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The Planning and Zoning Commission tonight approved an extension of the town lease with Longshore Associates of Westport to run the Inn at Longshore. It was the final approval needed for the new lease.
Westport’s Inn at Longshore will remain in the hands of the current tenant at least until 2019. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com file photo/Dave Matlow
The extension is for 10 years beyond the current lease, which still has two years remaining. There is an option for Longshore Associates to renew twice for five additional years each time.
The Board Finance approved the lease earlier this month (See WestportNow Dec. 6), and the Board of Selectmen approved the lease the following week (See WestportNow Dec. 12).
During tonight’s public hearing, several neighbors spoke about issues of music from the Inn and it being too loud.
Irmhilde Streidt, of Waterside Terrace, said the outdoor music at times can be unbearable.
“When we complain, they turn it down temporarily and then they turn it back up,” she said.
The neighbors need to be shielded from the noise pollution, and it can be done through the new lease.
The new lease allows for outdoor music on Sundays for four hours.
Dan Katz said he lives across the street from Longshore on Compo Road South and he can hear the music.
“If anyone broadcast (the noise) at that level, they would be arrested,” he said.
The commission placed in its recommendations to First Selectman Gordon Joseloff that the sound generation and its effects on the neighborhood need to be monitored.
Commission members Bruce Kassanoff and Howard Lathrop said they spend time nearly every Sunday at Longshore playing tennis and golf and observed that the music does not go into the night and is for a short period.
“It’s one of the nicest things,” Kassanoff said. “It’s magical to be there on a Sunday night.”
Lathrop said the effect on neighbors may be because the wind blows in the wrong direction.
“You can barely hear (the music) at the 18th tee,” he said.
Ron Corwin, commission co-chairman, said if a southwest breeze blows, he can hear things going on at Sherwood Island State Park at his home.
The new lease increases the rent for the property, including a renegotiated rate for the final two years of the current lease.
The rent for the first year of the new lease is $675,000, and there is a formula included in the lease to adjust the rent based on revenue from events at the facility.
The rent for the final two years of the current lease also increased to $425,000 and $525,000 from $325,000 and $345,000.
