A 157-unit development on Hiawatha Lane is now one step closer to reality.
Earlier today, Judge Marshall Berger of Hartford Superior Court approved an agreement between the town of Westport and Summit Saugatuck, developer of the project off Saugatuck Avenue by I-95 Exit 17.
Testimony in the virtual public hearing was offered by Carolanne Curry for Save Old Saugatuck and Gloria Gouveia, a Westport resident and friend of SOS.
Both urged Judge Berger to visit the site before ruling on the stipulated agreement — the subject of a recent appeal to the Representative Town Meeting by opponents of the project.
Berger replied that neither the attorneys for the town of Westport nor counsel for Summit had requested that he do so.
Artist’s rendering of one of the buildings at the Hiawatha Lane development.
Curry also raised the issue of continuing and worsening flood events. During recent storms, access to Hiawatha Lane Extension was cut off at its intersection with Hiawatha Lane.
Berger dismissed concerns about flooding, saying they were the purview of the town’s land use agencies governing the development.
The next step: Summit will submit revised plans for the project. It has been reduced from 187 units, to 157.
Further litigation may loom, however, over deed restrictions on the property.