As the proposed Hamlet at Saugatuck development wends its way through a thicket of town regulatory bodies, 2 petitions are circulating in town.
One is against the proposal. The other is for it.
The anti-Hamlet petition comes from the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck. It asks the Planning & Zoning Commission to deny the application, “with recommendations for a minimum of a 40% reduction in scope and scale.”
The pro-Hamlet petition calls The Hamlet “a unique opportunity to enhance Westport’s waterfront with vibrant public spaces, restaurants, and locally owned businesses — all while expanding access to the Saugatuck River.”
One view of the proposed Hamlet at Saugatuck.
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Speaking of new construction: The new Long Lots Elementary School plans have drawn criticism from many quarters, from the destruction of the Community Gardens to the possibility of artificial turf on the proposed athletic fields.
It would seem that one element — unveiled last week — would not cause any complaints. That’s the entrance, which would include a new brook.
But some Westporters are concerned about the number of trees to be sacrificed.
And then there’s this, shared with “06880” by another resident: “A number of students with special needs, including autistic children, have a propensity to be drawn to water.
“Not to say that the children won’t be monitored all the time while in school. But if there was ever an incident, or a child ran faster than staff while outside at the playground, the water strikes me as a potentially dangerous addition.”
Plans for the new Long Lots Elementary School.
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News that will surprise probably no one: Westport’s Original Pancake House has closed.
The Main Street spot opened in January 2023, in the space previously occupied by Acqua restaurant. (And before that, Boca.)
The chain — whose first restaurant dates back to 1953, in Portland, Oregon — never gained a foothold, despite a small, devoted following. It was open only 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (3 p.m. on weekends), with an interesting but somewhat limited menu. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)
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As a former state champion Staples High School soccer captain — and the father of 3 athletes — Tommy Greenwald know sports.
As the author of a number of award-winning children’s and young adult books, Tommy knows his audience.
The 1979 Staples High School graduate’s newest title is published today.
“The Right Call” — a companion novel to his previous “Game Changer” —explores the growing pressures in youth sports, and the lengths some parents go to make sure their kid comes out on top.
Told through Tommy’s trademark combination of transcripts, articles, texts and e-mails, “The Right Call” is a fast-paced story for middle school readers. They can relate to its treatment of split-second decisions, facing consequences, and the courage it takes to forgive.
Click here for more details, and to order.
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Speaking of kids: The Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation hosts a free egg hunt this Saturday (April 19, 2 p.m., Long Lots Elementary School).
Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation is hosting a free and festive Egg Hunt for the Westport community on Saturday.
It includes a dedicated, inclusive experience for children with special needs. The sensory-friendly hunt (1 p.m., Long Lots) features a peaceful, welcoming space for egg hunting at each child’s own pace; a quiet touch-a-truck event with vehicles from the Westport Fire and Police Departments (no loud noises!), a chance to meet and take photos with the Bunny, and friendly helps to ensure a smooth, enjoyable experience.
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The Westport Library Big Spring Book Sale is set for May 16-19.
As always there is something for everyone, from toddlers through adults, with thousands of gently used books in over 50 categories of non-fiction and fiction, along with DVDs, CDs, vinyl, ephemera, and framed art. For a link to specials, hours of the sale and more, click here.
The sale begins on Friday, May 16 with early access (8:45 a.m. to noon) for special ticket holders. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
To volunteer, email volunteers@westportbooksales.org.
Westport Library book sale.
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Nearly every kid loves trucks.
So it’s a short step for the Westport Weston Co-op Nursery School‘s fundraiser to have a Touch-a-Truck them.
This year’s event — the 18th annual — is May 3 (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; sensory-friendly from 9 to 9:30 a.m.; Imperial Avenue parking lot).
Of course, kids of all ages (including adults) are invited to get up close, climb on, and take photos with vehicles of all shapes and sizes. That means fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, cranes, dump trucks, buses, big rigs … you get the idea.
Also on tap: magicians, crafts, face painting, food trucks, and live music.
Admission is $35 per family. Click here to purchase, and more details.
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Monday’s Y’s Women meeting left attendees hungry for more.
Mike Urban — author of Unique Eats & Eateries pf Connecticut — offered a culinary tour of the state’s mom-and-pop diners and restaurants.
They included Milford’s hot buttered lobster on split bun rolls, “steamed” cheeseburgers in Meriden, homemade ice cream at the University of Connecticut Dairy Barn, and the 5 best pizza places in the country (all in New Haven).
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Westport favorite — and native — Melissa Newman returns for another headline event at this Thursday’s Jazz at the Post (April 17, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7 p.m.; music cover $20, $15 for veterans and students).
The vocalist will be joined by Tony Lombardozzi on guitar, Phil Bowler on bass and Bobby Leonard on drums. Click here for reservations.
