a remarkable Record of impactful leadership @ P&Z

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· Downtown was a retail graveyard and we played a critical role in resurrecting it. We transformed P&Z processes and regulations to create a more efficient, streamlined and responsive planning & zoning experience sparking a retail renaissance downtown and making Westport attractive for new businesses and those relocating to CT. Main Street was suffocating under the weight of overly restrictive regulations - we cut through the red tape and created a better, more flexible process. We changed the tone of P&Z completely with regard to welcoming new business and investment to Westport. The response was immediate as Westport began attracting new businesses, "mom & pop" stores and national retailers. 

·  We vastly expanded outdoor dining, shopping and fitness creating a vibrant street scene, a sense of place and attracting numerous visitors and new residents. We worked collaboratively with the Board of Selectman to empower them to allow flexible use of municipal property for outdoor dining and shopping. We created a permanent, fast and inexpensive process for restauranteurs to receive quick approvals to expand their outdoor dining opportunities and to create tents to expand their "indoor"  dining footprint during the pandemic. We ensured that fitness studios and stores had similar opportunities.  

It is crucial to us to support our local businesses with smart public policy.

The State of Connecticut requires all towns to have multifamily housing. We took back control over multifamily development in Westport. Our community - not outside developers – now decides where and how multifamily units are built in Westport. Our proactive approach to diversifying housing has created opportunities for our teachers, police officers, municipal staff, seniors, young people and for new residents to not just work in Westport, but to live here as full-fledged community members. One of our best decisions was our work through multiple decision to create a deeply affordable development for adults with special needs. It's under construction right now! 

·   We protected the environment, pushing back in court – and winning - against violators who damage our coastal resources with illegal projects and working collaboratively across town boards to support solar panels at our schools and expanding and protecting Open Space along with greenways/pollinator pathways at the Wakeman Town Farm, the Community Garden and countless other organizations. We are currently working on revamping Westport's drainage regulations to protect residents from more intense storm runoff & issues during construction. We are determined to ensure the open space at Barron's South is restored and  made accessible to all Westport residents. 

·  We are tireless cheerleaders and supporters for every effort by the Board of Selectman, neighbors and private developers to improve traffic, circulation and sidewalks, working directly with the Public Works Dept to expedite processes. P&Z can't make traffic changes happen but this Commission is dedicated towards being supportive not obstructionist to improving traffic. When other boards or Public Works comes to P&Z - our response is "How Can We Help?" 

·  We didn’t allow the pandemic to derail the work of the town to support residents and businesses by swiftly adopting inclusive electronic meetings where everyone is afforded an opportunity to speak and where P&Z work proceeded at a normal tempo despite the challenges. Consequently, Westport's Grand List improved during the pandemic providing more money for our schools, parks and amenities.