Construction crews completed the demolition of 10 Compo Parkway in Westport today. The crews started the demolition on Wednesday. The 2,400-square-foot house that was built in 1928 stood near the entrance to Longshore Club Park. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Jan. 21, 2006. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Jennifer Connic

The Westport Planning and Zoning Commission will analyze next steps towards residential structure regulation changes during a work session on Thursday night.

The commission held a public workshop with its consultant from Avon-based Planimetrics last week (See WestportNow March 15), and residents expressed concerns about the proposed changes. The changes include revisions to the coverage and setback allowances in each residential zone.

P&Z Co-Chairwoman Eleanor Lowenstein said the commission will discuss the ideas and comments the public gave during Thursday’s session, which starts at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, and determine the next steps.

Modifications may need to be made to the proposal from Planimetrics, which also is overseeing the update to the Town Plan of Conservation and Development, she said, but there also may need to be more research.

Westport officials are reviewing an application to demolish the 20,000-square-foot office building at 20 Ketchum St. The 1974 building was sold in May for $5 million in a deal that included 23 Franklin St. The property on Ketchum Street is a part of a second planning and zoning application, which was filed last week, to revitalize Saugatuck. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the first application in February (See WestportNow Feb. 8). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Construction crews demolished the 1924 house at 20 Roseville Road today. The 778-square-foot-house was sold in September 2005 for $400,000. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Dec. 24. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Jennifer Connic

The owners of the historically-designated former Cross Highway Garage, which is Westport’s first filling station, are seeking alternative plans to preserve the property rather than selling it to a developer who potentially could demolish it.
113 Cross Highway: new variance sought. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow file photo by Dave Matlow

Kim and Michael Ronemus have filed a request for a modification to their recently granted zoning variance for 113 Cross Highway to develop one of the accessory buildings into an office. The Historic District Commission will meet today at 11:30 a.m. to review and discuss alternatives other than demolishing the various buildings on the property.

The Zoning Board of Appeals last month approved one variance to allow a home office in one of the accessory buildings, which was necessary because Westport zoning regulations do not allow offices in outbuildings. The ZBA, however, rejected two other variance requests that would have expanded the building and allowed a guest room in a separate accessory building (See WestportNow Feb. 28).

Planning and Zoning Director Laurence Bradley said the new plan calls for a new building adjacent to the building that would be the office with a breezeway connecting the two. If the ZBA does not grant the requested modification to the variance for the basement, which would house the mechanicals, then the couple would have to make application for a new variance, he said.