By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT – Planning & Zoning Commission members said Monday they would take a closer look at the requirements in the Mobile Home Park District after a couple told them they are currently prevented from expanding their single-family home on Oak View Lane.

In a pre-application, or an informal presentation for feedback, Nabanita Pain requested that commissioners consider a new text amendment that would permit an expansion of her home within the Mobile Home Park district. 

But P&Z Commissioner Michael Cammeyer said that the commission should take a larger look at the entire area and zone, a task that he said might best be explored in a subcommittee of the commission. “We need to figure this out as a strategy for the town,” he said.

Pain said they would like to add a “modest expansion” that would include another level on her home as well as a two-car garage on the bottom floor. The extra living space is necessary for the family of four, she said. The expansion would allow the family to continue living in the community, since other single-family homes in town are not within their budget.

Pain said the current home is “not adequate for two kids and two cars.”

Planning & Zoning Director Michelle Perillie said that the Mobile Home district was designated in 1979 to help “provide diversity” in town. Four mobile home parks exist in Westport, including two operated by the Westport Housing Authority that include apartments for people who qualify for below-market rate housing – Sasco Creek Village and Hidden Brook. The other two parks contain privately-owned homes on lots of about 3,000 to 4,000 square feet (1/10 of an acre) on Crescent Park and Oak View Circle. The current regulations allow existing mobile homes to be replaced by conventional homes, which are referred to as mobile home replacement units.

The 14 Oak View Circle homes shown in the Google Earth image sit on about 2 acres of land.

Perillie said that the regulation causing the problem for this couple is the maximum floor area requirement of 1,200 square feet. She added that there was previously a similar pre-application for Crescent Park where commissioners discussed the idea of retaining the affordability of the district and only allowing a certain amount of expansion.

Commissioner Michael Calise reiterated those thoughts, calling the district “valuable zoning” that enhances diversity in town. 

“It has a purpose,’ he said. “Typically, the houses cost less than in other areas of town.”

Other commissioners said they agreed with Cammeyer that the idea of changing the regulations should be explored in a subcommittee. “This needs more study,” said member Craig Schiavone. “It impacts a whole development.”

Paul Lebowitz agreed, saying the impact of a text amendment would be “greater than your back yard.” He said the commission should be “cautious and study carefully” before making any modifications. 

Lebowitz reiterated that the commission would put the idea into a subcommittee. “This is not a quick fix,” he said.

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.}}