Two weeks ago, Larry Weisman — a longtime Westporter, noted zoning law attorney and civic volunteer — offered an intriguing solution to the Hamlet at Saugatuck morass.
What if, he wondered, the town and developer (ROAN Ventures) entered into a public/private partnership to develop Saugatuck — part dilapidated, part historic — in a less dense way than either the current plan, or a threatened 500-plus 8-30 housing proposal?
Weisman envisioned a mix of residences (a “substantial” number of them affordable, under state guidelines); a “judicious mix of commercial and office uses, with appropriate amenities on the river”; possibly a theater and/or hotel, as well as a pharmacy, hardware store and grocery. (Click here to read the full story.)
In 2018, a Transit Oriented District plan envisioned redevelopment of Saugatuck.
His piece drew 24 comments — most of them positive.
However, only one commenter was a public official (a Representative Town Meeting member).
Today, Weisman follows up (below).
This will likely resonate (again) with many readers. Meanwhile, “06880” wonders: What do town officials think? Will anyone follow up on the clear public interest, and take the lead?
Larry Weisman writes:
It would be disappointing if ROAN were to throw in the towel after denial of its overly ambitious attempt to redesign and redefine Saugatuck.
ROAN’s Plan B, an out-of-scale 8-30g housing block without supporting uses, seems more like petulance than a sensible second bite at the apple.
I still believe that both parties could benefit if the town were to invite the developer to participate in an effort to create a public/private partnership, with the town reducing the developer’s costs by contributing materially to a workable plan of development.
Many Westporters hope that area of Saugatuck can be improved.
The area surrounding ROAN’s holdings, including the railroad parking lots, is largely controlled by the town. It can be improved and repurposed to support a rational redesign.
In this instance, 8-30g, despite its flaws, can be a useful tool to create below market housing on one of the lots that comprise the development site.
I would think that ROAN would welcome an opportunity to work with the town to create a village that serves its residents.
And I would think that the town would be eager to work with the developer in an effort to achieve a mutually beneficial result. But alas, there seems to be no willingness on the part of the current town leadership to actually lead.
So we may have to swallow the bitter pill of yet another lost opportunity, and live with a large housing block devoid of supporting infrastructure and services.
What a shame.
(“06880’s” Opinion pages are open to all. Please email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com)
Seems like a good idea.
What would make this good idea better, is for Westport to work with CTDOT and federal authorities to get control over the I-95 spillover traffic that transforms a Westport family’s run to the beach into a slow crawl as well as to follow through on the recommendations from the CTDOT 2018 committee that the present engineering team totally ignored in their June meeting.
AND Roan could get another shot at getting millions in Brownfield cleanup funds by developing a legitimate public-private partnership, opening the waterfront to public use, and revealing the identity of the parties in the private partnership as the Brownbfield response to their 2024 application requested.
And, Larry, don’t you think Westporters should have an idea of where the candidates running for office stand on this and the several other issues that fester like boils on Westport’s body politic?
Too funny Werner that they were asked for the identity of the parties in their private partnership and did not want to reveal.
Just reeks of shade.
I think it is imperative to know precisely where the selectman candidates stand on this.
And truthful answers which we will hold them to.
Mind you we need to know where they stand on a lot more than just the Hamlet.
Downtown parking for one thing. Though we know where O’Day and Moore stand on that and it’s a disaster.
Longshore another.
Community gardens
Offsite affordable housing
Traffic
Schools
Buses parking at train stations.
And a most important one !!! SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS/ BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS- where landlords/property owners fund enhancements to the district only to pass on the entirety of the bill to their tenants. But landlords control the district and the funds, and tenants get to just pay for it with no say.
The towns administration has little to no say. And once it is signed into law I believe is next to impossible to get rid of.
ID LIKE VERY MUCH TO UNDERSTAND WHERE CANDIDATES STAND ON THIS MOST IMPORTANT TOPIC.
Lots of issues to get their truthful position on, and one , we can hold them to.
a large housing block looking something like the abomination being built on the Post Road near Kings Highway Elementary School would destroy Saugatuck. our town leaders cannot let that happen. Yikes!
I live in Saugatuck. I do NOT want the Hamlet. Even its name stinks of elitism, not to mention its developers and investors condescending attitudes.
No thanks.
Many of us will take our chances with 8-30g if the alternative is the hamlet.
