Westport Cinema Push Stumbles as P&Z Drops Its Own Amendment

Efforts to bring a movie theater to downtown Westport hit a stumbling block Thursday after the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission withdrew its own rule amendment aimed at encouraging a community cinema.

The proposed change was intended to further  plans by Westport Cinema Initiative, a not-for-profit group. However the amendment had provoked a storm of criticism for permitting a structure of 60 feet, among other allowances.

``This is not productive for the town or the Westport Cinema Initiative,’’ P&Z Commission Chairman Ron Corwin said. He added that the amendment was put forward with the ``best of intentions.’’

The Commission voted four to two in favor of withdrawing amendment 637.

Earlier in the meeting, Jerry Minsky, treasurer for the WCI, asked that the P&Z withdraw the application because it was detrimental to the WCI’s campaign. ``Our fear is that the amendment is putting a cloud over the Westport Cinema Initiative,’’ said Minsky. ``We certainly don’t want to divide the community.’’

After the decision, the driving force behind the theater campaign, WCI director Sandy Leftkowitz, said she was grateful for the Commission’s efforts. ``I want to thank you for the attention that you’ve given to us,’’ she said.

The Commission’s decision was applauded by Connie Greenfield of Save Westport Now, a group that campaigns against the over-commercialization of the town.

The meeting Thursday was the P&Z’s second public session on the Theater Overlay Zone amendment. The provision would have loosened rules on building height, floor space and parking in certain zones.

At both meetings, members of the public lined up to weigh in on the debate.

While almost all were in favor of a theater, many critics voiced opposition over taller structures, including concerns about would happen to the building should the cinema venture fail. Others criticized the procedure that the Commission was pursuing.

At the meeting Thursday, Planning and Zoning Director Larry Bradley said that members of Westport’s Architectural Review Board had also presented concerns and questions about the proposal at a session earlier in the week.

The adjustment in the zoning regulations was drawn up by the P&Z Commission’s Downtown subcommittee as part of an ongoing effort to revitalize the area.