City officials next week are expected to forward a moratorium ordinance to the City Council for consideration, following a vote earlier this month to table the measure due to incomplete language.

The City Council’s Committee of the Whole is set to discuss the final ordinance language, which would establish a 180-day moratorium on residential developments of more than 10 units, on Monday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 114 of Westbrook High School.

If forwarded next week, the City Council would vote on the moratorium on Monday, Oct. 24. Approval would require two readings, but, according to City Administrator Jerre Bryant, the effective date would still be Oct. 3.

Rising pressure from constituents throughout the last few months has resulted in action and support from some on the City Council, as well as from all four mayoral candidates in the upcoming election.

A group of residentscalling themselves Westbrook Forward have circulated a  petition (with more than 400 signatures) and have been outspoken in support of a moratorium in reaction to the development boom in Westbrook, highlighted by the Blue Spruce Farm subdivision off Spring Street.

Last week, a planned City Council vote on the emergency ordinance was tabled because of multiple blank spots in several sections of the draft . More than 30 people spoke during the meeting on both sides of the argument, with those in favor arguing that uncontrolled development will overburden city infrastructure and that schools are already over capacity. Many on the opposing side believe that a moratorium, even brief, would send a dangerous message to the outlying business community.

Many at last week’s meeting criticized city administration for being unprepared to make a choice on such an important measure.

An attorney working for the city, Sandra Guay, told officials that the language  in the moratorium ordinance must make a solid argument that the city is either facing imminent harm created by an overburden on public facilities, or a lack of local zoning or comprehensive plan. Many in favor of the proposal say a moratorium would allow the city time to evalute its comprehensive plan. However, Guay told the City Council last week that she “had trouble” coming up with that argument, which led to the incomplete document.

Bryant told the American Journal last week that the missing language to be included in the ordinance had been completed, but it could be edited by the committee Monday.

Meanwhile, Risbara Bros. Construction, the developers of Blue Spruce Farm, will appear on the Planning Board agenda for Tuesday, Oct. 18, to discuss Phase 2 of the subdivision. The scaled-back Phase 2 includes 110 units in nine buildings.

The Blue Spruce Farm subdivision off Spring Street has been at the center of conversation surrounding a proposed six-month moratorium on residential developments of more than 10 units. The Committee of the Whole is set to complete the ordinance language Monday, Oct. 17.

A draft moratorium ordinance provided to the City Council last week featured important sections that had been left blank. The council tabled a vote, and will now revisit the ordinance during a Committee of the Whole meeting Oct. 17.