Westport City Zoning Code

The purpose of the Design Development District (DDD) is to allow for the compatible design of commercial, residential, office, and industrial development. (842, 04/12/2024)

Existing Design Development Districts (DDD) 2, 3, and 4 in effect prior to November 1, 1975, shall comply with the following standards and requirements:

Design Development Districts, proposed after November 1, 1975 may no longer be established in the Town of Westport.

Whenever any such Design Development District is established, its designation shall be accompanied by another designation of Residence A, AA or AAA. Such designation shall indicate the class of zoning standards under which residential lots may be established in a Design Development District and shall correspond to the zoning classification of residential areas in the vicinity of such districts.

After August 11, 1980, no Change of Zone or Special Permit application under the provision of this section shall be granted within the Town of Westport, except for; a) the development of Inclusionary two-family and multi-family dwelling units in the Design Development District #2 which is permitted subject to the provisions in §32-12, b) applications to amend Special Permits approved prior to the effective date of this amendment in a Design Development District #4, provided that such amendments shall not increase Total Coverage by more than 10% of Total Coverage existing on the lot effective date of this amendment (4-14-2014), and further provided that Building Coverage shall not exceed 10% of net lot area; c) applications for new Special Permits in a Design Development District #3, provided there is no change to Building or Total Coverage, or  d) applications for a General Development Plan and for new Special Permits in Design Development District #4 for residential as outlined in §26-2.14 below.

The specific sections affected are §26-1.1 through §26-12, inclusive.(833, 02/08/2024; 842, 04/12/2024)

The boundaries of existing Design Development Districts (DDD) Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in effect prior to November 1, 1975, may be modified from time to time; except that no such district shall be less than four (4) acres in area for DDD No. 2, three (3) acres for DDD No. 3, and ten (10) acres in area for DDD No. 4.

The following uses are permitted in the respective district (DDD) subject to Special Permit and Site Plan approval in accordance with §43, herein.

Commercial buildings shall have a minimum lot area of one (1) acre (43,560 square feet). Residential buildings shall conform to the minimum lot size designated for a single-family dwelling in the applicable Residence District, except as per §26-2.14 below. (842, 04/12/2024)

No principal or accessory building, structure or use shall extend closer than fifty (50) feet from any front lot line, or Residential District Boundary Line and thirty (30) feet from any other side or rear lot line.

Groups of buildings on a single lot shall be so arranged that the minimum horizontal distance between the nearest walls or corners of any principal and/or accessory detached buildings shall not be less than one-half the sum of the heights of such adjacent buildings.

No building or other structure shall exceed two (2) stories and a height of either twenty-five (25) feet to the top of a flat roof or thirty (30) feet to the mid-point of a pitched roof.

The building coverage shall not exceed ten percent 10%) of the net area of the lot which lies within the DDD.

No mandatory requirements.

No buildings or structures shall exceed a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.15 on the area of the lot which lies within the Design Development District (DDD) zone. Floor area used for parking and loading shall be excluded from the FAR.

The architectural design, scale and mass of building and other structures, including, among other elements, the exterior building material, color, roof-line, and building elevation shall harmonize and be compatible with the neighborhood, so as to protect property values in the neighborhood and to preserve and improve the appearance and beauty of the community.(813, 03/27/2023)

Signs shall be permitted in accordance with §33 of the Supplementary Regulations.

Off-street parking and loading shall be provided in accordance with §34, as modified herein, of the Supplementary Regulations and the following condition:

Landscaping, screening and buffer areas shall be provided in accordance with §35 of the Supplementary Regulations.

Applicants may elect to pursue a General Development Plan provided the following special standards are satisfied:

(842, 04/12/2024) 

1. Any use permitted in a Business District.
2. Any use permitted in a Residence AAA District.
3. Warehouses in conjunction with commercial and research uses, and motels.
4. Inclusionary two-family and multi-family dwelling units subject to the provisions of §32-12, herein.

1. a.
   General business offices, Medical offices, and Healthcare Professional offices provided, however, the Floor Area of Medical offices and Professional Healthcare offices shall not exceed 65,000 square feet or occupy more than one building on any one Lot. 
2. b.
   Any use permitted in a Residence AAA District.(833, 02/08/2024; 833B, 02/08/2024)

1. a.
   Research laboratories and uses devoted to scientific research and development and any investigative activity of a scientific or technical nature not otherwise prohibited herein.
2. b.
   General business offices which house the administrative functions of a business and do not dispense a service directly to the public, i.e., corporate headquarters.
3. c.
   Any use permitted in a Residence AAA District.
4. d.

   Residential development that exceeds more than one (1) single-family dwelling per lot following the standards of §26-2.14 below.(842, 04/12/2024)

1. Uses customarily accessory to a permitted principal use, including the manufacturing, processing or assembly of goods which is clearly incidental to the conduct of a retail business conducted on the premises, subject to the provisions of §32-7, herein.
2. All display or storage of goods, merchandise or supplies shall be located within a building.
3. Within a DDD #2 only, one attached or detached dwelling unit, provided the density does not exceed 20 bedrooms per acre.
4. Within a DDD #4 only, one dwelling unit per principal building to be occupied by a resident gatekeeper, caretaker or maintenance person.
5. Commercial Wireless telecommunication service facilities, in conformance with §32-16.

1. a.
   Transit Community Middle Housing Developments.

In conjunction with residential units proposed, 20% of all proposed units shall be required to be affordable in accordance with CT General Statutes §8-30g. Fractional units at 0.5 and above shall be rounded up. In any case at least one (1) unit must be affordable.

(872, 08/15/2026) 

An unobstructed view of at least two hundred fifty (250) feet along the major traffic artery shall be provided for entering and exiting traffic on all driveway openings.

Properties eligible for this section shall be North of the Merritt Parkway with a gross Lot Area of at least 15-acres.

(842, 04/12/2024)

No residential building shall exceed three stories (3) and a height of thirty-five (35) feet.

(842, 04/12/2024) 

Notwithstanding §26-2.3, the maximum number of dwelling units shall not exceed one (1) unit per gross acre.

(842, 04/12/2024) 

A minimum of thirty percent (30%) of all residential units shall be provided as Special Needs Housing and supportive affordable staff pursuant to §32-27.4. Prior to issuance of a Zoning Certificate of Compliance (ZCC) an Affordability Plan shall be submitted in accordance with CT General Statutes §8-30g, and no more than half the market rate units may be issued a ZCC until all Special Needs Housing is constructed.

(842, 04/12/2024)