Green Circle Growers expect to bring 300 seasonal employees to Norwalk

NORWALK — Green Circle Growers presented a plan to Norwalk city council Tuesday evening. Green Circle started more than 50 years ago and is one of the largest privately-owned greenhouses in America. The project on Cline Street will provide housing to their more than 300 full-time seasonal employees, who are currently staying in hotels. The company has 800 total employees. CJ VanWingerden, a representative and co-operator, said they chose Norwalk for "walkability to stores and restaurants." Another perk is a church that holds services in Spanish. The property is also large enough to provide a soccer field and fishing for the residents. The project will exceed an investment of $5 million and will exceed $100,000 in property taxes per year. Many of the builders and supplies will be from Norwalk. The employees are from an H2A government program that does comprehensive background checks, COVID-19 and drug testing. They are seasonal workers similar to that of amusement parks. VanWingerden assures they treat their employees like family and will have the same respect for their neighbors here in Norwalk. "We are pleased to bring this investment to Norwalk, partnering with the city, to make sure our vision of being a great host to our employees and the city of Norwalk," said VanWingerden. They hope to have the project completed by Nov. 15. In other council news, a public hearing was scheduled for March 30 for a landscape mounding zoning ordinance. The planning commission approved the ordinance during its last meeting. An ordinance restructuring the police department was also passed.