Toni Simonetti is a longtime advocate for the Westport Community Garden. The other day, she wrote about them on her Substack:
I spotted this drill in the upper field at Long Lots Elementary School on April 30.
Meanwhile, the first selectwoman closed the Westport Community Garden on May 1. It’s now forcibly and shamefully abandoned.
But when will it be bulldozed and otherwise desecrated? I tried to find out when the special permitted land use designation officially changes from “community garden” to construction dumping ground, then to regulation-size soccer pitch.
The garden use at then-11 Hyde Lane (since merged with 13 Hyde Lane) was first established via special permit with unanimous consent of the Planning & Zoning Commission on October 27, 2005 (Resolution #05-071).
Subsequently it was enlarged. A special permitted use as a garden was again approved unanimously on February 11, 2010 (Resolution #10-0001).
My question was simple, yet not one town official I asked could (would?) answer.
The Planning & Zoning chair did not understand my question. The town P&Z director said she lacked the expertise to answer. The town attorney on staff recused herself from garden matters, and referred me to Ira Bloom. Mr. Bloom doesn’t respond to my queries, so I did not even try.
I asked an experienced land use consultant, who was absolutely adamant that no other land use is allowed until such time as the existing use is changed.
Westport Community Garden.
To date, only an 8-24 municipal use report (to include a community garden) has been submitted to, and been approved by, P&Z.
However, an 8-24 does not change the existing land use. In addition, this one includes a garden.
The town must apply for special permitted land use as athletic fields, construction staging, parking, whatever. Then the P&Z must approve it. The town has not yet done so.
Furthermore, I anticipate the town will withdraw the present 8-24 report and submit a new one that excludes any mention of a garden, then must go through the 8-24 process all over again before applying for a new special permit. It has not yet done so.
At its last meeting on the matter — a pre-application for a site plan that did not include a garden — the P&Z made it clear it wants to see concrete plans for an alternate garden site underway before it will approve any new 8-24.
I have implored any number of people to do something on this front. I have offered ideas and plans to explore. I have offered sweat equity to get this done.
So far, crickets.
Garden gone. (Photos/Toni Simonetti)
Perhaps some secret dealings are underway, but the Westport Community Garden chair won’t say. It’s no surprise that I may have been blackballed from any progress; I don’t know.
But still, what’s going on? And why isn’t there an expanded group of invested citizens engaged?
Meanwhile, drills are drilling in preparation for construction of geothermal wells. The school year is winding down. The land use on Tier 1 remains on record as that of a community garden. And gardeners are banned from using the property for one last season of gardening.
I’ll be watching this little parcel until such time as the land use is changed. I bet tomatoes will be ripe on the vine before that happens.
Stay tuned.
(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Email 06880blog@gmail.com.)
Towns are notoriously bad neighbors and exist in a do as we say, not as we do environment and silence is the only harbor that’s safe.
Toni Simonetti is a wonderful citizen of Westport. While many of her writings focus on the tragic shortcomings and mistakes respecting the Community Gardens, I know Toni as a positive force for good in Westport. Sadly, her skills, her commitment to the betterment of our Town becomes dominated by Toni’s accurate and legitimate observations about the destruction of the Community Gardens. Toni should be recognized and applauded for her efforts, efforts that ultimately are positive since they reflect a true commitment and hard work to make Westport a better town. Thank you Toni.
I second that Don! Since joining the garden in the hope of saving it I met Toni. I told her friendship is a silver lining in this yet to be finished chapter of the attempted destruction of a town jewel, the award winning Westport Comminuty Garden!
The P&Z has already issued a positive report for the construction of the new school at Long Lots on Jan 22, 2024 (Municipal Improvement 8-24 Appl #PZ-24-00029).
In preparation for the expected construction of the new building (pending final approvals of plans by various government bodies), all recreational activities have been suspended, and that includes the use of athletic fields at Long Lots.
The geothermal bore drilling will be started on the lower fields as early as possible, in order to free up the space and not be a blocker. The fact that you saw a drill conducting perhaps some tests does not mean the drilling and construction has started.
If she only liked and cared about children……