Town of Westport Planning & Zoning Commission Amendment #621 Residential Coverage Regulations September 30, 2010

Objectives of this Proposal Begin to close the gap on the large amount of additional coverage that has the potential to be built in the Town of Westport. Rationalize what gets counted in building and total coverage and by how much. Begin to provide incentives for desirable activities such as the use of permeable materials and designs that promote architectural diversity.

Maximum Potential Buildout Building Coverage reduced by 20% Total Coverage reduced by 9%

Building Coverage Existing Regulations

Building Coverage Existing vs. Proposed

Rationalization of Coverage Moving Swimming Pools from Building Coverage into Total Coverage Making Patios and Terraces part of Total Coverage Counting Tennis Courts in Total Coverage at 100% instead of 50% Decks will move from Building Coverage into Total Coverage Other types of Sports Courts will be treated the same as Tennis Courts

Encouraging Desirable Actions Encouraging the use of Permeable materials Reductions of coverage for permeable decks, patios and terraces Encouraging Architectural Diversity Allowing for covered porches without floor area above and below to not be counted in building coverage Moving decks from building coverage into total coverage

2007 Community Survey As part of the 2007 POCD the Town conducted a Community Survey April 2007 Community Survey Completed 1)3 rd most important issue after taxes and education is “too many large houses” 2) “Limit house size”, identified as the #1 quality of life issue

2007 Plan of Conservation and Development “ It is a central goal of this Plan and of prior plans to maintain the low density single family residential character of Westport’s neighborhoods. The overall character and ambience of existing neighborhoods is responsible for the recognized quality of life in Westport.” “In addition, the zoning regulations in place in Westport allowed such development to occur. When the regulations were adopted more than a half century ago, nobody anticipated that future homeowners would attempt to maximize every dimensional standard in what was intended to be a flexible “building envelope”. “Westport’s zoning regulations need to be amended to ensure that housing units being built are in scale and proportion with the lot size and the neighborhood”

2007 Plan of Conservation and Development Adopt a building coverage limitation for all zones. Consider adjusting what elements are considered in building coverage and total coverage. “ Manage Housing “Rebuilds” “Evaluate the Zoning Regulations for ways to reduce land coverage and building size to conserve energy” “Most threats to water quality in Westport come from storm water runoff which has picked up sediment, automobile emissions and debris, pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants “

Summary of Proposed Regulations BUILDING & TOTAL COVERAGE - WHAT’S DIFFERENT Moving Swimming Pools from Building Coverage into Total Coverage Making Patios and Terraces part of Total Coverage Counting Tennis Courts in Total Coverage at 100% instead of 50% Decks will move from Building Coverage into Total Coverage Other types of Sports Courts will be treated the same as Tennis Courts

Summary of Proposed Regulations DEFINITIONS - WHAT’S NEW DECK PERMEABLE SURFACE PORCH DEFINITIONS - MODIFIED BUILDING STRUCTURE SWIMMING POOL TERRACE & PATIO WALKWAY DEFINITIONS - NO CHANGE GROSS LOT AREA NET LOT AREA

Summary of Proposed Regulations Changes by Zone AAA Zone (2 Acre Lot) AA Zone (1Acre Lot) A Zone (1/2 Acre Lot) B Zone (6,000 sq ft lot) MHPD Zone (Mobile Home Park District) Changes to Drainage Requirements

What Can Be Built?

Impact to AAA Zones Only 15 out of 1,903 lots will be made Non Conforming

Impact to AA Zones Only 213 out of 3,685 lots will be made Non Conforming

Impact to A Zones 1,041 out of 3,637 lots are currently non-conforming

Impact to B Zones 149 out of 232 lots are currently non-conforming

Summary of Other Towns Fairfield – 10% Lot Coverage in 1 & 2 Acre Zones 15% Lot Coverage in ½ acre Zones Darien – 20 % Bldg Coverage in All Zones Wilton – 7% Bldg & 12% Lot Cov. in 2 Acre Zones 10% Bldg & 15% Lot Cov. in 1 Acre Zones Weston – 15 % Total Coverage in All Zones New Canaan – Sliding Scale for Bldg Coverage based on Lot Size 1 acre lot gets 8% Bldg Cov.