West Haven council adopts home‑occupation and patio‑home zoning changes, confirms parks appointment and boosts indigent defense pay

The West Haven City Council on July 1, 2026 approved two land‑use ordinances, confirmed a parks and trails committee appointment and adopted a resolution increasing the city’s indigent defense per‑case rate.

Community Development Director Stephen summarized amendments to the home‑occupation ordinance (ordinance 12‑2026), saying staff clarified parking requirements and broadened the definition of equipment to include "temporary or portable waste management and sanitation implementations" so dumpsters and porta‑potties are covered. Stephen said the city removed automotive repair as a permitted home occupation and that the code now states that marked business vehicles and trailers associated with a home occupation “must be parked in a garage or on a non‑permeable surface behind the front plane of the home and not on the street.” The council also asked staff to add watercraft to the list of prohibited rentals; the ordinance passed on roll call.

For the PH residential zone, planner Mr. Nelson explained the changes in ordinance 13‑2026: the council directed staff to explicitly prohibit attached dwellings (two‑, three‑, four‑family and multifamily) in the PH zone, require each primary dwelling to be on its own lot, and affirm that accessory dwelling units are allowed where state law requires. He further described an attic bonus room provision: “only a single habitable room in an attic may be permitted limited to the area directly above the garage and shall not exceed 576 square ft,” language the council adopted to limit the size and location of a bonus room.

Mayor Rob Vanderwood nominated David Rasmmanson to the parks and trails committee to fill a term from July 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2028; the council approved the appointment by voice vote.

On legal services, staff presented resolution 26‑2026 to increase the per‑case payment to public defender Zachary Hullbrook from $235 to $250 per case (an approximately 7% increase). Staff said the change was included in the adopted budget and estimated the fiscal effect at roughly $3,000 based on expected caseload; the council adopted the resolution by roll call.

All ordinances and resolutions on the agenda passed by roll call or voice votes as noted in the minutes. Next procedural steps: updated code language will be posted and staff will proceed with implementation details for permits and enforcement under the revised ordinances.