Sprouts rendering Frederick William Hoag
By Kerri Williams
WESTPORT – The Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday heard a proposal for the renovation of a commercial building at 1460 Post Road East with the addition of a new anchor tenant, the grocery chain Sprouts and the relocation of a current tenant, Bluepoint Wellness.
Sprouts
During a pre-application, or a non-binding forum, several P&Z members said that they generally like the idea, which would include site upgrades such as improving landscaping, moving dumpsters and making the site ADA compliant. But members also asked the applicants to be cognizant that the activities on the site, such as loading and unloading of product, do not disturb neighbors. The site is partially within the “Residence A” District.
“It’s a good concept,” said Commissioner Craig Schiavone. “It looks wonderful.” She went on to list a couple of concerns, which include that the new roofline might look too tall and that sound would be too loud during trash removal and other activities.
“We need to be confident that we will not disturb the neighbors,” Schiavone said. “That is a real sticky issue.”
In describing the proposal, Christina Gordon of FWH Architects said Sprouts currently has 460 stores nationwide and is looking to expand in the northeast. Gordon said Regency Centers, which is doing the work there, has revitalized other commercial locations in Westport and plans to keep Julian’s Pizza and Bevmax, a wine and spirits store, on the site.
The site at 1460 Post Road East, where Sprouts would be located, is 2.96 acres, with about 2 acres in the General Business District and 1 acre in the “Residence A’ District. Currently, some parking spots and dumpsters are in the residential zone.
“It’s great to hear about the improvements in those elements,” said Michelle Perillie, Planning & Zoning director.
The applicant is asking for a height variance for the roofline of the Sprouts store, as the store uses a double-gable entrance feature that is higher than the adjacent building, Gordon said. Because of the grade of the property, the roof would need to be a little over two feet higher than what is allowable.
Commission Chairman Paul Lebowitz said he would most likely be okay with the variance for height. “I would not want to see it higher,” he noted.
Gordon said that the number of parking spaces on the site would be reduced in the plan from 229 to 182. She said the applicant is asking to have a reduced parking load because the tenants have floor area that involves storage and not serving the public. Granting the reduced parking load would also allow for additional landscaping, she said.
Bluepoint Wellness
Later in the meeting, the commission heard an application from another 1460 Post Road East tenant, Bluepoint Wellness of Westport, a medical marijuana dispensary, whose lease was not renewed at the Post Road East site. In a presentation that was controversial with some members of the public, Bluepoint asked for a special permit to relocate to 345 Post Road West.
Bluepoint had asked to locate a medical dispensary at the Post Road West location in 2018 and was denied by the commission, with some saying it was too close to a school and residential neighborhood. During Monday’s public comment period, several people said that “nothing has changed since then.”
The commission voted to close the hearing on Bluepoint but did not vote during Monday’s meeting.
“I don’t like these shops,” said Jimmy Izzo. He said the dispensaries are a “front to move recreational dope into our community.”
But Toni Simonetti said she is a patient at Bluepoint, calling it “exceptionally well run.”
“It’s a lot safer than any bar in town,” she said.
Others cited concerns about public safety and traffic in the area. Louis Mall, a member of RTM Dist. 2, said he is tired of the area being a “dumping ground.”
Phil Levieff countered that he receives “great medical care” at the current dispensary, adding that it is “unfortunate that there is this misconception.”
Kerri Williams
Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.
