Westport Alliance for Saugatuck

Our Mission

The mission of the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck is to advocate for thoughtful, right sized, forward-thinking development in in/around Saugatuck—that enhances quality of life while addressing critical concerns like traffic congestion and public safety.  

We believe in balancing growth with infrastructure improvements, ensuring development respects the town’s sense of place, improve mobility, and prioritize the well-being of residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Why are we concerned?

The proposed redevelopment of Saugatuck, “The Hamlet”, will, if approved, dramatically change our community.  The 2023 zoning text amendment, created for this development, allows for an 800% increase in density.

The site plan includes 11 buildings, up to 70' high, located along the river (riverfront side) and on the large block fronted by Railroad Avenue with shops, restaurants and RR drop off points, all the way to Charles Street (upland side). To put this height and mass in perspective, at their highest points, many buildings will be at or above the height of the I95 overpass.

It's too big!

The riverfront hotel includes four buildings with 57 hotel rooms [p10 of application], event space (for up to 300-500 people),  an underground parking lot below the water line, whose entrance will be just after the sharp left turn at the end of Ferry lane, potentially causing lengthy back-ups and safety hazards. Even though Saugatuck has recently experienced an increase in serious auto accidents,  including a fatality.

The upland side (the block between Charles, Franklin, Riverside and RR Place) includes 6 buildings with 57 high-end condos, as well as shops, an event center, spa, private club, underground (valet controlled) parking garages. The plan includes removing public parking spaces, taking over public-owned land for loading and unloading commercial trucks. To be viable, the plan relies on using commuter parking, making it harder for you to find a space.

TRAFFIC! and PARKING

The plan will create new traffic chokeholds, exacerbate existing traffic issues, and create congestion that could delay emergency vehicles and will surely negatively affect the quality of life for Westporters from every district - especially districts north and east of the Metro-North station who will experience long delays entering and leaving the area. The plans do not provide adequate parking for the planned usage and take away current free parking. 

Scale and Density

Additionally, the increased scale and density is likely to create environmental concerns, flooding issues with potential contamination of the river and Harbor.

It does not address our affordable housing mandate.

Importantly, rather than being built to address Westport’s current affordable housing shortfall, this plan makes our town’s shortfall worse - offering only 14 off-site units whose location has not been secured. According to the developer's attorney "These units will not come on-line for over 3 years, it will have to be updated before finalized...The units are going to be offsite and per the anticipated approval, we will come back to advise where they are going to be located." [source] 

It sacrifices Westport's unique appeal as a charming small New England coastal community

Finally, this plan does not meet the stated goal of Westport retaining its unique appeal because of its New England small town charm. The size and scale of the proposed development does not fit Westport.

It's a Marina District without a Marina!

Although this area was designated a Marina District, a marina is not included in the current site plan, therefore public access to the riverfront and a marina is uncertain. A future marina with water taxis to other developments on several Norwalk Islands has been proposed, potentially adversely affecting waterway traffic and safety. 

HELPFUL DOCUMENTS:

• Link to Westport Planning & Zoning Pending Applications Page  ("Hamlet at Saugatuck: 601, 606, 609 Riverside Ave; 14, 60 Railroad Place; 91, 96 Franklin Street - Special Permit/Coastal Site Plan Appl. #PZ-25-00067")

  • Traffic Study: Link to Peer Review of applicant's Traffic Study

  • Environmental Study

    • Peer Review Response ("While we feel Loureiro did sufficiently respond to our peer review comments, the community still has concerns and questions regarding the current environmental conditions at the properties subject to the redevelopment and the planned remediation. While only a few questions were asked, we foresee the environmental conditions being a point of focus as the public meetings and hearings continue.")

MEDIA COVERAGE:

• Westport Journal

• O6880 Blog (Dan Woog)