Town Of Westport: Text Amendment #810 To Be Discussed At Upcoming P&Z Public Hearing

Westport CT

08 March, 2022

1:49 PM

Description

Press release from the Town of Westport: 03/08/2022 1:00 PM Deputy Planning and Zoning Director Michelle Perillie has announced that on March 14, 2022, at 7:00 PM, a public hearing of the Planning and Zoning Commission will be held to consider removing zoning obstacles to allow for more Public Art. Text Amendment #810, authored on behalf of the Planning and Zoning Commission, proposes to create a new term for "Public Art" in §5-2, Definitions of the Zoning Regulations. The amendment also proposes modifying the existing "Structure" definition to exempt "Public Art" from Coverage requirements. This would enable property owners close to exceeding their allowable Footprint or Coverage to install Public Art without the need for a variance. Text Amendment #810 can be viewed online here.  Arts Advisory Committee Chair Nancy Diamond initiated the proposed modification in order to remove barriers to the installation of Public Art in Westport. She shared her frustration attending multiple public hearings last year and the ensuing delays this caused before a new art installation could be accepted for donation and displayed at the Westport Library for the public's enjoyment. The Explanatory Statement for Text Amendment #810 offers the following rationale: "Public Art should be encouraged as it adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic and economic vitality of a community." The March 14, 2022, public hearing will be held virtually via Zoom, will be live streamed on the Town's website at www.westportct.gov, and accessible on Optimum Government Access Channel 79 and Frontier Channel 6020.  Comments can be sent prior to the meeting at [email protected] and interested parties may join the meeting virtually or call in to offer testimony during the meeting. To access the meeting links, view the meeting agenda online here.                                                         This press release was produced by the Town of Westport. The views expressed here are the author's own.