P&Z to Consider Outdoor Dining, Home-Based Businesses

The Westport Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to review a text amendment to the zoning regulations tonight dealing with outdoor dining.

Amendment No.610, Application No.10-009, prepared by the Planning & Zoning Commission, if approved, will expand the opportunities for outdoor dining in Westport while simplifying the application procedures associated with making such requests. 

Additionally, this regulation will allow retail food establishments to have up to 10 indoor seats for customers without them having to be considered restaurants.

"This is the first public hearing in a series of applications that the Planning & Zoning Commission is working on to help generate more activity for Westport's commercial areas," Planning and Zoning Director Laurence Bradley said in a news release. 

"Over the next several months the commission will be holding additional hearings on other similar types of amendments to help businesses and simplify application procedures," he added.

All those interested in the amendments are encouraged to attend the Planning & Zoning Commission's public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday. 

Copies of the amendments are available for viewing in town hall both in the P&Z Office and in the office of the Town Clerk. 

The  commission can receive written comments from the public in advance of the hearing.  Once the hearing is closed, no more information or comments will be accepted.

UPCOMING AMENDMENT

Next week, on May 6, the commission is scheduled to review a text amendment to the Westport zoning regulations expanding opportunities for home-based businesses. 

Amendment No.611, Application No.10-011 was prepared by the Planning & Zoning Commission and if approved would create three tiers of home-based businesses in Westport.

The first tier is a "Home Office" which has no employees other than the residents of the home and would not require a zoning permit. 

The second tier, "Home Occupation, Level 1," would allow for one non-resident employee, allow up to 10 client visits per day and require only a Zoning Permit. 

The third level, "Home Occupation – Level 2," would allow more than one non-resident employee, up to 10 client visits per day and a Site Plan and Special Permit approval from the Planning and ZoningCommission.

"The 2007 Town Plan of Conservation and Development recommended that changes to the home occupation regulations be made in recognition of a more modern way that people now live and work," Bradley said. 

"The commission's plans to address this issue are reflective of their efforts to be more in sync with needs ofWestport residents," he said.

All those interested in these amendments are encouraged to attend the Planning & Zoning Commission's public hearing on May 6.