Julia Chilicki Beasley

The Westerly Planning Board meeting addressed several key items, including preparations for State approval of the Comprehensive Plan, updates to Land Development and Subdivision Application Checklists, and the 2020 Annual Report. The board discussed changes to the Comprehensive Plan related to commercial recreation zoning and neighborhood planning. Revisions to the Land Development and Subdivision Application checklists were adopted, with a focus on incorporating review by the Department of Utilities. The 2020 Annual Report was reviewed, including highlights of the past 18 months and discussion on local environmental resiliency efforts. Administrative actions were reported, including approval of an administrative subdivision and a ground solar installation.

The EDC meeting included discussions on the EDC's role, guiding principles, and vision, referencing Westerly's slogan "to grow, to learn, to play" and reviewing past actions and highlights of 2023. There were updates on housing meetings and the upcoming Camoin Associates housing study. The EDC discussed identifying and defining the Town's corridors, focusing on marketing Westerly, and reviewing a SWOT analysis. The EDC also discussed the Winnapaug Country Club ordinance, the Westerly Marina project, and the Shoreline East CT Rail project. The EDC discussed the prevalence of vacant buildings in Westerly and considering their economic impact to the Town. The EDC scheduled a March 20 workshop meeting.

The Planning Board meeting included discussions on utility availability, housing data, and a housing needs assessment. The board discussed utility availability and the possibility of forming a subcommittee to determine capacity. They also discussed housing inventory in relation to seasonal properties and reviewed a memo on comprehensive plan data updates. The board reviewed recommendations from the Westerly Ad-hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee, including shifting to a proactive affordable housing effort and maximizing low and moderate income (LMI) number counts. Potential changes to the Zoning Ordinance to facilitate housing goals and action items were also discussed.

The Planning Board held a public workshop focusing on a housing study's key findings and strategies to address housing needs. Discussion included demographic highlights, housing stock trends, affordability gaps, development trends, zoning review, public survey results, and strategies for addressing the housing shortage. Concerns were raised about job growth sectors, discrepancies in housing data, the impact of institutional investors, and the effectiveness of deed restrictions. Public comments highlighted the need for affordable rental housing, the impact of short-term rentals, and the challenges faced by low-income families. The board also discussed the process for implementing the study's recommendations, including potential changes to the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances.

The commission discussed information technology (IT) requirements, the number of members serving on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Review, qualifications for the Director of Development Services, revision of the Zoning Ordinance and Map, and the organization of the Finance Department. Key decisions included revising the number of Planning Board members, rejecting proposed qualifications for the Director of Development Services, revising the Finance Department's organization, and revising the Finance Department's powers and duties. The commission also discussed the need to establish a section in the Charter for the Economic Development Commission.