Westport Alliance for Saugatuck

First Responder Concerns with Proposed Hamlet [link]

To: Planning & Zoning

Monday, June 16, 2025

Commissioners,

I am writing to you as both a conerned resident and a member of Westport's EMS service.  As someone who regularly drives our ambulances through Saugatuck I am worried about the potential impact of this proposed project on both our response times and our ability to quickly deliver critical patients to the hospital.  A number of town residents have already voiced legitimate concerns about responses out toward Saugatuck Shores.  Furthermore a significant number of our hospital transports require driving through Saugatuck to access I95.  A development as large and densely packed with restaurants, retail, hotel accommodations and events as this one will generate a disproporationately high number of ambulance and fire responses. 

If you have witnessed us responding to a call in town in the ambulance you will have likely noticed not just one vehicle but a small parade en route to the scene.  A police vehicle will be responding to every EMS call and during peak traffic hours a contracted Norwalk Hospital paramedic will usually be responding with the ambulance In a separate Westport SUV.  On any call where time is of the essence (dispatched "priority") you will also get a firetruck.  

Just because we make use of lights and sirens doesn't mean the sea parts in front of us.  Those cars have to go somewhere.  I have noticed on the traffic plans proposed added lanes in places to faciliate traffic flow. Bear in mind when these four large vehicles show up to a 911 call we just pull over as best we can and get to work.  We will also be there for anywhere from five to 20 minutes or more.  It's not hard to imagine how this could throw a monkey wrench into the carefully orchestrated proposed traffic flow.  

Finally I would like to reiterate one further concern voiced by other residents.  We don't yet have the traffic flow from the Hiawatha project and additionally other parts of Saugatuck will likely be developed in the near future further increasing the already existing congestion.

Sincerely,

Brian Crane

Westport EMS Crew Chief