Editor’s note: The following opinion essay written by Bob Jacobs, a former member of the Downtown Master Plan Steering Committee, was submitted for publication by the Westport Journal.
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The most recent plan for parking on Jesup being put forth for P&Z approval demonstrates a dismaying lack of responsible governance and collective lack of imagination. The 2015 Master Plan for Downtown Westport (DMP) plan was approved by the P&Z and the town upon its completion.
From the Westport town website: “The Westport Downtown Plan Implementation Committee shall serve as the appointed committee responsible for initiating and carrying out the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan.”
The relevant page related to Jesup and Baldwin from the DMP clearly shows a “reinvention of Jesup Green,” and specifically removal of parking and an increase in family-friendly amenities, including a playground and a place to launch small boats. It also shows “Evaluate the need for Structured Parking at the Baldwin/Elm Lots:”
Instead, we have a proposal to expand parking on Jesup put forth by the town at the last minute on March 22 before the P&Z meeting March 25 that shows parking to remain on Jesup and expand on Jesup Road:
This is contrary to its mandate to implement the DMP. It is also disingenuous and misleading for the town to have prepared a plan for Jesup that ONLY shows parking at the top and no waterfront parking:
Jesup is our town commons and its integrity should be protected at all costs. It has the potential to become a lively destination for Westporters to come together. In all of the discussions driving the DMP, the mantra was to “enhance our sense of community.”
We should be focusing on amenities that energize use of the green rather than adding parking which adds no energy for use of the green. When the Police Station is relocated, it is enticing to imagine a lively community center on the top edge of the green to energize the green with events and activities. There would space for additional parking.
Many may feel we may be too far down the road to reconsider a change of course on Jesup and parking. But no shovels have been put in the ground and Parker Harding can go ahead while we explore the cost of another deck on Baldwin. It is simple planning logic to put concrete on concrete rather than concrete on green.
With the March 22 last-minute unveiling of the Jesup plan with waterfront parking, I feel that the town has been snookered by an eleventh-hour bait and switch.
In my practice as an architect, I would advise my clients that if it took additional cost, time and effort to achieve their goal, it was worth it. Otherwise they would live with regret. I hope the town and the DPIC has the courage, imagination, and common sense to implement the DMP as proposed for Jesup and embrace the obvious solution on Baldwin. To do otherwise is to miss an important opportunity for the town and, like in Gorham Island, live with regret.
Note: In checking a refresh of the DPIC website they have added and modified the March 22 plan to show “convert parking to green space.” A step in the right direction, but still a departure from the DMP.
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The full Downtown Master Plan is attached here:
Meanwhile Parker Harding gets no green space at the expense of parking.
As one of the biggest–by far–stakeholders in the entire downtown because my retail/restaurant colleagues and I pay an enormous share of the downtown very hefty property taxes, we must be listened to.
We ARE the downtown.
Bob, thanks for writing this. My only quibble might be that you inadvertently left readers with the impression that the Westport Downtown Masterplan only recommended considering a parking deck on the Baldwin Lot. As the link you thoughtfully shared makes plain, the Plan offers a host of possible stratagies for additional parking – including a parking deck behind the police station.
This is an important letter for at least 3 reasons:
1) it affirms that the DPIC has failed to carry out its mandate and has engaged in sleight of hand bordering on duplicity in the presentation of its plan;
2) it shows that there are better ways to address the downtown parking issue and to reconfigure Jesup Green; and,
3) it reminds us that there are dozens of studies and plans prepared at taxpayer expense, which have been forgotten and are gathering dust in storage without ever having been implemented.
Although we occasionally disagree on some matters, Larry, I can’t find any reason to disagree with you on your three points. I might add that DPIC also departed from its mandate with the redesign of Parker Harding. The Master Plan very specifically called for retaining the bypass road. And we all know how events flowed from there.
You are correct about the alternative locations noted in the DMP. The advantage of Baldwin is that it is much closer to downtown shopping and activities. Also, Baldwin is below grade so another level would be less obtrusive than parking near the Police Station…especially the lot to the north. Also, it makes sense for the Police Station to be relocated to a place that is not a prime downtown site that could be used for a community amenity to enliven Jesup and the downtown (community/civic center/hotel/restaurant) and structured parking there would encumber the planning of that area. None of the approved DMP shows an expansion of parking on Jesup. All parking locations should be evaluated by the DPIC as noted in the DMP.
I fully agree that decked or structured parking at the Elm St. and/or Baldwin lots will provide all of the convenient our downtown requires. This would also have the liberating consequence of allowing us to seriously re-imagine both the the Parker Harding lot and Jesup Green as community-enhancing places. It would in fact permit the complete elimination of the Parker Harding lot in favor of expanded retail, especially restaurants with extensive outdoor seating, as well as a pedestrian promenade.
Im sorry, but a parking garage is more like white plains or stamford kind of liberation. If you ad more retail its not fair to the store owners already there.
With downtown parking people must understand there are two aspects– quality and quantity.
A parking garage is possible as a supliment for employees— not the reason for over development.
People make all kinds of claimes about downtown and quite honestly, they dont know what they are talking about.
My friend, the answer has nothing to do with crowding cars into a cramped garage. The magic is driving up to the store one is shopping at. That is the westport quality difference provided by parker harding.
People think its so easy to make changes.
Fix the garbage already and stop reimaging our world, we like the way it is.
If you want a parking garage move to long island city
This being Westport, I do believe that an additional deck of parking in either or both the Elm and Baldwin Street–not a multi-level garage–can be created in an unobtrusive even attractive way. Shouldn’t we at least commission a rendering of what it might look like, instead of automatically assuming it would Stamford-ize Westport? Also, I don’t think anyone would characterize parking at Parking Harding as a quality experience. I doubt too that anyone would characterize visiting our downtown as a matter of “driving up to the store one is shopping at.” However, I do think what would be appealing and comforting to shoppers is knowing that you can drive to areas with ample parking, knowing you’ll have a spot, and then just a half a block walk to Main Street downtown.
Oh no, as a 55 year resident of Westport I can say with certainty that many busy Westport moms and dads, in the off season, drive right up to the store they are shopping at. Indeed that is the concept that set Westport apart in the 60s 70s 80s and 90s. The unique shopping experience for busy parents is the key to understanding downtown.
Westport is for kids.
Westport is not a resort with nightclubs and chic restaurants…hotels and chick restarants dont last in Westport because we are a bedroom community. This bedroom adpect is what elevates the real estate values.
So many newcomers make the mistake of thinking development is a great idea.
People who are busy raising kids dont have time to carous or to walk to a parking garage— the whole beaty of the thing is to drive right up.
Also– Westport is a car town. I ride my bicycle across the country recently. There are towns that are great for bicycles and walking. Westport has a problem with these activities because of how the roads were engineered– in colonial times.
Think like a soccer mom. Drop off child at violin lesson– drive downtown quickly– pick up some work out wear– hop back in car– pick up– go to tutoring– myltiply by a 1000– and you will see our situation.
Fix the garbage in parker harding. Do not elimate trees on Jesup Green and consider your job done. You are a preservationist not a transformer…
Oh, an i agree that a small parking deck could be useful for employees to help free up spot for our merchants…
I just rode my bike from Newport Beach to Monterey. I studied every nook and crany beach community bike trail along the way.
There is one town on the West coast that Westport could be…. i will save that for another day.
My book Lava Moon is the true story of my bicycle adventure across America during the pandemic. Cardio and anaerobic excersize is the key countering the effects of sitting and staring at your phone…
Todd Tracey has hit the nail on the head. Well said.