Plans to convert the Westport Rehabilitation Complex on Burr Road and Post Road East into a 50-room hotel are still active, the attorney for 1 Burr Road LLC said today.
An early rendering of The Westport Hotel. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed graphic
Leonard Braman’s comments came in response to a Westport News story that the rehabilitation complex would remain open. Braman, who met for a pre application hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on June 6, said the owner is moving ahead with plans for The Westport Hotel.
“We are still working on the project,” said Braman. “At this time, we’re taking into consideration the input we received at the preapp meeting with the P&Z and other ideas based on community outreach.
“We’re talking to all the sources we can,” he added. “We got helpful feedback from the Planning and Zoning Commission, and we’re still in the process.”
At the pre-app meeting Braman sought input on a possible zoning change that would allow the establishment of the hotel in a restricted office residential (RORD 1) zone.
The commission’s reception was mostly positive.
The main caveats were that the developer be sensitive to the neighborhood and consider underground parking since the current three-story complex on the .89-acre property with 207 feet fronting Post Road West only has 35 parking spaces.
In making his pitch, Braman said that Westport only has one hotel, The Westport Inn, not to mention 12 rooms at the Inn at Longshore. He compared that to nine hotels in Norwalk and five in Fairfield.
-— James Lomuscio
