As the Planning & Zoning Commission discusses a text amendment that would modify the definition of “special needs individuals,” to serve a wider range of people (click here and here) — while also addressing off-site affordable housing — Westport’s Commission on People with Disabilities offers their insights:
One question currently under review by the Planning & Zoning Commission deserves clear attention: how we define and support residents with disabilities.
Text Amendment #864, now before the P&Z, offers an important opportunity to expand the definition of “developmental disability” for special needs housing.
The current state definition framework — limited to individuals with an IQ below 70 and onset before age 18 — excludes many residents who face real barriers to appropriate housing.
136 Riverside Avenue now houses adults with disabilities. It is off-site affordable housing, part of the Richmondville Mill project.
The Commission on People with Disabilities strongly supports aligning the definition of “Special Needs Individuals” with federal law (42 U.S.C. §15002) rather than the more restrictive Connecticut standard.
The broader federal definition better reflects the range of disabilities that affect activities of daily living, and would help close existing gaps in access to special needs housing.
We support allowing off-site affordable housing within the Inclusionary Housing Overlay District — with clear standards.
We urge the Planning & Zoning Commission to allow off-site special needs housing only when it is clearly demonstrated to be superior to an on-site option — such as through better access to transportation, closer proximity to services, or design features like shared community spaces that more effectively support residents’ needs.
All proposals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure they promote inclusion, community integration, and compliance with applicable regulations.
Off-site, deed-restricted special needs housing can also deliver an increased number of smaller, efficiency-style units, creating opportunities for shared spaces and supportive services, and generating more moratorium points than comparable on-site options.
3 George Street (above), off Maple Avenue South, could be used as a group home. The developer of an apartment project on Post Road East says that an expanded definition of “special needs individuals” would help expand access to a group home like this.
While on-site housing offers the benefits of integration, thoughtfully planned off-site housing can better meet the needs of individuals with disabilities by enabling more coordinated access to services, supports, and amenities.
Westport has an opportunity to take a thoughtful, balanced approach — expanding housing while maintaining strong zoning principles. The goal is not to work around the rules, but to make them work better for everyone.
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