Westport P&Z Reception for Outgoing Commissioners

Reception and Ceremony Scheduled for Outgoing Planning & Zoning Commission Members  on Nov. 17 

The Planning and Zoning Commission is planning a special recognition ceremony and reception on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. in Town Hall for three of its members who are retiring from the commission this year.  The public is invited and welcome to attend. The reception will be hosted by both the Democratic Women of Westport and the Republican Women of Westport.

Ellie Lowenstein (vice chairman), David Press (secretary)  and Mike Kraweic will all be sitting on the commission for the last time Nov. 17, and their service will be recognized with a reception in the Town Hall lobby, immediately following the P&Z meeting.  

Ellie Lowenstein has served for 16 years, longer than any other elected commissioner in Westport P&Z history.  She served as chair for 12 years and was honored by the CT Federation of Planning & Zoning Agencies for her years of service. She currently serves as vice chair.   In the course of her tenure, Lowenstein sat on more than 700 regular meetings of the commission not including hundreds of meetings of the Administrative Review Committee and numerous subcommittees.  She also steered the commission in the creation of both the 1997 and 2007 Plans of Conservation & Development.  Lowenstein's years of dedicated public service to the P&Z is truly outstanding. 

Dave Press was first elected to the commission in 2003 and has been on the commission for eight years.  He currently serves as secretary.  In his tenure on the commission, Press has served in a variety of capacities including a wide range of subcommittees, helped craft several significant text amendments and was key in helping the commission  work on a number of very complex zoning applications.   Mike Kraweic was elected to the commission in 2007 and has served on the commission since that time and has made a number of important contributions to commission's activities.