First Selectman Jim Marpe announced today that Summit Saugatuck is withdrawing its application to the Water Pollution Control Authority for a sewer extension to Hiawatha Lane Extension.
However, the attorney for the developer — who had hoped to build 186 housing units on the property abutting I-95 exit 17 — said that this does not mean Summit is abandoning its development plans. A new application will be filed soon.
Marpe said, “I was pleased to receive this letter. The report the town commissioned from Weston & Sampson engineers clearly showed the limits to the pump station serving this area. I hope that Summit will take this opportunity to reconsider the scope of its proposal.”
Hiawatha Lane extension is shown by an arrow, on this Google Map image. It’s below I-95. The entrance is via West Ferry Lane, which is off Saugatuck Avenue (diagonal road on the right side of the image).
Great.
Sent from my iPad
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Wonderful news……and a big Thank You to all involved in having Summit Saugatuck see the “light”…..
Step in the right direction!!
I’m sure the Selectman’s announcement didn’t mean to suggest that a smaller Summit development might prevail any time soon.
There is substantial evidence in the record of Planning & Zoning Commission’s public hearing to prove that Hiawatha Lane is NOT eligible for a sewer extension of any scope, however much Summit may reduce their expectations.
So isn’t a better approach to increase capacity?
As the life of this wonderful neighborhood continues, once again breathing easier with Developer Felix Charney taking himself out, while still promising to return….
Thanks for your attention to us Dan.
This is a perfect B zone area with conforming 6000 square foot lots providing affordable housing without state government interferance. Hartford pack up and go away!
Hartford is not going to pack up and go away. Developers can show up with 8-30g tucked under their arms and a platoon of lawyers and make life difficult for those who oppose high density housing. The politics do not favor the opponents nor do the economics. Tough sledding ahead.
They will be back. And I would assume with better arguments and maybe different plans. They learned from the experience. So did we,
And Terry: NO!!!!
“They are coming back” is not the expectation of this neighborhood where Summit Saugatuck is concerned..
Felix Charney and Summit Saugatuck LLC are not welcomed and will never be with their attitude about this neighborhood and how it doesn’t “look like Westport”. Go someplace else Mr. Charney! Find another group of people you think you can roll over with your lawyers and your money. Go spread your practice of ghetto landlord tactics on another demographic that you think doesn’t look like Westport…..
It’s time for a Hiawatha Historic District.
As u talk to people in Westport the one issue that comes up is housing issues for empty nesters who want to stay in Westport bad taxes continue to rise (Landon submits +3% education increase-would he ever hold expenses?), seniors in our town do not have a chance to downsize to lower their costs. Let’s be honest, if a small
House hits the market,
Sorry–hit the send button too quick—if a small house hits the market, developers will probbaly out bid anyone so they can build a bigger home. This is not a note against the builders–but one that hopes to get discussion about +55 year old housing.
One of the big issues with density homes is the impact on our schools. it costs about $30K per student in Westport and taxes seem not to cover a family of 2 children.
But with a +55 type cluster homes, with stipulation of ‘no school zone’, then our residents who want to downsize could have a new type of palce to purchase that would let them downsize and lower their costs.
The reaosn I ask–if this area in town is available for new construction, could we designate it +55 year old housing. Not ‘affordable’ by regulation standards, but homes that are smaller, maybe clustewr style, that let our approaching seniors and seniors stay in Westport.
I ask to start a discussion, as places like Hiawatha get approached by developers. Is there anything we can do that would help our residents stay in Westport, but not burden our schools? Do we have the ability to designate the area? For anyone that has experince in +55 housing (I do as my mom lives in one), its a great way to have residents stay in Westport and downsize. And it keeps builders from outbidding them for a smaller home.
Please–add to the conversation.
Dear Bart,
Excellent question!
I hope it will please you to learn that Hiawatha Lane neighborhood defender Carolanne Curry is in the process of gathering some like-minded professionals to explore alternatives to C.G.S. 8-30g that might encourage needed housing instead of potentially forcing gargantuan developments on small communities.
Her goal is to share these findings with the Housing & Labor Committee of the State Legislature before the close of the current session.