Climate change is real.
What will Westport do about it?
The Parks & Recreation Department is thinking about beach erosion, resulting from sea level rise.
Public Works looks at infrastructure.
The Planning & Zoning Commission considers new land use regulations, perhaps regarding tree coverage and flood mitigation.
Flooding is on the rise in Westport. This was the scene earlier this month, at Parker Harding Plaza.
But is there a comprehensive, proactive approach?
Peter Gold thinks there could be.
He chairs the Representative Town Meeting’s Long Range Planning Committee. Their job, he says, is to look at where Westport will be in 10 or 20 years. They examine potential scenarios, address concerns, and come up with plans to mitigate or prepare for the risks.
Theirs is a broader approach than just one department or organization, like Sustainable Westport, Earthplace or Harbor Watch, says Gold.
This month, former Conservation Department director Alicia Mozian spoke to the RTM committee. Her discussion ranged from FEMA requirements and flood insurance, to tax incentives for energy efficiency and town acquisition of land that may become prone to flooding.
The RTM’s Long Range Planning Committee looks at a variety of regulations — from national FEMA-level to local ordinances — to address climate change. Many homes near Compo Beach have already been raised.
On February 1 (7:30 p.m., Town Hall), land use consultant Gloria Gouveia will meet with the Long Range members.
In another role — head of the Westport Transit District — Gold has learned that changing people’s behavior is hard. He works every day to get residents to embrace transportation alternatives.
But, he notes, Westport’s goal to be net-zero by 2050 is just 26 years away.
“Unless we take steps now, we won’t get there,” Gold says. “This is not about thinking ‘down the road.’ Things must be done now, if we’re going to get there.”
And — as part of the town’s legislative branch — he wants his committee to help move Westport’s long range planning forward.
