Westport Alliance for Saugatuck

Bernhard: Why I Oppose The Hamlet [link to WJ]

June 15, 2025

Dear Westport Journal and friends,

I am opposed to the Hamlet project in Saugatuck and plan to sign the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck’s petition in opposition to it.   

I am not, nor is the Alliance, against improving the area. Development is inevitable and not necessarily a bad thing. Some in our community, however, feel that they have no alternative but to support the Hamlet because the alternative could be an application for an 8-30g affordable housing project. I would prefer that Westport provide affordable housing for people who contribute to our community, such as police, firefighters, and teachers. These workers make less than the annual income cut-off amount for affordable housing eligibility of approximately $110,000.

I believe that housing with parking provided for people who live in Westport is far preferable to providing valet-only, tiered underground parking for out-of-towners staying in high-end hotel suites. Affordable housing is preferable to retail shops, offices, and expensive condos with valet-only, stacked, underground parking.  It is far better than building a 300-seat entertainment center with who knows what kind of parking arrangements.  

Additionally, the project will clog the feeder streets (Riverside, Ferry Lane, Charles, and Franklin) with an endless stream of delivery trucks (regardless of rules trying to regulate deliveries to the contrary) making them noisy for residents and unsafe for pedestrians and bikers. The developer’s representations that the re-timing of a few lights, the addition of a traffic circle, and some other minor roadside improvements will make things better is utter nonsense.  

Where are the 650+/- employees who will service this undertaking going to park?  The representation by the developer that the employees will use only commuter trains is an absurd assumption.  The further representation that employees will not apply for RR parking permits and deprive NYC commuters of parking access is at best optimistic and frankly naïve.

The project will effectively cut off Saugatuck Shores from the rest of town. There is only one small bridge crossing the Saugatuck River in that area providing access to and from the Compo area. Imagine if an ambulance needs to get to Norwalk Hospital or a firetruck is called to the scene.

And, when the developers are gone, who is going to run this complex of mixed use?  Who is going to enforce P&Z requirements?  Who is going to provide a reliable (and critical) valet service running 24/7?   Most likely, the management of the Hamlet will be divided among the stake holders and when things break down (e.g., the flooding of the underground garages filled with cars), the finger-pointing will be endless.

The Hamlet is trying to push a square peg into a round hole and I vigorously oppose its development.

Ken Bernhard

G. Kenneth Bernhard is an attorney who has been active in Westport’s community affairs for more than 50 years. During that time he has served as Westport’s town attorney, a member of the ZBA, and as Third Selectman. Ken was elected to be Westport’s State Representative in Hartford from 1997 to 2006. He is a board member of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and Fairfield County House