They had every opportunity to reign in their avarice.
They didn’t do it so now they lose.
Nothing to do with the leaders ( thankfully) of this town.
This is not a monarchy.
Not yet !
Although it is kind of a side-issue, Werner’s point about doing something to better deal with 95 spill-off is spot-on. And something better addressed before we further increase the traffic density in Saugatuck.
To John’s point – while I appreciate that you were an advocate for the Hamlet, I don’t think you should simply accept the ROAN threat. They made it to get the Hamlet supported. For now, it is an empty threat.
Go, Larry!!!! Mary Maynard 🩷🩷🩷
Absolutely, I think that all of the candidates for First Selectman should be required to say what they are prepared to do about Saugatuck. Like it or not, it is one of several important campaign issues crying out for attention.
Congratulations to Larry Weisman for his thoughtful, dispassionate proposal for the future of Saugatuck.
Westport’s leadership, and at least some of ROAN’s investors, must now realize that they were hoodwinked into a zoning amendment that allowed a Trojan horse through the town gates.
If the current Hamlet scheme is denied, Westport will have a unique opportunity to develop Saugatuck to the benefit of all, not just those who want to compete with the Hamptons, which are now out of reach to all but the helicopter elite.
Carter Wiseman
Larry Weisman’s idea is still a strong one.
Months ago I had naively suggested something similar when I wondered if the town could do the same thing they had done in 1960 when they purchased the Longshore Country Club to keep it out of the hands of developers.
Mr. Weisman’s idea is, of course, far more feasible and profitable all around. I hope the powers-that-be are listening.
Wow. Common sense suggestion. Could be a win win to clean up Saugatuck and increase our deficit for affordable housing, all while maintaining its heritage and minimizing the impact of traffic! So refreshing to think there could be realistic and positive improvements!
Anonymity was requested for this comment, for personal reasons, and granted. – Dan Woog, executive editor, “06880”
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One possibility is for Westport to sign up for the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority (CMDA) help. They offer state redevelopment expertise and funding (grants and loans). The program is led by David Kooris. David gave a presentation at Romanacci’s in Saugatuck a month ago on the process, which was attended by a number of nearby municipality leaders.
My understanding is for that type of approach the following 3 steps are required:
1st step: Westport RTM would need to approve accepting help/funds for downtown and/or transit area (Saugatuck).
2nd step: David’s team will look at Zoning Regulations and town vision and recommend changing regulations that conflict with the town vision. (for example, they might recommend height or setback changes, or recommend improved infrastructure (water/sewer/electric/etc)
3rd step: 1st Select Person needs to sign off on the change package.
It essentially is a streamlined approach to knock down barriers to building that does not conflict with local vision. There are already 17 municipalities already signed up for CMDA help: Westport should get on board if interested. The funding is not infinite.
This is kind of a middle ground where the town HAS some ability to control the outcome (including address I-95 spillover issues). It would avoid both the Stamford style development that Roan proposes, and all 8-30g tall apartment blocks that could be detrimental to the area in terms of traffic volume.
Couldn’t the members of the Westport RTM consider the idea of accepting CMDA help/money and try this middle-road approach ? If not, what alternative do our town leaders envision?
In an ideal world this is not a bad suggestion.
I see several major hurdles.
Working backwards.
The select person.
Certainly the current one I believe favors the hamlet, and so to risk having a select person being part of the decision for what might go there is frightening, to say the least.
She sees Westport as a destination. Most residents do not.
Next the RTM, the record they have is to side unequivocally with Marpe, Tooker, and very often, even when a majority of the town has very different views. Those majority views are just ignored. Think hamlet vote 2 years ago and RTM29.
If Don O’Day were to be elected we would just be changing the name from Tooker to O’Day, but not the agendas.
I expect that Don O’Day and Tooker are cut from the same cloth. I believe they share common goals.
For this reason I do not believe in giving the selectman of the town any clout whatsoever when it comes to matters of planning and zoning and vision.
It leads to vengeance and tantrum throwing when they do not get their own way.
So while I wish your idea could work, I don’t believe it would in practice.
