Westport voters approve new police station, agri-tourism bylaw

Posted 5/3/16

Westport Town Meeting voters were unanimous Tuesday evening in their approval of a new police station to be built with up to $8 million worth of borrowing.

There was much more debate, however, …

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Westport voters approve new police station, agri-tourism bylaw

Posted

Westport Town Meeting voters were unanimous Tuesday evening in their approval of a new police station to be built with up to $8.5 million worth of borrowing.

There was much more debate, however, over Article 38, a bylaw amendment that spells out agri-tourism-type activities that will be allowed on farms in town.

People lined up at two microphones to speak and were passionate on both sides of the argument. Advocates said the rules are no less than a matter of survival for farms that need more revenue and activity than merely growing and selling produce.

Opponents said the amendment, put forward by the owners of Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery, would have far-reaching and unforeseen impacts all over town.

In the end, the question passed on a show-of-hands vote that moderator Steven Fors declared a clear two-thirds majority.

Attendance was announced as 276; since the farming question was close to the end of the warrant, most in the audience stayed for almost the entire meeting.

Much more to follow.

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