The house at 89 Roseville Road, Westport, was demolished Friday. Built in 1956, the 1½-story Cape Cod had 1,398 square feet, was situated on a 1.32-acre lot and changed hands in August for $591,500.  It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Feb. 13, 2008. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Planning and Zoning Director Laurence Bradley today reminded residents that on Nov. 1, 2007, the Planning & Zoning Commission approved a zoning amendment which created a new permitted accessory use in residential zoning districts to allow for one affordable accessory apartment in single-family dwellings. 

“The purpose of the new section is to provide an opportunity to increase Westport’s inventory of affordable housing units while also preserving the exterior appearance of single-family houses,” said Bradley. “Presently, the one allowed apartment is age-restricted.” 

Affordable accessory apartments must be rented to those whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the state median income for family size, and the maximum rent to be charged cannot exceed 30 percent of the tenant’s income. These restrictions must be contained in a restrictive covenant which is placed on the land records for a period of at least 10 years.

In an effort to increase the town’s affordable housing inventory, town officials are asking property owners to voluntarily come forward with unapproved apartments and to comply with the new affordable accessory apartment zoning regulation.

The house at 10 Twin Bridge Acre Road, off Newtown Turnpike, was demolished today. A new, single-family home will be built on the existing foundation. The one-story, 2,426-square-feet ranch house, built in 1950, is located on a one-acre property. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Jan. 16, 2008. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The brick chimney topples as the house at 9 Woodland Drive off Westport’s Compo Road South was demolished today. Built in 1950, the one-story ranch house had 1,898 square feet, was located on a one-acre property and changed hands last month for $1,260,000. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on March 7, 2008. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com