For all the passions the Hamlet at Saugatuck project inspires, last night’s Planning & Zoning Commission hearing was remarkably civil.
No voices were raised, in the packed Town Hall auditorium.
But objections were.
The session was the P&Z’s first in-person event since COVID. It followed a recent virtual meeting that ended after a Zoom-bomb attack.
Part of the large Town Hall crowd. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
More than 2 hours of comment followed a 90-minute presentation by ROAN Ventures, the developer.
Many speakers — including those representing an opposition group, the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck — raised questions about the size of the proposal, along with parking, traffic and related concerns.
Others — including a Stony Point neighbor who lives directly behind the red brick wall at the eastbound railroad station parking lot — urged approval.
Nearly every speaker acknowledged the need for some kind of redevelopment in the “eyesore” that the Hamlet encompasses: the area surrounding Riverside Avenue at Charles Street, circling around Railroad Place. Many also praised the potential for remediating the contaminants on site, which now includes a dry cleaner. A car dealer previously occupied the spot.
ROAN’s opening presentation including modifications to its previous proposal, after feedback from town regulatory boards.
The new proposal includes 2 “stack” parking garages, with valets. Fees would be $2.50 for the first 2 hours, with annual “unlimited 2-hour parking” on sale to Westporters.
The parking garage would include 277 spaces, 15 more than town regulations require.
ROAN withdrew its previous request to use railroad parking lots. Critics had noted that they are owned by the state, which could change parking rules at any time.
The developers also promised off-site parking for employees, at a location to be determined.
They noted too that they will not reduce the width of Riverside Avenue, as originally planned. They will add seating around the waterfront; combine 2 buldings into 1, and reduce the height.
ROAN would be the town’s highest taxpayer, they said. Meanwhile, their permitting fees would contribute the most money yet to Westport’s affordable housing fund.
The developers raised the specter of an 8-30g project, if this is not approved. That could be denser and larger, with more units, than the Hamlet, they warned. Because of the way that state affordable housing regulation is written, town officials would have no recourse to prevent it.
ROAN also promised to re-examine the results after 6 months of operation, and fix any issues that arise.
Then the audience — which one observer said was the largest since the P&Z debated a medical marijuana facility — had their chance to speak. Some were Representative Town Meeting (RTM) members; others were residents, spread across town from Saugatuck Shores to Greens Farms.
Many thanked the commissioners for the volunteer service. A number of opponents noted that they wanted redevelopment to succeed, and for ROAN’s investors to make money.
Part of the area for the proposed Hamlet development. Riverside Avenue is at the bottom; Charles Street is on the right.
But, opponents said, many issues warrant further discussion, and additional redesigns.
Traffic was a chief concern. Some speakers scoffed at traffic studies, and refigured lights that showed faster times driving through the area.
Others wondered whether those studies had been done during the pandemic, when traffic and railroad parking was lighter than today.
Speakers raised many topics, including police, fire and EMT response times in the area, and out to Saugatuck Shores; open space and river access that could be blocked by nearby buildings; protections during the abatement of contaminated soil; the safety of rowers on the river, due to increased water traffic; the impact on Saugatuck residents and businesses during construction; parking for delivery trucks; potential flooding; sewer capacity, and light and noise pollution.
Countering those speakers, others called the Hamlet a “win” for Saugatuck, and the entire town.
RTM member Jimmy Izzo noted that although the town “won” by preventing 40 units of 8-30g housing on Hiawatha Lane, it lost when lawsuits led to construction of a 157-unit project, currently underway.
Stony Point neighbor Roger Schwanhausser is strongly in favor of the Hamlet. He called it a “gem,” and urged quick passage of the proposal.
“We have one chance to get this right,” one speaker said. “We want this to succeed. Just in a better way than we’ve seen so far.”
The P&Z will continue its discussion on May 5 and 19. Another public hearing may be scheduled, before the commission votes.
(Additional reporting: Catie Campagnino)
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