Jesup Green — specifically, plans for converting 20% of it (near the police station) into 44 parking spaces — is the first agenda item at Monday’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (March 25, 7 p.m., Zoom).
The intent of the Jesup part of the plan to be presented by Department of Public Works director Pete Ratkiewich on Monday is to relocate the parking spaces lost to the proposed redesigned Parker Harding Plaza, to the upper portion of Jesup Green. The plan includes removing 3 healthy mature pine trees, and relocating several other trees.
Three pine trees at the upper part of Jesup Green would be removed, under a proposed parking lot plan. (Photo/Jennifer Johnson)
Ultimately, the town intends to create another plan for the parking spaces currently located on lower Jesup (known as the Taylor lot). The concept for that plan is to move the Taylor lot parking away from the Saugatuck River, toward the green. Funding for that plan has not yet been approved by the Representative Town Meeting.
The new Jesup Green spaces would alleviate parking when Parker Harding is closed for renovation, and make up for spaces lost after the redesign is completed. It would also provide parking for downtown employees.
In August 2020 — amid widespread power outages due to Hurricane Isaias, and during the pandemic — Westporters observed social distancing on Jesup Green, to access the Library’s Wi-Fi.
RTM member Jennifer Johnson — whose district includes downtown — believes that the town needs completed plans for both Parker Harding and Jesup Green before any decision to is made to alter Jesup Green. She writes:
The RTM has not approved funding for design yet.
The RTM Transit Committee — which has jurisdiction over parking — has not approved the plan to convert 20% of Jesup Green into parking.
Jesup Green is our town green. Yes, we occasionally use Veteran’s Green, but there’s something far more special about Jesup. We should keeping it as open space, in addition to the view of the water.
The Green is where we mark important town events together. Who could ever forget the day when the town gathered to honor the Westport Little League World champions?
Jesup Green ceremony honoring the 2013 Little League World Series finalists. (Photo/Jeb Backus)
The Green is where kids can run without falling into the river.
I think the town needs an overall plan — plus a sense of the total cost — before Jesup Green is ripped up for more concrete (and trees taken out).
I fear “interim” could become permanent if we run out of funding trying to complete other capital projects first.
(Click here for the link to Monday’s P&Z meeting. It is also available on Optimum Channel 79 and Frontier Channel 6020).