Melissa Newman
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The latest Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand reading took place last night. “Paris” tackled issues of race, commerce, community and invisibility in a small town workplace.
The next play in the series — “Still” — is May 5 (7 p.m.). The Playhouse website says: “When former lovers Helen and Mark reunite after years apart, they quickly realize that the person each of them once knew — and the love they shared — might be more complicated than they remembered.”
Click here for tickets, and more information.
The cast of “Paris” takes their bows. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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How sweet does today’s “Westport … Naturally” rose smell?!
(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
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And finally … sometimes our musical selections are out of left field. Today’s is perhaps the most predictable ever:
(Happy Tax Day! If you’ve got a nice refund coming, please consider tossing a few dollars over to “06880.” We need to pay our taxes — and other expenses — too! Please click here. We thank you!)
The Long Lots plans include several outdoor features that, while lovely, will add to the project’s cost, not only due to the initial cost of the features themselves but also from a potential liability and daily and long-term maintenance perspective. At the same time, given the weather in New England, these features may not work or be used as intended during much of the school year. I hope the Town’s review seriously considers the ongoing cost/benefit/function of each of these features and considers whether there is a better long-term use of public funds.
I write this as a former PTA president and treasurer at every school level who, for a decade, watched maintenance costs be the first thing stricken from our school budget when cuts inevitably needed to be made and the ongoing disrepair of various facilities that resulted. When finalizing these plans, the Town should not be creating any unnecessary maintenance/liability obligations that it’s not prepared/able to fund.
While we all want a beautiful and safe school for our children, these are very thoughtful and important considerations. In addition to the $100 million price tag, there is much in this proposal that could create skyrocketing long-term costs.
The pseudo-stone facades looks great now but in 10 years? What are the maintenance needs?
A rain garden is a nice functional feature for managing rainfall in a garden, but it is questionable at the school entrance and will not make a dent in the tremendous amount of water on this parcel.
An interior courtyard is fantastic for creating natural light inside, but a nightmare for mowing the grass.
That additional parking for peak pickups/drop offs is great, but parents tend to line up on the streets anyway, even ignoring “no standing” signs and pleas from the WPD. Chauffeur parking for games on the upper fields is still likely to be Hyde Lane.
Details of this school design are coming out in dribs and drabs. The taxpayers here would be wise to scrutinize every detail and ask questions now, not after all is approved and funded.
Characterization of that feature as a “brook” is misleading. The architects made clear that it was a feature to promote seepage of rainwater from the roof into the ground, so will likely be a dry riverbed almost the entire time. It will not be a consistently running water feature–which I agree attracts children.
Conceptually, I struggle with the idea that a new school for one-sixth of Town’s elementary school students will cost more than the Staples rebuild, that ultimately serves all students. I get that that was over a decade ago, but still.
(On one of the other subjects…) while I take no joy in any local business shuttering, how did it ever make the slightest sense to put a pancake restaurant in that spot?
In terms of the Hamlet, it doesn’t actually seem like either side is really pushing to keep the status quo. One side is just saying that the scale of the new proposal is way too much relative to the site and the traffic and parking infrastructure in the area.
perceptive, Clark…I’m not on any “side”… however the proposal and marketing for the Hamlet seem ludicrously over the top.. three multistory luxury hotels overlooking the town sewage plant, a highway and railroad? Three toxic dumps to be excavated so restaurants can serve “safe” gourmet food and condo owners can sleep in a bath of toxicity and air pollution. boat rides to the mud flats of downtown Westport. A huge sign visible for miles luring travelers to “SAUGATAUK” UGH.
As a Saugatuck resident for almost 20 years, I am enthusiastic about seeing The Hamlet built as depicted in the latest renderings. I live close enough to the rail station to walk and look forward to strolling through the proposed public areas. I also look forward to walking along the river which is now blocked by a series of ugly buildings. Let’s get this thing built.
It’s nice that some people can walk to the train. But the average Westporter will face significant delays getting to and from the train if this oversized ‘destination center’ gets P&Z approval.
This is a town-wide issue because anyone needing access to MetroNorth will no doubt try to park at Greens Farms. The stress from missing trains, missing appointments, or getting home late will reverberate in everyone’s lives…except of course if you’re privileged enough to own a Hamlet condo, or lucky enough to walk to the train.
The Hamlet looks nice on paper. But when all is said and done, it’s clear that the average Westport will end up on the short end of the stick, facing increased traffic, three years of construction, reduced railroad parking access and skyrocketing demand for available parking permits.
It’s time to revisit the density and planning recommendations of the 2018 Saugatuck Transit Oriented Development Study.
https://www.westportct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/15266/636934866377170000