The end of the line seems near for the Hamlet at Saugatuck — the controversial project in and around the Westport train station.
“06880” reporter John H. Palmer writes:
And then there was one ….
One more week, that is, before Westport finally finds out if the Hamlet development in Saugatuck will be approved, or if the developers will follow through with a promised 8-30g affordable housing development instead.
The Planning & Zoning Commission Monday night came one step closer to making a decision about the embattled waterfront development that could bring a multi-use development of 11 buildings, including retail, hotel and residential buildings between the Saugatuck River, Charles Street, Franklin Street and Railroad Place.
A final vote on the application by ROAN Ventures will take place next Monday, (July 28). Based on a straw count taken last night, the Hamlet application likely will be denied by a vote of 4-3.
Commissioners Paul Lebowitz, Michael Calise, Amy Wistreich and Patrizia Zucaro voiced disapproval of the project. Neil Cohn, Breann Injeski and Michael Cammeyer voted in favor.
Aerial rendering of the Hamlet project. Railroad Place is at the bottom; Riverside Avenue and the Saugatuck River are on the right.
The night began with a motion by Zucaro, seconded by Calise, to flat-out deny the application. Chairman Lebowitz, on advice from town attorney Ira Bloom, steered the meeting to focus on discussion of why the project should be denied.
Feedback gained will be used by P&Z director Michelle Perillie to draft a final resolution that will be voted on at next Monday’s meeting.
Much of Monday night’s evening focused around final discussions about why the developers did not meet the requirements of the 2022 text amendment, which was passed to steer the development of the project.
Lebowitz said several times that he felt that developers waited until the last minute to address concerns about the application regarding traffic, parking, waterfront access, building density and architectural issues.
“It’s a terrible way to do an application. This whole thing has been a terrible way,” he said. “It almost seemed like we were creating the application, not them.”
Cohn, who has publicly announced that he will not seek reelection, said he had reservations about denying the application. He would have preferred to see the application withdrawn to give the developers more chance to address public concerns brought up during hearing process.
“When we asked for something, they were responsive,” he said. “I care about doing the right thing, more than I do about my political career. Legally, we’ve been told they comply. After 3 years of this process, I don’t know how we can deny it.”
Earlier this year, ROAN officials showed how the Hamlet’s height would compare to National Hall downtown.
He added he is worried that a denial will affect how developers view the way that Westport handles development, and how that may affect the way the town attracts future development.
The P&Z has been in a 65-day, legally mandated deliberation period since closing the hearing portion of the application June 18, with a final decision legally required by August 20.
ROAN Ventures has said they would come back with a 500-unit affordable housing development if the Hamlet is denied.
Three massive buildings, 8 stories tall – 6 floors of housing, above 2 for parking – would be constructed on the Hamlet footprint. As an 8-30g development, the town would have far less say regarding parking and other issues surrounding the development.
(“06880” has followed the long Hamlet debate — and will continue to report on Saugatuck’s future. If you appreciate our coverage, please clikc here to support our work.