By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The plans to overhaul the Inn at Longshore, including a small addition, have been submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

A Coastal Site Plan review under state statute 8-24 for municipal property will be heard by the commission May 6. It will first go before the Architectural Review Board.

In March 2023, the P&Z gave a positive recommendation on an earlier 8-24 request that extended the lease for the operators, Longshore Hospitality Group, up to 30 years.

The lease extension committed the operators to $8 million in upgrades to the town-owned building on the nearly 170-acre property. The P&Z’s 2023 approval said the renovation plans should come before the commission when ready.

An 8-24 review is required by state statute when significant changes to a municipal property are proposed. A Coastal Site Plan review is required under state statute for projects near coastal areas.

Peter Romano of LandTech is the applicant on behalf of Longshore Hospitality. The town is the owner.

“The architect, Ken Nadler, is proposing to create a new entrance with a porte cochere, renovated lobby, event space, hotel rooms and restaurant,” LandTech wrote in a project narrative.

“To the rear of the Inn, adjacent to the event space/banquet hall, a series of patios will extend across the length of the building and have access to the great lawn and shoreline,” it reads. “Site improvements will include a new drive entrance, enhanced parking, parking lot landscaping and a robust landscaping plan around the site of the Inn.”

Several town departments have submitted memos saying they have no concerns about the project, or that they support it. The Conservation Department said that staff “feels there should be no anticipated adverse coastal impacts expected as a result of this proposed project.”

One person has written to the P&Z about the application. Toni Simonetti had questions:

• “Are the proposed improvements expected to result in increased hotel room rates and banquet service rental rates?”
• “Are proposed improvements expected to increase the number of hotel rooms available at the Inn (currently 12)?”
• “Do the proposed improvements have any effect on the residences (cottages and single-family homes) located on the property? Does Longshore Hospitality LLC have any oversight over these residences?”
• “Because this is a prized and valuable asset belonging to the Town of Westport taxpayers, please provide a list of names with town of residence of all owners and investors of Longshore Hospitality LLC.”

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.