save old saugatuck

Neighbors, Residents, Home-owners, Renters, Friends, and Supporters of Save Old Saugatuck/SOS,

The April 25th P and Z meeting was quite a closer!

The six-month saga that started last November with a proposed development presented to Westport P and Z for 187 of rental apartments in five buildings on one of the smallest streets in Westport... Hiawatha Lane Extension, has ended on a high note for SOS.

There were some surprising missteps on Summit’s part.

That is:
Not only did Attorney Tim Hollister (Summit's attorney) suggest at one point that I was lying, he also chose to bully the P and Z commissioners with a ten-minute rant on why they must approve this 8-30g application for 187 rental units.

Additionally, Hollister himself was called out for quoting and attributing statements made by the Westport Fire Marshal that were not true. He was called out by the Fire Marshal himself.

Also, the P and Z Chairman allowed more public comment to be submitted last night because of all the last minute materials submitted by Summit. Immediately Attorney Hollister objected because public comment was suppose to have ended with the April 11th meeting. Just as immediately, the Chair over-ruled him.

I have no doubt the Commissioners did not accept that I had given any false information, but they wanted to give me the opportunity to respond to Hollister because they did not want only his accusation be on the record without my response as well.

Let’s just say that without raising my voice, I channeled the anger and frustration that all of us in the SOS effort have felt for so many years in responding to Hollister’s accusation and his behavior in general.

Gloria Gouveia of Land-Use Consultants also did a stunning job for SOS in her presentation, which exposed fundamental flaws to Summit’s plan for 187 rental units.

It was with a wonderful relief to hear the P and Z Chair formally close the meeting, letting us know that within the next 65 days, a decision to accept or reject would be given.

I feel very hopeful that their decision will be to reject this proposal. We will certainly be at the decision-making meeting no matter when it is within the next 65 days.

And at this point, a huge thank you to everyone for every bit of support and encouragement given to SOS through these many years.

The final act will be determined if there is any, by court action. I'll let you know.

Any thoughts or suggestions on your part....let me know.

Your continued support is appreciated.
If you want to help - you may make a contribution to the  the SOS Facebook $ Fund HERE. Or via our PayPal "Contribute Now" link, below. Thank you!