Month: June 2014

 

 

Laurence Bradley, Westport Planning & Zoning Director announced today that on June 19, 2014, the Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to review two text amendments (Amendment #676 and Amendment #677) to the Westport Zoning Regulations.

Text Amendment #676 (Application #14-021) was submitted by the Planning & Zoning Commission to amend the existing excavation and fill regulations.  In 2011, the Commission had previously amended these regulations but further refinements are now needed.  These most recent changes include reducing the number of exempt activities, creating some new exemptions for roads and driveways, limiting the use of fill to measure building height and reducing the severity of man made slopes.

 

Text Amendment #677 (Application #14-024) was submitted by First Selectman James S. Marpe to modify §4-5 Maximum Allowable Multi-family Dwellings and §32-15A Senior Residential Community.  The proposed change will modify an earlier version of §32-15A which was adopted in May 2011.  Specifically, the currently proposed changes will exempt age restricted senior housing on Town owned property from the limit on multi-family dwellings, will allow a broader list of amenities, will change the affordability requirement from 60% to 20% and grant specific changes to setbacks, concealed parking and architectural design for Senior Residential Community projects on Town owned property.

 

All those interested in these amendments are encouraged to attend the Planning & Zoning Commission’s public hearing on June 19th at 7:00 PM in the Westport Town Hall Auditorium.

 

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.

First Selectman Jim Marpe has appointed Dewey J. Loselle, III Operations Director for the Town of Westport. First Selectman Marpe stated, “I am most pleased to have Dewey working with me in the First Selectman’s office to assist me in carrying out the expanded mission I outlined during the election campaign. Dewey already has been making significant progress in enhancing the livability of our town as Chairman of the Downtown Steering Committee.”

A bi-partisan search committee unanimously recommended Mr. Loselle to the First Selectman. The search committee was chaired by Pete Wolgast, a former Executive Assistant to First Selectman Doug Wood. Former Board of Education Chairman Don O’Day, senior corporate executive Steve Parrish, communications specialist and town volunteer Karen Hess, and Westport Personnel Director Ralph Chetcuti also served on the committee. Chairman Wolgast stated “the high quality of applicants for this opening was amazing. As it turned out, Dewey has all of the experience and ability to be an outstanding success in his new role as Operations Director. I am certain that he will be a huge benefit to the First Selectman in his goal of improving the operations of Westport’s Town Government.” Don O’Day commented, “I was very impressed with all of the candidates and the decision on whom to recommend was not easy. After careful consideration, we chose Dewey based on his very impressive resume, his considerable knowledge of Westport’s governing structure, and his recent work leading the Downtown Steering Committee. He has shown he can get things done while reaching out to as many people as possible.” The Operations Director position is designated in Section C4-3 of the Town Charter giving the First Selectman the ability to employ someone to whom he can delegate authority in certain areas of government. During the past several months, the Town went through a formal personnel selection process. As part of that process, the Town personnel director developed a position description, publicly posted and advertised the position, and set up the group interview process. The funding of the position was approved as part of the annual budget process. Mr. Loselle has over 30 years of direct, full-time experience working in local and state government at the highest levels as a public servant, as Division Chief for the NYC Comptroller evaluating programs and agencies, as Assistant Commissioner for Budget and Finance in NYC, as a “Big 4” government consulting Principal/Partner, and as an elected official to the Westport RTM. In his professional career, he has conducted over one hundred consulting engagements with state and local governments helping them improve their performance and functionality. He has worked professionally as a consultant numerous times for the State of Connecticut and for local municipalities such as Greenwich and Stamford. His experience in Connecticut goes back to the original Thomas Commission under Gov. William O’Neill which looked at ways to re-engineer state government and make it more effective and efficient. In addition, as a 22-year resident of Westport, he has a good understanding of the workings of our state government and our Representative Town Meeting form of government in Westport. He is well versed in the Town’s Charter, budget, ordinances, and Zoning Regulations, as well as the workings of Westport’s many boards and commissions. Mr. Loselle’s educational background includes a BA in Government (Magna Cum Laude) from Boston University and a Masters in Public Administration from New York University with concentrations in Public Policy and Finance. In addition he has hundreds of hours of continuing education from Deloitte, KPMG and other entities.