By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — An architect who last month withdrew an application for a fast-casual restaurant with a drive-through at 1076 Post Road East said Friday the plan is not dead.

When Rick Hoag wrote the Planning and Zoning Department to withdraw the application on March 5, he said the plan would be reworked and refiled with the Zoning Board of Appeals.

“Over the last week, we have come up with a scheme that we believe will better satisfy all parties hence we think it makes sense to withdraw our application which will give us time to vet the new scheme with the fire dept & police department before resubmitting,” Hoag wrote last month.

Recently a large “for lease” sign went up on the corner lot, which also is known as 1060 Post Road East. It for decades had been a gas station. The sign names a broker and a phone number to call. That made some wonder if the restaurant plan had been abandoned.

Hoag told the Westport Journal on Friday the plan is still kicking.

“We’ll probably come back, but right now the owner’s just trying to decide,” he said.

“We kind of revised the scheme based on some comments that came back from the fire marshal, etc., and he’s trying to decide what to do,” he said.

Fire Marshal Terrence Dunn Jr. weighed in on the original plan in December.

“The proposed ‘Casual Fast Food Restaurant’ located at 1076 Post Road East shows a one-way driveway with a new drive-thru feature that raises concern of emergency access in and out of the proposed parking lot,” he wrote.

“No turning radii are depicted on the main driveway. Access to the building with the drive-thru lane full of vehicles would be impacted,” he continued. “The current intersection of Church Street South and Post Road East is very narrow, and any overflow of the drive-thru possibly backing up onto the Post Road would inhibit emergency vehicles from making the turn on Church Street South.

“This office is not in favor of the proposed layout,” Dunn concluded.

A police traffic official later weighed in with similar concerns.

Many neighbors also had expressed concerns about traffic backups on narrow Church Street South and Post Road, similar to conditions seen not far away from a Starbucks drive-through.

Since that application was filed last fall, the plug has been pulled on plans for an Amazon Fresh store, the would-be anchor of the Post Plaza shopping center. Big Y Supermarkets, a family-owned New England chain, announced it would be moving in.

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.