The Clubhouse project has moved from the tee to the green.
On Monday the Planning & Zoning Commission voted 5-1 to approve an application for the family golf entertainment facility, on the site of Redi-Cut Carpet and the former Pane e Bene restaurant.
The facility will include 6 state-of-the-art bays with 13 interactive experiences in golf, football, soccer, hockey, dodgeball and more; private rooms for birthday parties, corporate events, karaoke and big-screen game viewings, plus a bar with craft cocktails and a pub-bites menu.
Last month, the Architectural Review Board gave unanimous approval to the proposed design. Site improvements include new sidewalks, landscaping, drainage and a new parking lot.
Artist’s rendering of The Clubhouse.
On Monday, P&Z chair Danielle Dobin said, “from a green standpoint, it’s adaptive reuse of an old building, which is lovely.” The structure dates to the 1940s.
The biggest concerns raised by the commission and neighbors included environmental issues, potential noise from outdoor dining, capacity, traffic, and the ability to handle large events.
Applicants Emily and Tim Zobl said they had spoken with neighbors. All 4 members of the public who spoke — including a Lansdowne condominium board member, and High Gate Road resident — supported this phase of the project.
During the work session after the hearing, the P&Z voted 5-1 in favor of waiving a traffic study. The decision was based in part on testimony from a traffic engineer, who said that the planned use would have a minimal impact on the 1608-1622 Post Road area.
Emily and Tim Zobl, outside the future site of The Clubhouse.
A townhouse/residential development will be the next phase of the project, requiring its own approval process.
The Zobls will begin working on that phase next year.
They waived the traffic study because someone said it would have only a minimal impact on traffic. A minimal impact here plus a minimal impact there and pretty soon you’re talking traffic gridlock.
those impacts can hurt
I’m going to wager that the traffic engineer for the site’s intended near-future residential development will also pronounce that as having no traffic impact. Any takers?
Beautiful design. This is exactly what Westport needs. I can’t wait!
This is so exciting. I’ve been following this project for a while, and personally cannot wait for it to open up. The plans look beautiful, and the town needs something like this!
Draft Kings has the traffic impact at +500!