Politics & Government

Town vs. Town Lawsuit May Drop

In a statement issued today, the P&Z Commission chairman said he plans to recommend the body not pursue any legal action at this time.

Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Ron Corwin issued the following statement today, indicating the commission's plans for a lawsuit against the Representative Town Meeting could be on hold:

"The Planning and Zoning Commission's goal in response to the result of the RTM meeting and decision of January 13, 2010, has always been to help establish standards for public hearings to protect the due process rights of all of those involved in land use applications in Westport — applicants, the public, neighbors and the Town itself.  The Town leadership has responded beginning with the immediate call by the First Selectman to meet with representatives of both 
the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) and Representative Town Meeting (RTM) on this matter and the Selectman's additional request that the Town Attorney prepare guidelines for the RTM to consider. 
 
"There are important Westport leadership representatives in the RTM, the Town Attorney's office and others who are doing hard work, in helping to address this matter.  All appear to agree that applicants in land use matters in Westport have a right to know the standards by which their applications will be judged. 
 
"In light of these recent  events, and after consultation with the Vice Chair and Secretary of the Commission, I will be recommending to the Commission at our next Planning and Zoning meeting on February 4, 2010 that the Commission not pursue any legal action at this time and that the Commission resume consideration of Commission-generated text amendments."

Ron Corwin

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Commission Chair


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