By Gretchen Webster
WESTPORT — Closing Taylor Place to traffic and transforming it into a pedestrian walkway between Jesup Green and downtown’s commercial district is among the latest ideas under consideration by the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee.
The Taylor Place walkway is one of several vehicular changes and amenities recommended by a consultant for the Jesup Green/Imperial Avenue area, which also include play areas, a boardwalk and garden-lined paths.
The proposals, unveiled at DPIC’s meeting last Thursday, will be reviewed by the committee before being referred to other town bodies for consideration.
The plan to close Taylor Place is designed not only to enhance the experience for pedestrians, especially those who park on one side of Post Road East and shop on the other, but also help ease traffic snags. Traffic builds up when cars leaving Taylor Place cross Post Road East to Main Street, or turn onto the busy thoroughfare at the intersection’s traffic light, several DPIC members agreed.
Initial design concepts for Jesup Green and the Imperial Avenue parking lot were presented to the committee by consultants from Langan, an engineering and environmental firm hired by the town.
The study focused on 10 goals, outlining several options that DPIC will review before making recommendations on a specific plan. (Read the full report here.)
Goals outlined in the study are:
- Reconnect the community to the riverfront.
- Balance the needs of pedestrians with the need for parking.
- Create an accessible riverwalk.
- Promote an inclusive atmosphere.
- Design a sustainable flood-resistant waterfront.
- Provide education opportunities while promoting a healthy ecosystem.
- Integrate public art into the area.
- Link commercial and cultural elements of the downtown to the river.
- Develop a plan that can be funded and constructed in phases.
- Create a downtown identity and future stewardship for the area.
Jesup parking static, but green space grows
The consultants presented two “schemes” for the Jesup Green area as part of the study, which would increase the number of parking spaces by only one slot in one scenario and by two in the other, but both would increase the amount of green space.
Suggested changes for parking would be accomplished by tweaking configuration of existing spaces in the Taylor parking lot and on Jesup Road, not by using Jesup Green itself. An earlier plan to expand downtown parking by carving spaces out of the green, to help compensate for spaces lost in Parker Harding Plaza’s redesigned lot, was rejected by the Representative Town Meeting last May.
A separate design scheme for the Imperial Avenue lot, however, would increase parking capacity from the 166 existing spaces to 183.
Amenity options for the Jesup area include an entrance pergola, children’s play areas, an outdoor classroom, enhanced entrances to the area and a boardwalk connecting Jesup Green to downtown.
The two options presented to DPIC differ mainly in how open-space areas are treated and the placement of walkways around and through the area.
Upgrades at Imperial lot
A separate concept for the Imperial lot includes a restroom and storage structure for the Westport Farmers Market, a new pedestrian bridge linking the lot to the Westport Library, a kayak launch, an extended riverwalk, a scenic overlook, new sculptures and native plantings.
At the conclusion of DPIC’s meeting, Chair Randy Herbertson appointed a subcommittee to study the consultants’ suggestions and formulate a recommendation for consideration by the full DPIC. The committee then will act on a formal plan for review by the public and other town boards, including the Planning and Zoning Commission.
“In the coming months we need to make a recommendation,” Herbertson said. “There are a number of components that we need to agree or disagree with … It is really important.”
Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.
This is one I can generally agree with, but a BUT …
There is generally enough parking on that side of downtown. Put more efficient parking at Baldwin to better serve the Main Street area. Restripe the lots and beautify the pedestrian areas. An enhanced Poast Road crossing is sorely needed, so that’s a good idea.
We do not need a playground there. We have a brilliant playground at the beach, and lots of room to run at Jesup. Bring a ball. Leave the Jesup area as open space. Bring music nights (like Weston), theater (like Rowayton), and student performances (like Church Lane) there.
Benches under trees, a pergola, and an enhanced pedestrian crossing: didn’t have to pay a consultant for these ideas.
Pedestrian safety and experience is a worthwhile cause, but I these consultants are overthinking the value of Jesup Green. It is pretty darn good as plain old open space.
I live in a downtown neighborhood. So I would be remiss if I didn’t ask for better resident representation on the DPIC. It’s not just about commerce. It is every bit as much about community. It’s not about getting more people to come to Westport; it’s about improving our quality of life here.