Credit: Inset Photos: contributed

Planning and Zoning Commission
5 Open Seats
8 Candidates
Vote for up to 5

Why it’s Important: The Planning and Zoning Commission is a nine-member board that oversees land use and development activity in Wilton. Each P&Z member serves a four-year term. Members perform detailed reviews and analysis of development proposals and make decisions based on established regulatory criteria. The commission also reviews zoning regulation amendment applications, changes to the Town’s zoning map, land subdivision applications, and evaluations of mandatory Board of Selectmen referrals.

In addition, P&Z oversees long range planning initiatives, most notably the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development every 10 years.

Who’s on the Board: In 2023, Chair Rick Tomasetti (R) and Vice Chair Melissa-Jean Rotini (U/Republican Endorsed) were elected to their second terms; Mark Ahasic (D) and Anthony Cenatiempo (R) were elected for the first time.

Members Eric Fanwick (D) has termed out after eight years, and is running for Board of Finance; Jill Warren (R) and Ken Hoffman (D) are running for re-election and second terms; Christopher Wilson (R) is not running for reelection; and Chris Pagliaro (R) recently resigned after selling his home and moving out of town, leaving the last few weeks of his second and final term unfinished. 

What’s at Stake: After years of there not being much competition in P&Z municipal elections, this year there’s a lot at play. This long-held Republican commission could conceivably flip to Democratic control.

Planning and Zoning has recently been in the spotlight publicly, as several visible developments approved by the commission in recent years have either broken ground, been completed or loom large — literally, in the case of 12 Godfrey Pl. behind the Wilton Library in Wilton Center — in the minds of residents. Many people have been vocal about feeling unheard and ignored by P&Z and the large Democratic candidate contingency has made increasing public participation and listening more to residents prominent platform talking points across the board. What they may lack in direct land use, planning and zoning experience, the Democrats have made up for in promises to involve the public more.

One of only two incumbents running for reelection, Jill Warren is a Republican broaching the gap, emphasizing her strong knowledge of affordable housing in Connecticut and her law degree — as well as her representation of the demographic Wilton wants to attract: younger (think Gen Z) people in the rental apartment market who’ll potentially become first-time homebuyers down the road.

There are five open seats and eight candidates running for P&Z. Voters can vote for up to five candidates for four-year terms.

Click on the candidates to learn more about them or watch their interviews with GMW’s team!