By James Lomuscio
It seemed there were more ideas for increasing Westport’s senior housing stock than there were people at the Planning and Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) second Senior Housing Committee meeting tonight. Only 10 persons were in attendance, and again, everything appeared to be on the table.
About 10 persons attended tonight’s second meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commisson’s Senior Housing Committeee (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
From group homes for seniors to continuing care residential communities (CCRC) to multifamily senior housing without support services—even the suggestion of putting three ranch houses for seniors on an acre in a one-acre residential zone—the committee explored myriad ways to entice developers to pursue projects on private land.
“We’re still brainstorming,” said Catherine Walsh, who co-chairs the committee with P&Z Vice Chairman Jack Whittle.
“That’s the general idea,” said Whittle, adding that the paths chosen would be “followed by a text amendment or two that have a reasonable chance of getting around the P&Z.”
Marshall Breines, principal of Westport-based Affirmative Hillspoint LLC, was the only developer present, as opposed to three at the first subcommittee meeting July 21.
Breines said it was important for the committee to have “a primer on CCRC’s,” saying that many municipalities have a special zone written for that alone.”
“It’s not a nursing home,” he stressed. “It’s a residential program with health support, so people don’t have to pay for continuing care.
“It looks like an amenitized hotel living situation,” he added, “and it’s not supported by Medicaid but by the community.”
The P&Z ommittee was formed on the heels of the P&Z’s March decision, upheld in April by a narrow vote of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), declaring the town-owned, 22-acre Baron’s South property open space.
The move put an end to a seven-year planned senior housing complex there. Walsh had repeatedly argued that any senior complex should be on private land.
Catherine Walsh, co-chair of the P&Z Commission’s Senior Housing Committee said “We’re still brainstorming,” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Breines said the minimum amount of land to have a successful CCRC of 140 units would be three acres, the land’s cost about $12 million. When asked how many affordable units it could accommodate, he said 10 percent.
That upset Jack Klinge, a member of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and a longtime supporter of 60 percent affordable housing on Baron’s South.
“(Human Services Director) Barbara Butler has a waiting list of 120, and when I hear 10 percent would work, it makes me want to throw up,” Klinge said.
“There are a lot of people in this town with a lot of needs,” Walsh responded. “We’re trying to address multiple needs.”
RTM member Lou Mall brought up the idea of allowing three one-level, two-bedroom homes on one acre, with each home selling for $800,000. That would allowi a developer the opportunity to make as much profit as on a McMansion, Mall said. His idea gained some traction from Walsh and Whittle.
RTM member Paul Leibowitz, a Democrat who is running for the P&Z, seemed to like the idea, too.
“There is a need,” Leibowitz said, adding that such homes would be snatched up.
Brian Macpherson and Donna Hogg, longtime residents and empty nesters, said they would welcome such an opportunity to downsize.
“There’s no place to downsize to,” said Hogg.
“We don’t want to move to Stamford or Milford; we want to stay here,” Macpherson said, adding that not all seniors need affordable housing.
Regarding group homes for seniors, Whittle said he did not think it would be workable under current regulations.
“Take a big house and condo-size it like they do in Newport,” Walsh said. “I think it would be cool.”
First Selectman Jim Marpe asked the committee and those present not to lose sight of the need for affordable senior housing, which had been a driving force behind the Baron’s South project.
Klinge, for one, remained stalwart on the need for affordable housing at about $1,000 a month rent.
“I’m trying to find a place for people who don’t have a lot of money,” Klinge said.
“On private land, the affordability component needs to drop,” Whittle said. “But, we can’t take our eyes off the affordability component. It’s still on our list.”
No wonder only 10 people showed up to discuss remaining opportunities for senior housing. It is no surprise that Westport seniors are dispirited and skeptical about the intentions of the current P&Z’s Senior Housing Committee. There are no good alternatives remaining for senior housing. The P and Z saw to that when they presided over the defeat of the Baron’s South option. There were 22 acres adjacent to the senior center, only 3 and 1/2 of which would have been used for senior housing, leaving the rest for open space. How often do you get to eat your cake and have it too?
So now we’re searching for an alternative for Westport’s seniors. Whatever they come up with, it will not be convenient to the Senior Center or to downtown. It will be less than our senior citizens deserve. Westport’s dogs have it better.