The Westbrook Planning Board will hold a public hearing to discuss proposed changes to city ordinances regarding so-called “paper streets” on March 7.
The Westbrook Paper Streets Committee, which is comprised of residents and developers,spent several months examining the way Westbrook handles the question of paper streets. A paper street is a street that has been previously approved, but exists only on paper.
Ordinance changes proposed by the committee include encouraging any developer wishing to build on a paper street to meet with the residents of the surrounding neighborhood before starting construction. Additionally, the proposed changes, if approved, would require the city to send a letter, at the developer’s expense, to all residences within 500 feet of the proposed development notifying them of the application.
In response to residents’ concerns about paper streets the City Council voted to approve a six-month moratorium preventing the construction of homes on paper streets in August while possible changes to the ordinance were discussed. Last month, the council voted to extend the moratorium another 90 days. The current moratorium expires in May.
Once the Planning Board votes on a recommendation regarding the proposed changes, they must be approved by the City Council before they can be enacted.
The Planning Board meeting, which is open to the public, will be at 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School.
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