By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The Westport Weston Family YMCA is seeking approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission to expand its outdoor water-related activities during the warm-weather months.

When the new location of the Y on Allen Raymond Lane was improved in 2008, hours of operation for the outdoor activities were limited. Now, it is asking that the hours for the popular features be expanded, and other restrictions eased, including:

• Stretching the hours of use for the outdoor splash pad. Currently, it can be open May through September from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Y would like to use it from May to mid-October, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

• Stretching the hours for the outdoor pool and pool house. Currently, the allowed hours, May through September, are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Y would now like to use the facilities from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.,

• Expanded hours or use for a slide, currently restricted to the same hours as the splash pad, to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

• Increasing the number of Camp Mahackeno campers from 360 to 400.

The Y had modified its initial request, filed in March, after discussions with neighbors.

Gone is a request is a request allow for-profit groups to rent facilities at the Y.

“We currently have a wait list of 195 campers,” Anjali McCormick, CEO of the Westport Weston Family YMCA, said in a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

No neighbor feedback is listed yet on the Planning and Zoning Department’s area of the town website.

“We believe that these stipulations are respectful and responsive to the concerns raised by neighbors …” McCormick wrote April 7. “We hope for and would welcome your verbal and written support of our proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission.”

The request for a special permit/site plan approval is not yet listed on a P&Z agenda.

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 35 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.