It’s official.
Spinnaker has filed a site plan and special permit application for 606 Riverside Avenue.
That’s the Saugatuck property — currently the site of Minute Men Cleaners, and nearby businesses — that was the site of the failed Hamlet proposal.
Spinnaker’s affiliate, Saugatuck TOD 606 LLC, hopes to build 142 rental apartments, and 3,838 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
Ten percent of the units would be deed-restricted as affordable to families making up to 80% of the statewide median income.
Another 10% would be deed-restricted as “workforce housing.” The affordable units are integrated throughout the building.
The façade along Riverside Avenue would be 3 1/2 stories tall. Higher buildings would be “stepped back into the site so that it is substantially less visible from the street.”
All parking — 241 spaces, 20 of which are tandem for a total of 261 cars — will be screened from view, on 2 separately accessed levels.
Spinnaker also proposes adding 10 new on-street public parking spots.
View from Riverside Avenue.
The plan follows several rounds of pre-application reviews by the Planning & Zoning Commission and Architectural Review Board.
Spinnaker says it has “also engaged in significant neighbor outreach, including written notices to nearly 90 neighbors, meetings with neighbors, the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck, local and State community leaders, neighborhood business owners, Town staff, Connecticut Department of Transportation staff and other interested parties.”
The application — received yesterday by the Planning & Zoning Department — is an important step on the journey to approval. Bodies like the P&Z, ARB and Conservation Commission have not yet scheduled hearings.
View from Franklin Street. The existing 21 Charles Street office building (left) is not part of the Spinnaker project, nor are the 2-story buildings currently on Franklin Street.
Spinnaker — a developer “focusing on transit-oriented developments” — is collaborating with Beinfield Architecture. Both firms are based in Norwalk.
Spinnaker calls its plan “contextually appropriate for Saugatuck, and grounded in a traditional and contextual vernacular.”
The developer adds that it:
- Concentrates development near transportation nodes
- Strengthens the character and economy of Saugatuck Center
- Maintains appropriate building scale and character
- Adds housing to support an active mixed-used area
- Serves empty nesters, retirees, and children of Westport residents
- Improves runoff to the Saugatuck River
- Improves pedestrian friendliness in Saugatuck Center.
View from Charles Street.
An earlier “Hamlet at Saugatuck” development was first proposed in June 2022, when ROAN Ventures submitted an application to create a new zoning district for the project.
The plan — including retail, residences, a hotel, marina and public spaces — was rejected by the Planning & Zoning Commission 3 years later. ROAN then said it was considering a residential-focused project, perhaps including 500 units of 8-30g affordable housing.
Spinnaker’s first proposal was for 158 apartments, with 26 affordable units priced for households at 80% of state median income.
(“06880” has followed Saugatuck redevelopment plans closely. We’ll continue to do so. Your donation helps support our work. Please click here to help — and thank you!)
