By Jarret Liotta
Westport fire officials tonight expressed renewed concerns about what they see as inadequate safety considerations being given for a controversial 8-30g apartment complex proposed for Lincoln Street.
Expressing concerns were (l-r) Fire Chief Rob Yost, Fire Marshal Nathaniel Gibbons, and retired Fire Chief Andrew Kingsbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
The Planning and Zoning Commission heard details about an amended site plan application for an 81-unit, six-story affordable housing development, which would abut Post Road West.
Neighborhood residents have been vocal in their opposition to the plan, which the town’s Historic District Commission said would be extremely detrimental to the historic neighborhood’s character and streetscape for homes built in the 1800s and the early 1900s.
The only significant change to the revised application involved closing off an exit from the development onto the Post Road, and instead widening the Lincoln Street entrance by 12 feet to allow an exit there as well.
“This is a dangerous building,” said Fire Marshal Nathaniel Gibbons, citing three main reasons for his concern, including access for emergency vehicles, the physical toll on responders the poor access would necessitate, and the singular reliance on a sprinkler system to protect the 135-bedroom structure from fire.
“I’d be happy to say that in court,” he said, noting that he had approved of other 8-30g building plans he had seen for different developments and that it was not a factor in his opinion.
“We’ve got 80 percent with no coverage,” he said, citing the ability for fire trucks to get within adequate range of much of the building.
John Fallon, attorney for the developer, addresses tonight’s P&Z meeting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“My big disappointment with the applicant is, he saw these comments early this year and he didn’t lift a finger to make this a safer building,” Gibbons said.
The original application was filed March 9.
Attorney John Fallon, representing the developer, Cross Street LLC, said the other reason for the resubmission was to “restart the statutory clock” to allow time for vetting.
“The amended application does not satisfy the concerns I had at the last meeting,” Fire Chief Robert Yost said.
In particular, Yost said there literally might not be enough water accessible in the town to handle a fire there—something that gets particularly problematic during summer months when so many people are watering their lawns.
“At any given time during peak watering season, (the) tank goes down to very low levels,” he said.
“We could open up a fire hydrant and have nothing come out … That’s what gives me concern as we keep building these larger and larger buildings,” he said.
At least 30 area residents stayed throughout the meeting to hear about the revised Lincoln Street application. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
Questions of traffic safety were also discussed, along with parking issues on Lincoln Street.
Mike Galante, traffic consultant for the project, said 17 parking spaces on one side alone would need to be removed.
Fire consultant Andrew Kingsbury, the retired fire chief who preceded Yost, said it would likely require a wider opening at the new entrance to accommodate the town’s large ladder truck.
Also, he said, because of the steep grade on that road, there was dangerous potential for an extended ladder to actually tip over.
“It will quickly outpace available resources,” he said of the development.
