WESTPORT — The public is invited to join an April 3 field trip to the Sherwood Island Connector site under consideration for a possible public safety complex.
Those joining town officials for the tour should gather at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at the state’s commuter parking lot on the connector.
The field trip is planned as a followup to the February forum where officials unveiled details of a conceptual plan to combine the town’s police, fire and emergency medical services in single public safety complex. The $110,000 study of the project was approved a year ago by the Representative Town Meeting.
Officials advocating for the consolidated public safety facilities — with a $92 million projected price tag — say it would supplant the town’s existing fire stations, which need an estimated $70 million to either renovate or replace.
The complex would be designed to encompass roughly 100,000 square feet.
Another advantage of the project, according to some proponents, is that by relocating Police Department headquarters, which also houses the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, from its Jesup Road location would free up the area for more downtown parking.
Both Fire Chief Nicholas Marsan and Police Chief Foti Koskinas support advancing plans for the project, which remains in the conceptual phase. The two chiefs and First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker are scheduled to join the field trip.
During the visit, “attendees will be guided through key areas of the proposed site and will have access to updated project maps. This event serves as an interactive opportunity for residents to review the plans, provide feedback,” according to officials’ announcement of the field trip.
This is such a good idea. It’s a win-win-win-win for our town. It’s a smart financial decision, it’s a good location for the project, it’s beneficial to both first responders and townspeople to consolidate our public safety services, and it frees up much needed downtown parking.
Sadly this project has many hurdles, first its location. I do not think it is permitted to build on top of an archeological site which it is. Voted on and designated such by the RTM, to save it from such a project.
In fact I’m not sure why given that designation the location was even explored, and $110k spent on a “study” in full knowledge that the historical designation of this site would render it not possible to build.
Also the town stating it will free up parking in downtown is not being truthful, because there are local developers getting in line to do a huge project in the police building should it become available.
That project will add massively to the parking burden we already have.
Now of course should it be turned into a museum ( art etc) that might not be a bad option.
But this town as it stands right now can not continue to chip away at parking whilst also further developing a site as large as the existing police building.
Of course if they just designate all parking on that side 1 or 2 hour they can then make it appear there’s no parking problem.
That is what the latest “expert” suggests for the centre of the downtown, not sure if they were guided by the administration or were paid to provide a smoke and mirrors, unhelpful “solution”, that suited town halls plan. For paid “experts” they clearly don’t have a clue how business centers in towns work.
There are 2 main activities which take place in downtown commercial centers.
Shopping and dining.
A lot of customers engage in both. Or would like to.
Looking at the 4 largest Main Street area restaurants open for lunch which attract between them 400 customers between 11-3 pm.
If those customers spend 90-100 minutes eating lunch, walking to and from their parking spots, then 2 hour parking allows for none of those 400 customers to shop before or after dining.
If I am a retail store it goes without saying that I am hoping some of that “captive” audience is going to also shop, grab coffee, get their hair cut, have a facial, pick up flowers or a box of chocolates.
This is how towns commercial centers work. The same premise as a shopping mall and the same exact premise as the “hamlet” looking to develop saugatuck.
We do not need to waste tax payer money on a loyal to the town administration “expert” to make suggestions which sabotage merchant business and make the town appear to have no parking problem, because we kicked customers out after an hour or two.
And all so the town can doggedly push their Parker Harding agenda.
A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush.
Customers who wish to spend time in our downtown are the reason we can stay solvent.
The goal for any downtown should be to make it a thriving commercial center.
Not one where every other space is vacant.
I’m not sure how many members are on the DPIC committee.. but a lot, and all handpicked by the selectmen.
I believe there may be 1 sole merchant, but I have yet to see them at any of the countless 8.30am meetings I have attended.
It’s pretty clear the opinion/guidance/feedback of merchants, is neither important nor is it requested.
It would appear, Everyone on that committee is there for a reason, either their own agenda, or to curry favor and support the selectman’s whims.