By James Lomuscio
Sheldon Stein received resounding support as well as some neighborhood concerns as he brought plans to redevelop the Westport Inn before a Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) public hearing Thursday night.
Sheldon Stein’s plans include a ballroom for 250 people. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com
Anne Marie Tartaglia of Sturges Highway had nothing but laurels for Stein’s plan to totally redevelop the inn that has operated on Post Road East since 1965. Stein, managing principal of New York-based Ranger Properties, bought the property three years ago.
“We are looking forward to having a place to send families when they’re in town, and we think the (upgrades) will be beautiful,” she said.
Stein’s $2.5 million planned revamp includes renovating the inn’s 115 rooms, putting in a restaurant, creating a ballroom for 250 people and making major landscaping improvements. He plans to give up 17 parking spaces in the front for plantings and eliminate some vertical parking to dispel any semblance to a motel. That is Phase I.
Phase II, if the economy turns around, he said, would involve razing the front building on Post Road East and constructing another one closer to the rear hotel built in 1985. He also plans an outdoor dining area for 22 patrons between the two buildings.
That raised concerns from Peter Perry, president of the Oak View Lane Homeowners’ Association. Oak View Lane is directly behind the inn property.
“I’ve lived there 16 years, and the Westport Inn has been a good neighbor,” Perry said. “ …I’m concerned about the outdoor dining. I didn’t know that would exist.
“My concern, really, it’s noise,” he added.
Stein responded that the outdoor dining area would not be loud.
“We’re in the hotel business, and we don’t want noise for our guests,” he said.
After the P&Z closed the hearing in room 201/201A at Town Hall, Stein and his landscape architect David W. Verespy met with Perry in the hallway and showed him the plans.
The outdoor dining area in Phase II would be located between the two buildings, Stein pointed out, creating even more of a buffer. Perry seemed satisfied.
“I think they’ll probably approve it sometime in January,” Stein said of the P&Z. “We’re going to get on it right away.”
If all goes well, he said, Phase I could be completed by April.
