Earlier today, I ended my story on the move of Dragone Classic Motorcars from Post Road West to Orange by suggesting the 11,000-square foot property might be the site of a medical marijuana dispensary.
Some readers took me seriously.
I was kidding! It’s directly opposite Kings Highway Elementary School. You’d have to be smoking some heavy stuff to believe that would fly in this town.
But here’s something to consider.
Word around town — from reliable sources — is that a developer has closed on the former classic car showroom. He’s got his eye on the property next door too — where Villa del Sol planned to move.
Why? He wants to build 8-30(g) affordable housing there.
As in, 150 or more 2-bedroom apartments.
The former Dragone property and its neighbor, on Post Road West.
There’s already a plan in the works for the other side of Post Road West — the former “blighted homes” site on the crest of the hill heading downtown. That’s on the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda, for 81 8-30(g) units.
For a while, most Westport zoning battles have been waged on the other side of the river.
Westward ho!
Westport residents concerned about over -development of the west side of the Saugatuck River, in particular Cross Street LLC’s plans to construct an 81- unit apartment building alongside Lincoln Avenue and West Post Road might want to make room on their calendar for a neighborhood meeting to review plans and discuss implications, as follows: Thursday, April 19, 7 PM, at Settlers and Traders Real Estate Firm, 215 Post Road West. RSVP please to our email: WNU2018@gmail.com.
Just what Westport doesn’t need! over crowded apts and more traffic.There is a definite push to destroy the nature of the Town.
Westport needs more units of affordable housing for low income and middle income folk. Hopefully, some developer will get it right and propose something that makes sense. Canal Park is a good example.
Only housing units constructed after 1990 can be counted in the affordable housing total. Canal Park was constructed before then, so cannot be counted in the total. Neither can The Saugatuck, with affordable senior housing, or Hales Court.
As Bobbie knows, Westport exceeds the State of CT requirements for the amount of affordable homes if the town could include everything built before 1990. The insanity of the law will hurt Westport as the cost to educate any child exceeds the taxes collected. Westport could end up with a lot more affordable homes.
And please remember our State Rep Steinberg has refused to help and get the law changed. He response has been for Westport to build more and quicker. So here it comes!!
NOT A BAD IDEA IF IT DOESN’T INCREASE SCHOOL POPULATION AND TRAFFIC
Crazy!
Maybe no more dispensary jokes or ‘reliable source’ info as everyone’s sensitivity seems very heightened.
As State Rep Jonathan Steinberg told Westport-move faster.
Just what is happening.
TO SAVE WESTPORT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ACTION BE TAKEN TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON REGULATIONS THAT PERMIT THIS TYPE OF BUILDING. WEST PORTS CHARM FACTOR IS RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING. WE DON’T WANT TO BECOME A METROPOLIS . . .
Seems like the Dragone property would be a perfect spot for that Tesla service center that was denied a move into Saugatuck.