Hear, hear, Mr. Weisman. India’s comparison to Longshore is apt, as Larry’s profer reminds me of the community-minded, consensus-driven deal that Allen Raymond and First Selectman Herb Baldwin helped engineer over a very short time period in 1960 for the Town to acquire and conserve Longshore Club Park, to the lasting betterment of all who call Westport home. For sure the candidates running for the Selectman’s office should declare themselves on this issue, but in the meantime, why can’t we ask current First Selectwoman Jen Tooker for help on this matter? Although the lamest of ducks, wouldn’t striking a public-private bargain to redevelop Saugatuck sensibly and profitably while preserving community values and boosting affordable-housing stock look good on her gubernatorial resume?
Scott, I agree. This is fabulous opportunity for the administration lead by Jen Tooker to step up to the plate and take a community based approach that appreciates the ROAN’s desire to develop a profitable upgrade to this corner of Westport and the Town’s desire for continual improvement of services and affordable housing. There is a deal here that needs leadership. As I see it the developers have put some critical elements together. Not least of which is the consolidation of land from the current disparate landowners. Their plan is however has just too much for the Town to swallow, as witnessed by the active participation at P and Z hearings. Enough with the controversy and let’s have a dose of constructive achievable planning. This is a great opportunity for the Town and the developers to both win. It will only happen if Jen grabs hold of the challenge. I would be happy to assist if that’s what’s needed. Go for it Jen.
The anonymous comment is interesting, but before going that route I would like to work to preserve ROAN’s interest in the project. They took the initiative and assembled the parcels comprising the development site. It’s their project and even tough their initial vision has been rejected, I want to help them by involving the town as a contributing partner. They have brought the issue to the fore and have made a substantial investment of money, time and imagination, and they and their investors deserve to be an equal part of and to profit from whatever the ultimate solution may be. My opinion should not be interpreted as anything more than an effort to find a solution that works for everyone.
That would be Criminal…are all Westport residents aware if the consequences? I don’t believe they are!!
Is it a holding if they don’t own it?
It’s sadly not criminal in literal terms but would it reek.. yes.
A prime example of a developer with no moral compass, driven by greed and then willing to have a tantrum to get their way by using threats.
Problem is when a gun is put to our heads, we must not surrender. If we do, contractors will continue to bend us over and destroy our town.
There are lots of ways to make an 8-30g very unpalatable for the developer.
1 – parking.. needs to be non discriminatory, so low income has same access as market rate. That is the law.
2- fit and finish and size need to be virtually identical. Also the law.
3- most important, the town can demand all 150 units be at 60% AMI, and none at 80% AMI. Also the law.
This is important because it’s what we actually need and can prove we need in town. And for that reason the state and courts will love it.
It suits the state housing authority, and is a disaster for the contractor..
by the time they pay what they have to for this overpriced land, and have to build equal units for the affordable 150- which we will insist on being at 60% AMI, ( and not at 80% because there will be zero inclination to bargain) with increased tarrifs, higher interest rates, etc etc, there is no profit or minimal, for the effort and bad blood in this development being an 8-30g.
They also will have to compete with far nicer units at Haiwatha, all 157 of them.
So is 8-30g a real threat.
Nope. It is not.
657 units for sale or rent between the 2 developments.
Hmmm I can see a huge problem unloading those, with the exception of the almost 200 at 60% AMI.
Those will sell or rent first.
The less profitable ones.
The rest will sit for years.
ESP if it looks like H-BLOCK
The market rate units will be unsellable.
With minimum parking and market rate unit buyers knowing they are paying almost double $, the affordable buyers/tenants are.
I see a Filene’s basement and TJ Maxx situation unfolding.
Plus we could shut down the 8-30g because we will qualify for another moratorium.
We can repeal the text amendment immediately and at least end the “gun to the head” modus operandi of developers.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Where is Will Haskell when you really need him? A young person with energy and a vision ought to primary either or both of the endorsed candidates for First Selectman, neither of whom is showing any leadership on this or any other issue in our town. The deadline to file a petition to primary is August 6, 2025 (by 4:00 PM). If validated, that would guarantee a primary on September 9, 2025. It may not be enough to fix what ails Saugatuck and the rest of Westport, but it would be a healthy start.
The absence of public comments from our elected representatives remains disturbing. Of course the First Selectwoman, but also the candidates for that office, members of our RTM, our BoF, our BoE, as well as our many Town appointees. They all need to break out of their respective silos and just let us know what they think. All citizen comments are important, the above referenced positions usually have a bit more influence.