Protect the Partrick Wetlands
and our Community
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When I ran for the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission I emphasized
Smart Growth and Regional Cooperation. I also emphasized our need to plan for the future as a community and not just debate zoning issues on an application-by-application basis.
On Thursday January 29th, in Norwalk, the Connecticut State Planning and Development Committee will be holding a public hearing on exactly these issues. The hearings are based on a Blue Ribbon Panel Report released this past October, which addresses the issues of Over-Development, Traffic Congestion, Safety, Urban Sprawl and the Densification of our rural areas.
The timing of this hearing could not be better for Westport and Norwalk. The Westport-Norwalk area has become a well-known example of over-aggressive development. Attorneys for developers threaten town officials and manipulate zoning regulations for profit. Right now, there are developers and legal teams in both towns trying to extend sewer lines in order to cluster dozens of very large houses on environmentally sensitive areas, such as the Partrick Wetlands and the Lucile Lortel White Barn Theater property.
This over-development is contrary to the directives of the report, which urge investment in existing municipal infrastructure to restore cities and towns, and away from areas where Sprawl needs to be prevented and open space and local character need to be preserved.
I urge residents of Norwalk, Wilton, Weston and Westport to attend this hearing, and get involved. These are our communities and only our involvement can protect them.
More information can be found on the websites of the Partrick Wetlands Preservation Fund and the Save Cranbury Association.
www.savewestport.com
www.savecranbury.com
Thursday January 29th 6:30pm
Norwalk City Hall, Community Room
Sean Timmins
Westport, CT