Westbrook is made up of lovely shoreline and forest areas. However, the beauty of our town is marred by a few examples of blight conditions visible from our roadways and our yards. We can see examples of missing siding, deteriorated eaves, multiple rusted vehicles and discarded materials, and abandoned landscaping and dead trees. Since Westbrook does not have a current Blight Ordinance, the town has no recourse to address citizen complaints regarding such conditions. A list of some problems within the “public view” was created to show that we do have examples of blight that are not covered under the current Zoning Ordinance, Section 8.07.00, “Junk.” That we have such properties was and is no secret.

The Blight Committee interviewed a number of the 30-plus Connecticut large and small municipalities that have Blight Ordinances. They heard that most blight situations are righted after an initial request, that it is the rare exception that the town needs to move to enforcement by fine and remediation. The proposed ordinance does cover residential and commercial properties though it does note exceptions for agricultural properties as supported by state statute, for our open spaces, and for businesses “whose activities include storage or processing of materials and equipment related to their business,” such as our marinas. No lawn police are required by this ordinance just property owners who want to maintain their property values for the “economic well-being of the town.”

Read the proposed ordinance posted at www.westbrookct.us. Decide for yourself. Westbrook registered voters and/or property owners (10/1/16 Grand List with over $1,000 in real, personal, or motor vehicle property) can vote on July 13, 12 to 8 p.m, Westbrook Town Hall, by absentee ballot or in person. I hope I will be joined others who vote yes.

Deborah Rie

Westbrook