By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT – The Planning and Zoning Commission addressed two text amendments at its Jan. 5 meeting. They passed a text amendment on coastal properties, but continued until Jan. 26 the public hearing on a controversial proposed text amendment that would allow developers to locate required affordable housing “offsite,” i.e., away from the site of the development..

Text Amendment 855 on “offsite affordable”

Chairman Paul Lebowitz announced the continuation at the beginning of the meeting, calling the hearing for Text Amendment 855 a “last-minute scratch” by Richard Redniss, of Stamford’s Redniss & Mead, land use specialists. The application has received many public comments, with 19 letters on the town website, most of them urging the commission to deny it.

During last month’s hearing, Redniss said he would come back with specifics about where offsite affordable housing would be located for the 785 Post Road East Gables project, which is in the Inclusionary Housing Overlay District. The district was established to encourage developers to build a mix of market and affordable units in areas previously zoned commercial. Redniss submitted the amendment on behalf of the Gables project.

Many residents have said the proposed text amendment would be a loophole for developers to get out of the requirement of building affordable units onsite, instead building them in less desirable locations of town. 

Marie Rossi, of Sterling Drive, was one of those writing letters against the amendment. She said in her Dec. 7 letter that the application “sets a precedent that rules don’t apply equally” and “creates places ‘where the poor people live,’ something arrogant and reprehensible.”

However, Helen McAlinden, president of Homes with Hope, a town-based organization whose mission is to end homelessness, has said that she strongly supports the amendment.

“I fully support any and all affordable housing opportunities in Westport, both onsite and offsite,” she wrote in a letter to the commission. “…because a flexible approach allows us to maximize the number of units available to the most vulnerable individuals and families in our region.”

Text Amendment 858 on “coastal area regulations”

In other business, the commission unanimously approved a different text amendment that modifies the Coastal Area Regulations to comply with a new state law. Under Text Amendment 858, any new single-family dwellings within 1,000 feet of the water line, or the Coastal Area Management Boundary, will need a site plan review. Previously, many of those homes that were not in the immediate vicinity of the water were eligible for an exemption.

Michelle Perillie, director of Planning & Zoning, said it is hard to estimate how many additional applications will be received because of the new regulations. She said the department gets about 20 a year now, which may go up to about 100.

“I can see the benefits of this,” Perillie told commissioners. Taking a close look at applications “slightly outside the exemption” is a good idea, she said.

Both Lebowitz and Commissioner Michael Cammeyer said they would like to ensure that homeowners in the affected areas are aware of the change, with Cammeyer suggesting that a town mailing be made to everyone within the boundary. Lebowitz asked that the letter be ready to go out in February. Perillie added that the developers who work in town are already “well aware of this.”

Kerri Williams

^{_{Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.}}