By Ken Valenti
WESTPORT — Parking will be off limits along a 150-foot stretch of Hillspoint Road, across from Old Mill Grocery and Deli, after installation of three “No Parking” signs was approved Wednesday by the Board of Selectwomen in response to complaints.
But the selectwomen delayed a decision on a proposal to install four no-parking signs along 300 feet of Evergreen Avenue, across from Washington Avenue. That plan was debated by residents at the Town Hall meeting, with several asking to expand the no-parking zone and others expressing concern the signs would mar the area’s historic character.
“I think it’ll really change the complexion of that historic district, which is really charming,” resident Liz Crawford told the board.
When Selectwoman Candice Savin suggested further review of the proposal by officials and residents, police Cpl. Alan D’Amura said he would organize the discussions and return to the board in two weeks.
The three no-parking signs approved for Hillspoint Road were proposed in response to complaints from residents about parking congestion at the deli, 222 Hillspoint Road. The signs will be posted on the eastern side of the road, from its intersection with Old Mill Road.
“On this stretch of about 150 feet, we get an awful lot of complaints [about] people parking there for the deli,” said Town Engineer Keith Wilberg. “The idea was to put signage there to make it very clear that there’s no parking in this specific area.”
Several residents told the board they can confirm the parking problems, with some drivers parking on the sidewalk or even in neighbors’ driveways.
At the deli, resident Jim Hood had a different view.
“I’ve been here 30 years and I’ve never seen anyone park there,” said Hood, chairman of an organization formed in 2022 to save the 105-year-old deli. “There’s no place to park. Where would you park?”
The contracted operators of the deli, Romanacci restaurant, also currently face a lawsuit filed by several neighbors seeking to block efforts to serve alcohol at the business.
The selectwomen approved posting the no-parking signs unanimously.
“There’s no reason not to give this a try and see if it actually helps the situation down there,” said First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker.
Ambulance-sharing pact approved
The board on Wednesday also approved an agreement between the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services and Norwalk Hospital Association to share ambulances when needed.
WVEMS Deputy Director Marc Hartog said the agency tries to keep two of its three ambulances available to respond to emergencies at all times.
“There have been times over the years when two ambulances were being worked on,” he said outside the meeting.
The department has a similar agreement with New Canaan, Hartog said. Under the agreements, Westport can borrow an ambulance when needed and can loan one of its own when asked.
In other actions, the board approved:
- Renewal of the lease with the Westport Astronomical Society for the Westport Observatory, 182 Bayberry Lane, for $100 per year.
- Extending an agreement for Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County and its parent company, Waveny LifeCare Network, to provide services upon a referral from the town’s director of human services.
- An agreement with Hartford Elevator, LLC, to install maintenance lifts for pump stations at 405 Greens Farms Road and 274 Compo Road South.
- Two new supplementary sewer connections at 3 Shadowlawn Drive and 19 Hillandale Road.
Ken Valenti is a freelance writer.
RE: Parking…..Pointless unless it’s enforced…
Out of curiosity how many photos were submitted of cars parking on that stretch infront of those 3 homes, and for how long, across the street that it is so much of a problem and done so quickly? Were cars blocking their driveways? What danger provoked this as the road is straight there with stop signs. Are those the same neighbors that are fighting the liquor license as well? Is the Selectboard promoting cars lining up on Compo Hill infront of other homes for quickly picking up a takeout order or grabbing a quick water? Is the intent to put Romanacci out of business at old mill? Even riding a bicycle there has become more dangerous with the new extra wide sidewalks that have swallowed some of the already narrowing roadway there? Why was that a good idea?
How can the administration provide for more customers, with middle of the road seating or half the sidewalk
tents to some establishments in town ie restaurants on Church Street and not others?
Please educate me how I get NO Parking signs posted on Sylvan, Cranberry, Partrick and Old Hill Roads for instance- is their a special number or email to the Select Board for fast action? What proof do I need? Everyday there is a Plethora of giant landscaping and delivery trucks parked on these narrow roads and blind corners that make driving, walking and bike riding a take your life in your hands situation on a continual basis while their corresponding driveways remain empty? I for one don’t get it.
Romanicci is an asset to the Compo
area as was Elvira’s which was almost always busy being a small grocery as well and the neighborhood survived without No Parking signs there. Different neighbors now? I can’t recall any accidents that would have prompted this new sinage.
The old Elvira’s space functioned well, as a grocery ! It was family run.
It is not a restaurant. It is not a liquor store. Nor has it any right to be one.
A neighborhood grocery store.
Again ! Not a liquor store/bar/restaurant.
We have a liquor store at the bridge. If you need liquor drive there and get it. It is not rocket science.
If every restaurant/deli/bar pushed the envelope at every opportunity we would have a totally lawless town.
And that lawlessness would be suiting the select few comme d’habitude.
So romanaccis needs to run the old mill like the neighborhood grocery store it was for many years.
Or we throw the law out the window and allow everyone the same privileges and not just friends of friends.
I’m getting very tired of watching a select few screw around with the law to garner advantage for their cronies !
They know well who they are.
And we are all watching.
No parking signs were not approved as some form of entitlement for the property owners along this stretch of Hillspoint Road. Nor were the Selectwomen who approved the signs unanimously, part of some nefarious plan to to deprive the Old Mill operation from off site parking.
The motivation for placing no parking signs at this point in time, is more likely the Town’s recent installation of sidewalks on both sides of Hillspoint Road after years of requests to do so from neighbors and pedestrians that frequent the Old Mill Beach area.
The fact is, the width of Hillspoint Road in this vicinity is too narrow to safely accommodate both sidewalks and parking.
As for compelling patrons of the store to now park on Compo Hill Road, there have been two existing no parking signs on Compo Hill, across from the Old Mill’s parking area for some years.
Finally, I understand that both the Town’s engineering staff and the WPD endorse the placement of the new signs.