Editor’s note: following is an opinion submitted by Westport resident Marilyn Harding.

Growing up in Westport I saw the town from the inside out. You could say my family home was a part of Westport Central. At any given time, there would be a shiny Cadillac, a couple of trucks and a beat-up bug, oh, and yes, at least one station wagon parked in our driveway.

These town devotees who gathered for kitchen table discussions of town affairs, would spread  out, hunkering down over the long kitchen table or just slouch into one of the living room chairs lost in conversations that had much to do with what was going on with the P and Z, or how the RTM had blocked some part of a plan for the new Long Lots school. There was much back and forth, and some stuff caught my attention like wetlands and setbacks and discussion about the landfill in the center of town which was the foundation for a new parking lot to be called Parker Harding. 

I remember going to the ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the parking lot. I was awe struck as I had never seen the Saugatuck River, a focal point anywhere in the town. The morning sun lit the river as it seemed to rush by, catching the light and throwing it back as if in gratitude. It’s the star of our town, a fresh water ancient glacial ice melt, that must not ever be disturbed. 

My dad, Evan Harding, who designed Parker Harding, was applauded as a hero. His plan was purposely designed to enhance the natural beauty of the river with a parking lot that served not only the people of Westport but the many merchants who paid 80% of its build. The original landscape, trees, and bushes are long-gone as the town did not take care of the area.

Today some enjoy expressing their dissatisfaction for the lack of parking using the meme, “Harder Parking” which of course shows no appreciation for the center of Westport. Look around at other towns and you may become mindful that a great design plan can, and often does, enhance the best of nature. Having said that though, many can’t resist the urge to “re-brand Westport” wanting to rid Parker Harding of 44 prime and essential parking spaces, shrinking much of the parking area to almost nothing, claiming that a parklike environment would improve the town’s prestige. We all agree Parker Harding needs some restoration as the town has paid no attention to its aesthetics or modernized its utility in years. But do we have to rid our community of Parker Harding’s original purpose? 

Purpose 1: Provide a downtown area where the people of Westport could shop for their needs surrounded by the beauty of nature. 2: Reward Westport’s merchants for their retail ingenuity and the hard-earned tax dollars they contribute to our community? After all, it was the merchants who paid 80% of the build! 

As a creative and resourceful town, we have to take the ego out of this project and replace it with transparency as well as the hiring of a Landscape Architect experienced with the landscapes of old New England towns. Like it or not, that is Westport’s brand and for those who don’t like nostalgia think about it this way, “Preservation is the Future”.   

I suggest that even if the DPI comes up with 40 parking spaces, the town must hire a noted Landscape architect who has experience working with spatial deficits, updated parking codes, and the plant material best suited to the location; there must be a master plan that details the entire parking lot including hardscapes, parking schematics and of course plant material edited to flourish in the intended environment. Add to this a year-round budget for maintaining all aspects of the site. 

Westport has a great opportunity to keep the promises made over 50 years ago to the people of Westport and to its merchants.  It’s time! And it’s time to use the benefits of modern construction to put back the old New England Charm that Westport has always been known for. Isn’t that why we are all here? And if I may suggest with regard to the plan, could we use more New England stone instead of so much red brick, and instead of a boardwalk surrounding the river why not a trail of moss, herbs and wildflowers? 

There are people who have worked hard to keep Westport moving forward and Sal Liccione is one of those very important people. A member of the RTM for over 5 years (District 9) Sal knows Westport’s downtown area, like the back of his hand. And we need him back on the job! This fine individual did everything possible to save Parker Harding for its intended purposes, parking for the people and for its merchants.  And Sal was the first member of the RTM to vote against Hamlet’s application. Mr. Liccione ‘s future goal is to put the WE back into Westport.

Even more sense needed. Let’s save Saugatuck

As we consider the controversial overhaul and development of Saugatuck, we tip our hats to Mr. Paul Lebowitz, chair of Planning and Zoning. Watching him shuffle his command of Westport’s land use regulations with the issues at hand while navigating the sometimes novice opinions of his commissioners is like watching a master class in negotiations. It would be so interesting to see Mr. Larry Weisman, a noted Westport Zoning Attorney, and Paul Lebowitz, chair of the P and Z, in one room with a representative from Roan to discuss the pros and cons of the Hamlet. Mr. Weisman’s approach “of working together, talking to each other, instead of at each other” may just open the doors of progress.

Dara Lamb, founder of the Alliance for Saugatuck, must be part of this meeting as she has the guts and clarity to consider the people of Saugatuck and the lifestyle compromise that the more than 3,000 residences of Saugatuck will have to make for the next 4 to 5 years. If it weren’t for her commitment to Westport and her acute sensitivity to the negative impact this enormous building would have on the citizens and businesses of Saugatuck, much would have been lost!

In the 50’s, Saugatuck was battered by the State of Connecticut’s plan to build I-95. The plan took a wrecking ball to the small but vital neighbor known as Saugatuck. Family homes and businesses were taken by eminent domain, displacing many people and leaving the landscape almost scorched. It is, however, and has always been, an important gateway to the town. The 3 to 5 years it would take to complete the Hamlet would leave Westport commuters in a flurry of unknowns. Can I get there on time? What about the trucks blocking the road? Is my parking space available?  The mud on the ground leaks through designer boots. The stairs to the platform have been removed. Oh god!  Will I have to climb a ladder! What do I do now?  

And what about the people who live in Saugatuck? The constant noise of construction that will permeate their apartments.  The sound of jack hammers all day long, toxic diesel that damages their lungs, the equipment that blocks their ability to receive deliveries, guests or for that matter get in and out of their own homes. How can all of this be remediated?  What is the solution? After all, we are human beings, and we deserve a peaceful coexistence both in and outside our homes. 

Yes, Saugatuck needs improvement but not a monstrous new city that would degrade air quality, project abusive noise into the community, eliminate our rights to operate business in a safe and clean community. How would mothers and fathers walk their children, their dogs and why would we have to stop living all for one gigantic development whose leaders have shown no respect for the people of Westport, and our town government.

And for those who care about the branding of Westport the people who own the Hamlet will have every opportunity to re-brand our town. Competition for entertainment venues is very competitive.  Could we be faced with a little honky-tonk at the train station?   

Before Westport does anything we must have a televised town meeting. Let’s all listen and find a solution that works for the town of Westport and its people.        

Marilyn Harding
Weston Road
Westport