By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Many were surprised to learn in August that the new home of Pottery Barn opened several months earlier without a zoning certificate of compliance.

That was mentioned at the Aug. 8 meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, which was hearing a request by representatives of the nationwide home furnishings chain for additional signage at 620 Post Road East. That request was denied for various reasons.

The problem with the zoning certificate was that the finished project exceeded the allowed coverage on the property.

Representatives met with zoning officials Tuesday to work on a fix. They appear to have reached an agreement.

Deputy Planning and Zoning Director Michelle Perillie told the Westport Journal that the zoning certificate could not be issued initially because an “as-built survey” showed the finished project exceeded the 75 percent coverage for the property allowed under General Business District regulations.

An as-built survey is an independent survey required of projects to verify what was built jibes with what was approved. It’s part of the checklist for a zoning certificate of compliance.

To bring the project into compliance, it appears a concrete dumpster pad in the rear parking lot will have to take one for the team.

Already in place, it will be whittled down enough to meet requirements. Also factored in, according to a letter from the architects, another outdoor feature was built smaller than approved.

“Thank you for meeting with me today, during which we concluded that the pergola is smaller than what was approved, and that a reduction to the dumpster pad area is an acceptable path towards coverage compliance,” Christina Gordon of Frederich William Hoag Architect wrote in an email to the department.

“As discussed, I will update the client team, to mobilize and conduct the reduction to the dumpster pad, to bring the coverage values into conformance,” she continued. “Immediately thereafter we will submit a revised as-built which will also reflect all of the site improvements required …”

Perillie said Thursday that the 620 Post Road East representatives would not have to reapply for approval if they reduced the coverage as they agreed to do.

Asked if such discrepancies occur very often, she replied, “Yes, very often.”

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 35 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.