By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The Representative Town Meeting on Tuesday voted to postpone its discussion of whether to fund a redesign of the Jesup Green and Imperial Avenue parking lots.

Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich has asked for $630,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the design and permitting for redevelopment of Jesup Green and the Imperial parking lots as part of an overall plan to redesign downtown parking areas

In the initial phase of a redesign, he wants to pave the upper portion of Jesup Green for a terraced parking area with about 40 spots. A later phase would replace that lost green area by removing roughly half of the lower lot and replacing it with a grassy area.

The new parking would replace spaces lost in the redesign of Parker Harding Plaza.

The night before, the Planning and Zoning Commission met for almost 6½ hours, before approving a related 8-24 request. It was a long and contentious meeting.

RTM member Melissa Levy, District 2, told fellow RTM members Tuesday they, and the public, should have more time to think about the previous night’s discussion, and to learn about the plan.

Others agreed, including Jack Klinge, District 7.

He remembered an effort years ago to move the YMCA to Baron’s South. He said he had asked that balloons be floated to show the potential building heights. He said that when that was done, it was clear the property wasn’t the appropriate choice.

Similarly, he said he’d like to see a demonstration with black tape on Jesup Green showing the exact boundaries of the area to be paved, and green tape on the parking lot to show the replacement grass area.

The RTM voted 33-1-2 to move the discussion to its meeting at 7:30 p.m. May 8.

Jay Keenan, District 2, was opposed. Lauren Karpf, District 7, and Matthew Mandell, District 1, abstained.