book used as source material for the student-led Irwin Park history-trail signage project March 4, 2026 meeting minutes — approved without changes at this meeting State storm-damage worksheet — form circulated to downtown merchants after recent storms, described as possibly tied to a FEMA damage-assessment threshold