By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The blue-wrapped house at Old Mill Beach has been removed from the town’s blight list.

It has appeared on the Blight Prevention Board’s agenda for three years, but recently members voted to take it off.

The action came after a new LLC bought the troubled property and work began — and stopped once again  — while permission to tweak a court-stipulated plan was obtained.

The newest owners sought some aesthetic changes to what was agreed to by some neighbors, former owners and town after a suit was brought. The property has had a troubled history since permission was granted several years ago to convert the site from a beachfront restaurant to a residence.

Most of the requested changes were granted Tuesday by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The updated agreement will have to be approved by a judge.

On Thursday, the blight board took up the matter, and debated whether the property should remain on its watch list, or be removed.

The board had levied $36,650 in blight violation fines on the property, which were settled when the property was sold to the latest owner, Summit Westport LLC, in January.

The fines, which had risen to $250 a day, stopped accumulating after the new owner resumed work on the site.

Building Official Steve Smith gave the Blight Prevention Board an update on the property’s status at Thursday’s meeting. He said the new owner had a building permit to complete what was previously approved, and had begun work, before pausing.

After the changes he sought make their way through the court before, an updated building permit would be issued.

“I would suspect it’s probably within 30 days, he’s going to start work again,” Smith said.

“As long as he keeps working on things there, he’s not in violation of a blight ordinance or a building code,” Smith said.

“I had mentioned last month that we really should be taking them off,” member Rick Burke said.

“If he is working under a current permit, we really should be taking him off our current agenda because he is not in violation at this time.”

Chairman Joseph Strickland said he understood that point, but noted the new owner has a permit he’s admitted he’s not going to complete.

“I think we can take it off,” Smith said. “Under the building code, if nothing happens within six months, then he would be in violation, he wouldn’t have an active building permit, we could bring it back on.”

“So Rick, are you making a motion we take it off?” Strickland asked.

“Yes I am,” Burke replied. “I’m making a motion to take him off the agenda because he is not in violation.”

“I agree with you,” Strickland said. “He is not in violation.”

“But the blue house was the violation,” said member Jeffrey Stewart. “Wrapped in paper for three years.”

Strickland said the owner is now technically under construction, even if he’s not doing it right now.

The board voted unanimously to take 233 Hillspoint Road off the agenda after three years.

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.