Westport Affordable Housing Plan Draft Announced
Westport Planning and Zoning: Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young announced on May 15, 2022, a draft version of the Town of Westport’s Affordable Housing Plan 2022-2027 (“Plan”) is available to view on the Town’s website here.
Connecticut General Statute §8-30j requires preparation of an Affordable Housing Plan:
“(a) At least once every five years, each municipality shall prepare or amend and adopt an affordable housing plan for the municipality. Such plan shall specify how the municipality intends to increase the number of affordable housing development in the municipality...” Effective July 24, 2017
Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Danielle Dobin stated, “I was honored when former First Selectman Jim Marpe delegated to the Planning and Zoning Commission preparation of this Plan and I look forward to working with current First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Town residents to draft a plan we can be proud of. This planning exercise required by the State Statutes should not be viewed as an obligation, but as an opportunity to create pathways for a diversity of housing types to be developed that track with our modern values of creating equitable, diverse communities.”
Public forums were held earlier this year and more forums are planned to solicit ideas from residents on how best to increase the number of affordable housing dwellings units in Westport. Currently, 3.75% of the total number of housing units in Westport qualify as affordable, far fewer than the 10% required by the state.
Comments on the Draft Plan may be emailed to the attention of the Planning and Zoning Commission at PandZ@westportct.gov . As community input is critically important to ensuring that the Plan works for Westport and represents our Town’s values, a Community Survey is being conducted and your input would be greatly appreciated. The survey is available here until June 23, 2022.
To Stay Connected and find out when the next public forum will be visit: www.westportct.gov/government/affordable-housing-plan