Clarence Hayes’ “Opinion” piece — posted this morning on “06880,” urging Westport’s politicians and residents to adopt a “vision” for the future — has already generated 26 comments.
Some of them noted that Westport already has such a plan. It’s state-mandated, developed with input from a broad array of stakeholders, and updated regularly.
Clarence asked me to add this clarification. He writes:
Numerous engaged Westport citizens have pointed out to me that I am not up to speed with work already well advanced around many of the points in my original comments. Mea culpa!
In regards to taking control of the affordable housing issue, a plan was recently adopted by the Planning & Zoning Commission under Danielle Dobin’s leadership, which hits all the points I was hoping would be addressed. Click here to see.
Screenshot: Westport’s Affordable Housing Plan.
Additionally, as Dick Lowenstein pointed out, Westport has a “10 year Conservation and Development Plan” — in compliance with state law — the last one of which was adopted in 2017. Click here to see.
So I’m learning. Thank you.
I did nor intend to criticize good work which has been accomplished, but rather to suggest even more ambition to do even better.
I maintain my “call to action”: to have a permanent forum for town engagement which:
- Programmatically links the town’s various volunteer associations to the relevant town board/committee
- Is structured for input/debate to maintain a long-term plan that touches all town assets, and is regularly amended
- Establishes concrete goals that reach to 20+ years out — generational levels of development effort
- Allows for annual measurement of progress
- Includes results that are visible, front and center, on Westportct.gov, providing effectively a detailed, easily accessed, ‘who we are’ statement which is more than general aspirations.
Thanks to Mr. Woog for his tireless work providing a Westport “town square!”