By James Lomuscio

Developer Felix T. Charney, who wants to build 155 rental units on Hiawatha Lane off Exit 17 in Saugatuck, got support at Thursday night’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) pre-application hearing from an unexpected source—the Westport Housing Authority (WHA). 

Felix T. Charney: developer is 1972 Staples grad and former P&Z commissioner. File photo

It has also been learned that the development proposed this time around will not be an 8-30g project, a state affordable housing law initiative that allows a developer to skirt local zoning laws.

Carol Martin, WHA’s executive director, gave her nod to the Summit Saugatuck plan becuase it includes a separate development that will offer 70 affordable units.

Because it is a separate development, Planning and Zoning Director Steven Palmer pointed out that 8-30g, which allows a developer to override local zoning laws if a municipality does not have 10 percent of its housing stock deemed affordable, cannot be used with this application.

The Brownstone Boutique celebrates its grand opening Thursday at its new location, 142 Main St., second floor. (See WestportNow March 17, 2016) Owner Victoria Schallert (r) invites the public to a celebration reception 6 to 8 p.m. which follows normal shopping hours. Pictured with her is co-manager Mariana Hurtado. The Brownstone is one of three ground floor businesses -– the others are Shoe-Inn and Bobby Q’s Restaurant -– which have relocated following sale of the 36-42 Main St. building in November 2014 for $9.2 million by Drew Friedman, who died in February.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

Another planned, multi-unit housing development that aims to skirt the town’s zoning regulations via the state’s affordable housing statute 8-30g is in the works, its developers announced today. This time it’s at 1177 Post Road East.

Plans call for construction of a new four-story building in the existing parking lot adjacent to the current 1175 Post Road East office building. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The proposed 94-unit, four-story, 42,000-square-foot building proposed for the 1.96-acre parcel is planned as a green, adaptive reuse of a commercial office building for the local workforce, say principals of 1177 PRE Associates, LLC.

The announcement says plans have been submitted to both the Conservation and Planning and Zoning departments.

The development company is a joint venture of local real estate developers Phil Craft and Stephen Lawrence. They said that 30 percent of the studio, one-bedroom and two bedroom units would be listed as affordable.

Scout & Molly’s, the new apparel boutique for women at Playhouse Square, celebrated its grand opening today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (See WestportNow March 16, 2016) Participants (l-r)  Matthew Mandell, executive director, Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce,  First Selectman Jim Marpe, owners Genevieve Bouchard and her husband Brian, and Bouchard daughters, Katy, 9, (l) and Solenne, 7. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo