If you’ve been stuck at the westbound Post Road light just before McDonald’s — and who hasn’t? — you’ve noticed a very large, very high pile of logs on the property next to Roseville Road.
And you’ve been very glad the light changed, so you could drive away before it perhaps all started rolling down onto the road.
Many Westporters have asked themselves (and “06880”): Is it safe to store the logs there? Is there an issue with trucks accessing and exiting the site? Is it even legal?
The Post Road wood pile.
I asked Peter Gelderman, an attorney with Berchem Moses who often does municipal work for Westport. He says:
The property is owned by a local attorney, William Taylor. The town has commenced legal proceedings to remove the logs. The town considers the logs to be a zoning violation.
Mr. Taylor has taken the position that the logs are “landscape materials” and therefore are permitted pursuant to a permit that was issued in the eighties. There are also several administrative appeals pending, brought by Mr. Taylor, challenging rulings from the ZBA and a local hearing officer.
There is a scheduled status conference with the court on March 14 to discuss/schedule a hearing on the town’s motion for injunction in our enforcement action. That motion seeks an order of the court mandating immediate removal of the logs.
“06880” will keep readers posted on the proceedings.
And — like everyone else — we will keep our fingers crossed, every time we drive past those precarious logs.