Once again last night, ROAN Ventures showed town officials revisions to their Hamlet at Saugatuck plan.
Once again, those officials had more questions.
Last night’s virtual Planning & Zoning Commission meeting — another 6-hour marathon — was intended to bring the residential/retail/hotel proposal closer to a vote.
On Tuesday, the Flood & Erosion Control Board approved the plan. Yesterday, the Board of Selectwomen tabled a vote on the traffic portion — pending the P&Z’s decision.
That may come soon. Or — in a procedural move to allow more time, because state law mandates 65 days of deliberations beginning June 18 — the application may be withdrawn, and immediately resubmitted.
ROAN — the developers of the project — addressed some of the thorniest issues last night. They addressed changes made, based on previous feedback, to parking, building heights, floor area and sightlines.
Primary peer reviewer Dave Ginter noted that the application complies fully with regulations and the P&Z’s text amendment, which paved the way for the project.
The town’s traffic consultant called the plan workable, but asked if ROAN had any other locations for the entrance/exit to the waterside parking garage.
ROAN’s traffic consultant said they did not believe there was any other suitable location, due to the need for river view access, and the limited area they own on Riverside Avenue.
The Hamlet plan. New buildings are shaded. Railroad Place is at the bottom; Charles Street is at top. The Saugatuck River is on the right.
Commissioners questioned contractor parking, loading zones and truck traffic. ROAN offered assurances for on-site management of deliveries, and said they removed a tunnel to create more commercial loading zones.
They reiterated traffic studies — noting that it did not include COVID data — and said that their proposed improvements would save time.
A great deal of time was spent on traffic flow, particularly where Riverside Avenue meets Railroad Place. “Calming measures” like raised pedestrian crossings and blinking signs are among the items planned by ROAN.
Traffic plans, for the area around Ferry Lane, under the train tracksk and toward the parking garage at Riverside Avenue.
One unknown factor is how any state Department of Transportation Cribari Bridge reconstruction project would impact traffic throughout Saugatuck.
ROAN also addressed the construction timetable. The project would be broken into phases, though there might be overlaps between them.
When the public finally spoke, many addressed items like traffic and building density.
The Hamlet got a boost from Roger Leifer, who called the Hamlet “good for Westport.”
Bill Kutik was not so sure. Noting the lack of a scale model, he warned of “towers as high as the I-95 overpass,” high-rises that “block the sun,” and gridlocked traffic.
The next P&Z meeting is Monday (June 16, 6 p.m., Zoom).
(Reporting by Catherine Campognino)