A survey of Westport residents shows one of the biggest issues on their mind is the size of homes in town.
The survey, which was released this week, was conducted as part of the update to the Town Plan of Conservation and Development by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A consultant issued the telephone survey to 400 Westport residents.
“Too many large houses” was listed as the third most important issue in Westport following high taxes and the education system. Of the improvements to the town’s quality of life, “limit house size” was the top issue.
Additionally, nearly 79 percent of those responding said town officials need “to do more to limit the size of residential houses,” and 74.4 percent said “Westport needs a choice of housing types.”
P&Z Director Laurence Bradley said the survey results will soon be uploaded to the town’s Web site.
“The survey helps us get a sense of what people feel on a number of topics,” he said.
The survey results will be included in the new town plan, he said, but there are issues that fall beyond the scope of the P&Z’s work and could be used by other town agencies.
The results regarding large homes, he said, indicate the P&Z is on the right path with its plans for regulations that would limit residences’ size.
Bradley said he was once quoted as saying there is a silent majority that is unhappy with the size of homes in Westport, and the survey results would back that.
“I feel we have been validated, that we are on the right track,” he said.
