The road to hell is paved with good intentions
Summary
In the recent zoning decision, Westport sacrifices protections for the most vulnerable residents to benefit developers. The post The road to hell is paved with good intentions appeared first on Westport Journal.
Editor’s note: following is an opinion submitted by Westporter John I. Bolton, Esq. Bolton served on the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission from July 2021 to May 2026. He is a solo practitioner in Westport and the Republican candidate for Connecticut Attorney General.
How Westport’s Planning & Zoning Commission sold out the most vulnerable people in our community not long after my seat was empty .
On April 7, 2026, I sat on the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission and voted to defeat Text Amendment #864, a proposal to expand the definition of “Special Needs Individuals” in our zoning regulations and to allow developers to build required affordable housing units off-site—away from their luxury developments.
The vote was 4–3. The amendment failed. Ten weeks later, on June 16, after I had resigned from the Commission to devote my full attention to my campaign for Attorney General, the Commission passed substantially the same thing. Unanimously but with a bare quorum.
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Local zoning and planning decisions are the primary throttle on new housing supply and long-term property values in Connecticut towns.