By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday night approved a plan to place two modular classrooms outside Long Lots Elementary School.

Funding remains the only obstacle.

A $600,000 request by the Board of Education to fund the modulars was tabled Jan. 4 by the Board of Finance.

A group of Long Lots parents, meanwhile, told the Board of Education on Monday they want modular classrooms installed at the school by fall without delaying the plan in favor of redistricting.

Some finance board members thought options other than modular classrooms should be considered first, such as moving some Long Lots students to other schools that have spare classroom space.

Westport public schools’ chief financial officer, Elio Longo, acknowledged that issue at the P&Z’s Monday meeting.

“The Board of Finance chose not to take action last week, and my understanding is they will be reconvening within the next week or two,” he said.

“In terms of funding, I don’t see that as being necessarily a holdup for review of our application at this time,” Longo told the zoners.

“If it fails the town funding by the bodies, then obviously we’ll have to reconsider or come back with a revised plan,” Longo said. “But at the time being, it was approved by the Board of Education … and that’s why we’re staying on track.”

“We have enough drama at P&Z,” Chairwoman Danielle Dobin said regarding the question of adding conditions about other bodies’ actions. “We don’t need to be a part of anyone else’s drama.”

“So, I don’t want to get in the middle of the BoE and the Board of Finance. I’m happy to do our part, which relates exclusively to planning considerations …,” she said.

The P&Z unanimously agreed to make a positive 8-24 recommendation to the first selectwoman to use town property for the temporary classrooms.

The school board request also needed site plan/special permit approval.

That vote was 6-1, with member John Bolton voting against. He had a different take on inter-agency etiquette.

“I’m a nay, strictly only because I want the financing in place first, because I think we’re butting heads with another agency in town,” Bolton said.

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond more than three decades. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.