Tell it like it is. In plain English.
That seemed to be the prevailing sentiment about how to improve Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) communications with the public that emerged from a Town Hall meeting a Wednesday night.
The joint meeting Wednesday night at Town Hall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The session was a joint meeting of the Representative Town Meeting’s P&Z Committee and the P&Z’s Communications Subcommittee. The meeting reviewed proposals introduced at the subcommittee’s last meeting.
“After discussing public feedback, we decided that all notices should include a short plain language description of the matter being noticed to ensure that residents understand the nature of what is being proposed by an applicant,” said Danielle Dobin, co-chair.
She said she recognized concern expressed by some members of the public regarding the use of Facebook.
In response, she said she emphasized that posting on Facebook is simply another method of publicizing the same notice that will appear first on the town website and in the newspaper.
In a discussion about noticing for text amendments, Dobin said though text amendments can affect multiple properties, there is typically a “demonstration site” that is the catalyst for an applicant bringing the text amendment.
It was suggested that neighbors of this demonstration site receive the same notice as will be given in the case of a special permit, including notice via mail and the posting of a sign on the property, Dobin said.
Also, applicants will have to notice the owners of all properties subject to the proposed text amendment of the possible change in zoning laws affecting their properties.
“They currently receive no notice,” Dobin said. “A plain language narrative describing the zoning change will be included in all notices.”
She said the subcommittee will reconvene to further discuss proper notice for properties other than the demonstration site.
All of these proposals are still to be vetted by the town attorney, Dobin said.
