By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Several projects of significant interest will be before the Planning and Zoning Commission at its May 20 meeting.

One of the public hearings is for an 8-24 request to upgrade the playground at Compo Beach.

The applicant is Rick Benson and the Westport Rotary Club. Compo Beach, at 60 Compo Beach Road, is owned by the town, necessitating the 8-24 report from the P&Z. That’s a state statute governing a significant change in use of a municipal property, requiring, in this case, P&Z approval.

“The scope of the project is to remove some worn out features, replace most of the picket fencing, rebuild some of the existing features to better meet today’s family’s needs, and add some new features,” Benson wrote in a project narrative. “These activities will all occur within the same portion of the beach as the existing playground. The cost of these improvements is between $350,000 and $400,000. Our fundraising goal is $500,000. Our intent is to gift the renovated playground to the Town as an in-kind contribution and to gift the remaining cash as a long-term maintenance fund for the Playground.”

“$100,000 has been raised to date from Westport Rotary and $100,000 from the Westport Police Foundation,” he continued. “Build week is scheduled for Spring, 2025 as a huge community hands-on event built 100% by volunteers,” he continued. “Fundraising and volunteer sign up will begin shortly after Parks and Rec. approval.”

See an earlier story here.

Another public hearing will be held on a proposed text amendment that would enable the Old Mill Grocery and Deli, 222 Hillspoint Road, to serve alcohol. 

The market, whose latest operator is Romanacci, is owned by Soundview Empowerment Alliance, Inc. That’s a nonprofit started by local people who wanted to keep the century-old corner store open after a previous incarnation, Elvira’s, went up for sale a few years ago.

Recent operators have had trouble turning a profit. 

Land-use consultant Cindy Tyminski, on behalf of the owners, has filed a text amendment application to change the town’s zoning regulations and allow retail food establishments in residential neighborhoods to sell alcohol.

According to the application, only two such establishments in Westport could benefit from the text amendment — Old Mill Market and The Porch, on Cross Highway, formerly known as Christie’s.

Retail food establishments seat 10 or fewer people, and are not deemed restaurants.

See an earlier story here.

Also on the May 20 agenda is a re-subdivision of 50 Sylvan Road North. 

The property is owned by Sazes Partners, L.P. A public was hearing was opened but hasn’t had testimony through several meetings. It must close by May 27, though the commission has more time to render a decision.

The plan is to divide the 3-acre lot at No. 50 into two lots, retaining the 11,000-square-foot estate built in 1920 and adding a new house, No. 52, and another driveway.

Many people living in the area have written to the commission with concerns since the application was filed, several mentioning another driveway so close to a private road’s intersection with Sylvan Road North.

A town engineer expressed a similar concern, and also mentioned drainage issues.  Read more here. 

But changes to the plan have been made, said Rick Benson, also representing this owner. He detailed them in an updated project narrative.

“A site plan revised to 4/16/24 for the proposed new home at 52 Sylvan Rd. N. has been submitted with the re-subdivision plan retaining the existing driveway entrance, relocating part of the stone wall and showing maximum drainage for 25 percent coverage. The proposed driveway and drainage plan for No. 50 is incorporated into the same plan. The existing stone wall will be removed for the full width of the ROW to improve site lines.The proposed new driveway for 50 meets the 25-foot separation distance from the adjacent Sylvan Farms Lane intersection.”

The meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 20, online. A Zoom link will be announced. The meeting also will be live streamed on the town’s website, www.westportct.gov, and/or accessible on Optimum Government Access Channel 79 and Frontier Channel 6020, according to a Planning and Zoning Department press release.

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.