By James Lomuscio
In a markedly congenial meeting, the Downtown subcommittee of Westport’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) today agreed with the Downtown 2020 Committee to narrow the three candidates vying to devise a master plan for the downtown to two finalists.
The Planning and Zoning Commission’s Downtown subcommittee met with the Downtown 2020 Committee and agreed on next steps. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The 8:30 a.m. meeting, which ended with consensus on preliminary steps to be taken in engaging a consultant, endorsed holding further talks with the RBA Group, with offices in Norwalk, and Milone & MacBroom, Inc. of Cheshire.
The consensus was that P.J. Smith & Company of Bulffalo, N.Y., the third respondent to the RFP (request for proposals) was not the right candidate.
The subcommittee of the P&Z also agreed to meet with members of the Downtown 2020 Committee on Tuesday, Aug. 20, to re-interview the two finalists and make a decision, preferably the same day.
“It’s important for us to get this first step forward,” said G. Kenneth Bernhard, member of the Downtown 2020 Committee
“We’re all in agreement, and you guys have done a hell of a job,” P&Z member Chip Stephens, who chaired the subcommittee meeting, told Downtown 2020 members.
The supportive exchanges at this first subcommittee meeting, which also discussed the needs for a town-wide baseline traffic study and addressing flooding problems downtown, was a positive contrast to the growing rift between the two groups over the past few months.
Unlike the P&Z, an elected body, Downtown 2020 is an advisory committee appointed 17 months ago by First Selectman Gordon Joseloff—who was at today’s meeting—to help plan for current and upcoming projects downtown.
They include Bedford Square, replacing the Westport Weston Family Y, a movie theater on Main Street, redevelopment of National Hall, rebuilding the Westport Public Library and the Levitt Pavilion, possible redevelopment of Save the Children, and a desire by the Westport Arts Center to possibly move to Jesup Green.
Downtown 2020 Chairman Lou Gagliano, who was not at today’s meeting, has repeatedly stated that his group’s mission is to create “a vital, livable and pedestrian friendly downtown” that makes better use of the riverfront, enhances streetscape, widens sidewalks, relocates parking from Parker Harding Plaza and creates “an emerald necklace” of greenway trails from various downtown anchors, such as the Westport Public Library, to shops and restaurants.
Until today, the tension between the two groups stemmed from P&Z Chairwoman Catherine Walsh’s objection that Downtown 2020 was operating independently, not having invited the P&Z to have input into the RFP. The P&Z subcommittee meeting was aimed at smoothing over these differences, which apparently it did.
Remnants of that rift briefly surfaced when subcommittee member Carol Ann Curry, an alternate on the P&Z, questioned the statutory authority of Downtown 2020, arguing that its aim should be the responsibility of the P&Z.
“We are the drivers of this,” said Stephens.
“At the end of the day, any proposal would have to go before the P&Z,” said Ron Corwin, P&Z member. “The emergence of Downtown 2020 has been a good thing for the town.”
“Agree,” Stephens chimed in.
