“06880” reporter John H. Palmer writes:
The Hamlet is officially a no-go.
In what is probably the most unsurprising bit of news in Westport, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted last night to deny the application for the embattled Saugatuck development.
ROAN Ventures sought to develop a multi-use development of 11 buildings, including retail, hotel and residential, between the Saugatuck River, Charles Street, Franklin Street and Railroad Place.
The project was struck down by a vote of 4 “no”s, and 3 abstentions. The decision was widely anticipated, after the commission’s straw vote during its work session last Monday.
Last night became largely a formality, meant to officially vote on a resolution of denial written by planning director Michelle Perillie.
The most recent Hamlet plan. Railroad Place is at the bottom of the rendering. Charles Street is at the top Riverside Avenue on the right.
Official denials were recorded by commissioners Patrizia Zucaro, Amy Wistreich, Michael Calise and chair Paul Lebowitz. Commissioners Neil Cohn, Michael Cammeyer and Bre Injeski abstained from the vote.
“I cannot be in the majority tonight,” said Cohn. “We’re doing a real disservice to our town. I truly worry about the long-term consequences of our decision in our community.”
The project, which has been in development and negotiations for more than 3 years, has been met with great enthusiasm by some. Others voiced concerns about the effect it could have on traffic, parking, pedestrian safety, the environment and waterfront access.
The denial was based on reasons the P&Z felt that the application did not meet the requirements of the text amendment that was passed in 2022, creating a new zoning district in Saugatuck.
Among the items noted in the denial: the disapproval by the Architectural Review Board, as well as the opinion that the buildings proposed for the Hamlet “did not meet the scale or feel of a New England Vernacular Village,” as ROAN had billed it.
A majority of P&Z members opposed the “scale and feel” of the Hamlet project.
ROAN had come back to the drawing board several times after parking issues were raised, leaving commissioners feeling that there were more questions than answers.
Some of those issues included an unclear plan for on-site employee parking, loading and unloading zones, and underground parking stackers that would have created queuing concerns on nearby roads.
Pedestrian safety concerns were also raised about the “bend” on Railroad Place, where the entrance of one of the parking garages would have been located.
“The applicant’s proposal indicates that employees may have to take the train to work, which is unacceptable to the commission,” according to a draft of the denial resolution read by commissioner Zucaro Monday evening.
Another issue included in the denial was that the application did not conform with a waterfront accessibility requirement of at least 25 percent. The project as presented would have provided only 19 percent, according to the denial document.
Last night’s vote was the culmination of many P&Z meetings. This April public session drew a full house to Town Hall. (Photo/Andrew Colabell)
Town Attorney Ira Bloom told the P&Z last night that he expects ROAN Ventures to appeal the decision.
The developer has said publicly that upon denial, they plan to file an application with the town to build a 500-unit affordable housing development under the state’s 8-30g law. Three massive buildings, 8 stories tall – 6 floors of housing, above 2 for parking – would be constructed on the Hamlet footprint.
Because it’s an 8-30g development, the town would have far less say regarding parking and other issues surrounding the development.
“This door in our community is of course still open,” said Lebowitz, indicating that he’d be interested in seeing similar applications that could work in different parts of town.
He added that the threat of an affordable housing application as a “second choice” should never be a bargaining chip for future applications.
“To those who say we should have looked to the future and been worried about what they could bring, I say that would never be a choice for this commissioner. That’s a non-starter for me.”
First salvo in what will undoubtedly be a battle of politics and $. Perhaps there’s an opp for the sides to negotiate a more mutually acceptable outcome but don’t be surprised – or complain – if ROAN plays the 8-30g card as advertised, and the town loses some control over what is inevitably built. The area needs a makeover and unless the town is stepping up with $, there’s a limit to what can be blocked for those who do.
At a time when the housing market is due for correction, and many towns are facing fiscal uncertainty, Westport has the opportunity to act from a position of strength: to reimagine a slightly dilapidated, underutilized part of town into a magnet for local revenue, tasteful tourism, and long-term community value.
That’s why the recent vote against The Hamlet was so disappointing. The proposal wasn’t just about new buildings. It was about enhancing public access to the waterfront, welcoming visitors with a high-end hotel, and creating space for small businesses to grow. It was a chance to raise property values town-wide and position Westport as a destination that reflects the town’s character and ambition.
Instead, we may now be facing an 8-30g apartment complex with over 500 units and no guarantee of thoughtful design, usable green space, or infrastructure planning. From what I understand, the developer, Roan, has state support to proceed with this kind of dense residential build. The implications for traffic, congestion, and school capacity are real. And the upside for the town, at least in its current form, is limited.
This stretch of Westport, situated between the train station and the Saugatuck River, holds enormous potential. It should not be defined by short-term decisions or built without a long-term plan. We need a comprehensive vision for the area that includes traffic mitigation, public access to the waterfront, and buildings that match the town’s aesthetic. Too much of our riverfront is already hidden behind private homes or swallowed by parking lots. We can do better.
I hope Roan will return to the table with a revised proposal that meets the concerns raised by the Planning & Zoning Committee while preserving the spirit of what The Hamlet was trying to achieve. The neighborhood deserves a project that contributes to Westport’s economy, reflects its values, and adds something beautiful and lasting to the landscape.
This is not just about what gets built. It’s about who we want to be as a town.
While your headline alludes to Hamlet–a tragedy of duplicity and revenge I shudder to think about in light of affairs domestic and foreign–maybe the Staples Players ought to revisit “The Music Man,” a much more relevant entertainment for Westport at this moment. Here’s what Dan had to say about the 2016 production–https://06880danwoog.com/2016/11/04/music-man-tootles-into-town/
Thank goodness!!! This is not a large town. Saugatuck is charming as it is. Already the parking and traffic are horrific. Why would residents want a contrived building complex that looks like it should be in Stamford or LA. It is not Westport!!!! Bring it to another town or better yet city like Bridgeport! They could use it. Leave Westport alone. We are fine. Unless some people are looking to make some money by letting this happen.