Westport Considers Proposed Amendment On Special Needs Housing

From the Town of Westport: WESTPORT, CT — Planning & Zoning Director Mary Young announced today that the Planning & Zoning Commission will review a text amendment to the Westport Zoning Regulations at their May 7, 2020 meeting. Richard Redniss of Redniss and Mead submitted Text Amendment #778. If adopted the amendment will:

1. Create a definition for “Special Needs Individuals,” eligible to occupy “Special Needs Housing;”

2. Modify §4-5 to exempt “Special Needs Housing” from the threshold of allowable number of Multi-Family Dwellings permitted in Westport;

3. Add “Special Needs Housing” to list of allowable uses in §13, Residence A district, subject to Special Permit approval with Special Conditions; and

4. Add §32-27 consisting of special conditions, standards, and location requirements for “Special Needs Housing” including a requirement that 100% of the housing shall be deed restricted as affordable housing pursuant to CGS §8-30g, and the housing shall be subject to Special Permit/Site Plan approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Special Needs individuals are, “Persons that are blind, physically disabled, and/or have intellectual disabilities pursuant to Sections 1-1f and/or 1-1g of the Connecticut General Statutes.”

Proposed location criteria for properties eligible for Special Needs Housing requires a lot to be:

1. Improved with an existing building;

2. Owned by the Town of Westport; and

3. Located within the Residence A district.

Mary Young described, “The amendment if adopted will add to the housing diversity offered in Westport and appears consistent with goals listed in the 2017 Plan of Conservation and Development that recommend, ‘Continue to address housing needs in Westport (affordable, aged, special needs, ADA).’

In her staff report Ms. Young describes three (3) Town-owned properties qualify for Special Needs Housing, including: 136 Riverside Avenue, 124 Compo Road North, and 15 Morningside Drive North. Should a proposal to locate Special Needs Housing be submitted, additional public meetings will be scheduled as additional approvals from the Planning and Zoning Commission will be required including a Positive Municipal Improvement Report and approval of a Special Permit/Site Plan application.

Pursuant to Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7B, there will be no physical location for the May 7, 2020 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The meeting will be held electronically and live streamed on www.westportct.gov and shown on Optimum Government Access Channel 79 and Frontier Channel 6020. The Planning and Zoning Commission can receive written comments from the public in advance of the meeting. Comments in advance of the meeting should be sent to PandZ@westportct.gov. Comments can also be sent during the meeting when the item is under review by the Commission before the public comment session on that agenda item ends. If sending comments during the meeting comments will be read aloud if they (i) are sent to PandZcomments@westportct.gov, (ii) state your full name and address, and (iii) identify the agenda item to which your comment relates.

If you would like to give your comments by participating in real time in the meeting, please send an email by noon on May 7, 2020, to maryyoung@westportct.gov stating your name and address and the agenda item to which your comments will relate, and meeting participation details will be emailed to you to enable you to participate in real time. Meeting materials are available at www.westportct.gov, on the Planning and Zoning Department web page under “P&Z Pending Applications & Recent Approvals” here.