By Ken Valenti
WESTPORT–Roan Development Ventures has withdrawn its lawsuit demanding Westport’s approval of the proposed Hamlet at Saugatuck mixed-use development on the Saugatuck River.
The lawsuit, filed Aug. 6, 2025, in Superior Court in Bridgeport, sought to overturn the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission’s rejection of the proposal. The Commission found the project to be inappropriate for several reasons – its large scale, failure to capture a “New England coastal village” aesthetic, and concerns about traffic, parking and limited public waterfront access and views.
The lawsuit had charged that the decision erred in several areas, including ignoring or misinterpreting expert testimony and reasons for denial that the developer argued were inadequate. The town defended its decision.
The withdrawal was filed on Feb. 5 and approved Feb. 11 by Judge Dale W. Ratcliffe.
“That application is now concluded,” said Town Attorney Ira Bloom. “We are waiting now to see what will happen with this property.”
Neither Rodrigo Real, a Roan principal, nor Eric Bernheim, the attorney who filed the withdrawal, responded to the phone calls and emails sent by Westport Journal.
The Hamlet plan proposed 11 buildings, including retail, hotel and residential elements, between the Saugatuck River, Charles Street, Franklin Street and Railroad Place.
Last summer, at essentially the same time the Roan filed the lawsuit, Real announced the developer was considering an alternate, much more dense, plan to create 400-500 units on the site under the state’s 8-30g affordable housing law. The state ordinance takes much of the power for approval out of the local municipality’s hands.
Bloom said no plans have been filed beyond the Hamlet proposal.
Dara Lamb, founder of the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck, which formed to oppose the Hamlet, noted that Roan withdrew the lawsuit just days after a lawyer for the Alliance announced in court that the organization would file as an intervenor on the case. That, she said, would have ensured that the Alliance would have to be included in talks to reach a deal in the dispute.
“We think it’s no coincidence that Roan withdrew…just four days after our attorney informed the court the Alliance would intervene,” the Alliance leadership wrote to its members. “Throughout this effort we made it clear we would meet them at every turn and our appearance made clear we had no intention of going away quietly into the night.”
The Alliance had objected that the project was outsized, would drastically change the character of the area and would bring traffic and parking troubles.
Lamb said the organization plans to remain vigilant in ensuring that future developments are appropriate for the community. The Alliance leadership wrote in its email, “We are optimistic that this next chapter will be more transparent and, due to the strength of our numbers, that residents’ concerns will be respected.”
Ken Valenti
A career journalist and lifelong resident of the New York City region, Ken Valenti has enjoyed decades of reporting local, regional and national news in New York and Connecticut. Topics of special interest are development, the environment, Long Island Sound and transportation. When not reporting, he’s always on the lookout for the perfect coffee shop or used book sale.
This drama has illustrated how a small town can come together to repel a focussed viper attack. The significance of the role Saugatuck plays as a transportation hub for Westporters should never be minimized. This overarching function transcends the flippant wants of overage partygoers, as we deserve functional roadways and railroad parking without the threat’s nonsensical over development. The town should swoop in and scoop up those properties pronto. Float some bonds, whatever needs to be done. My vote is for a green park along the river to welcome all comers to our most beautiful town. A theater district with a couple galleries and a museum with an art house opera house. A school for performing arts, acceptance based on meritocracy. But these are just my outdated personal ideas, I would expect vigorous debate. But green open space along the river would do the most for our property values and our way of life. I fully expect some whipper-snapper to come along with a better idea— ok so let’s hear it! What idea is better than a green park along the river?
The hamlot renderings can go in a town sponsored diarama “The Hamlot That Never Was” to be viewed at the library someday…
COMMENT Grateful for all those who spearheaded this effort–and the rest of us who wrote letters and became involved to stop the project. Community at its best.
Todd : perfectly stated!! Thank you.
Westport’s appetite for traffic and development in Saugatuck may well be gauged by the turnout and comments at the March 19 CTDOT public hearing in the Town Hall auditorium.
In my opinion, CTDOT has made some preliminary assumptions that deserve deeper consideration and revisiting AFTER the public weighs in.
A petition encouraging federal oversight of the William F. Cribari Bridge project is available to register support for public involvement. Almost 800 of us have signed it.
Here is the link
https://c.org/xM7ZPdyV82
FYI. The painting heading is my plein air appreciation of the iconic Westport landmark. Many photographers and artists have captured images of the Bridge in its many moods. Wouldn’t it be great if the Westport Journal sponsored a gallery and art show?