Westport is losing its character.
Well, at least the Planning & Zoning Commission is removing it from its regulations.
A public hearing tomorrow (Monday, February 27, 7 p.m.) will address the question of replacing or removing the word “character” through Westport’s Zoning and Subdivision Regulations.
The hearing results from the state’s Public Act 21-29. Effective October 1, 2021, it says that municipal zoning regulations must no longer be drafted with consideration as to the “character” of a district, but instead with consideration as to its “physical site characteristics.”
The act also prohibits denial of any land use application or zoning approval “on the basis of a district’s character, unless such character is expressly articulated in such regulations by clear and explicit physical standards for site work and structures.”
The Planning & Zoning Commission will no longer look at the “character” of a neighborhood like Saugatuck. Instead it will consider “physical site characteristics.”
The P&Z’s Text Amendment #813 would replace or remove “Character” throughout town where it is not accompanied by clear and explicit physical standards, while staying as close to the original meaning and intent of the Regulations as possible. Click here to see the text amendment.
Monday’s public hearing will be held virtually via Zoom, will be livestreamed on www.westportct.gov, and accessible on Optimum channel 79 and Frontier channel 6020. Comments can be sent prior to the meeting (PandZ@westportct.gov). To access the meeting links, view the meeting agenda here.