Westport Property Transfers 07/12/21 - 07/16/21
Westport property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $155,220.78
Total Sales: $63,040,000
Highest Transfer Price: 1177 Post Road East: $33,350,000
Lowest Transfer Price: 20 Cross Street, Unit 7: $515,000
Transfers:
1177 Post Road East: $33,350,000
2 Hidden Hill Road: $4,275,000
12 Woody Lane: $3,740,000
123 Cross Highway: $2,600,000
18 Woods Grove Road: $2,205,000
26 Long Lots Road: $2,100,000
45 Hiawatha Lane: $1,850,000
5 Twin Bridge Acre Road: $1,700,000
19 Gault Avenue: $1,520,000
7 Iris Lane: $1,350,000
3 Blind Brook Road South: $1,325,000
44 Bridge Street: $1,230,000
53 Colony Road: $970,000
3 Rockland Place: $970,000
2 Pequot Drive: $931,000 [1.01% Westport]
405 Harvest Commons: $880,000
2 Florian Court: $750,000
24 Vineyard Lane: $749,000
20 Cross Street, Unit 7: $515,000
Downtown View from Gorham Island
This morning’s clear weather as seen from Gorham Island. WestportLocal.com photo
One Arrested for Compo Beach Area Car Break-ins and Thefts in October, November
On November 30, 2021, the Westport Police took multiple reports of motor vehicle burglaries as well as a report of a stolen car. These incidents occurred during the early morning hours in the Compo Beach section of town. On December 2, 2020, a party identified as Christopher Mulkern as well as a second male were arrested by the Stratford, CT police. At the time of this arrest, the two men were reportedly found to be in possession of a piece property that was stolen during one of the above-mentioned motor vehicle burglaries. Additionally, during the course of the investigation, a cell phone which purportedly belonged to Mr. Mulkern was recovered. The phone was searched pursuant to a search and seizure warrant. An examination of the device reportedly revealed additional evidence linking Mr. Mulkern and his accomplice to these crimes. Further, there was a video as well as pictures on the phone which purportedly tied the two men to the theft of a motor vehicle which occurred in Westport on October 6, 2020.
Based upon the investigation, a warrant for Mr. Mulkern’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court judge.
On the morning of July 28, 2021, Mr. Mulkern was arrested by Westport detectives. Per the warrant, he was charged with five counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary in the Third Degree, Larceny in the First Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the First Degree, Larceny in the Fifth Degree, and four counts of Larceny in the Sixth Degree. Mr. Mulkern was held on a $200,000.00 bond and was arraigned at Stamford Superior Court later that same day.
Breakfast on Thomas Road
A fawn and a young buck graze on green grass found on the lawn of a Thomas Road home this morning. WestportLocal.com photo
Car Accident Reported on Long Lots Road
A car accident was reported just after 11:00 AM this morning on Long Lots Road near Ruta Court. First responders were on scene soon thereafter, with traffic slowed in the immediate area just off of the intersection of Long Lots Road and Post Road East. One vehicle was reported involved. No information has been released.
Izzo Hour: Friday Morning Sunrise
Friday morning’s sunrise was comfortable and cool over Compo Beach. Photo by Jimmy Izzo for WestportLocal.com
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 10 to 16 mph.
High Tides: 4:40 AM/5:01 PM
Low Tides: 10:52 AM/11:36 PM
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind around 8 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Zoning Regulation Revision Subcommittee Meeting Ends with Plans for Future Discussion regarding Baron’s South Property
The Baron’s Mansion behind dense vegetation and trees. Photo by Jake Fitzpatrick for WestportLocal.comReporting by Jake Fitzpatrick for WestportLocal.comThe Baron’s South Property is a 22-acre town-owned park in downtown Westport. The land was acquired by the town for municipal use in 1994. In 2015, while a second proposal by the First Selectman to utilize the property for senior housing with an affordable component was in the offing, the P&Z Commission voted to rezone the area under the extremely strict ‘DOSRD 2’ classification, which permits only “passive open space” use and no organized recreational activity. A majority of the RTM voted to overturn the DOSRD 2 designation but not the supermajority required to overturn the P&Z Commission.
The meeting started with a general introduction to the topic by Chairman Dobin who opined that the property is clearly suffering from “benign neglect” and that the failure to invest in Baron’s South “…is a major collective action problem requiring investment of time, thought, money and care from a lot of people, elected officials, staff and community volunteers. Dobin added that “the current zoning is suffocating the open space and those buildings into disrepair”.
Next, the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, Jennifer Fava, spoke about the Parks & Recreation Department’s vision for the space. She spoke of the need to include a parking area to ensure public access, but keeping lots of open space. “This is where Parks and Recreation would envision this,” she said, “not to build all sorts of buildings, but to keep the outdoors and to blend together outdoor recreational activities and... trails.”
The other two subcommittee members, Paul Lebowitz and Michael Cammeyer, talked about numerous problems facing the property, such as the bike trails being unusable and the paths being unsafe for small kids. They then transitioned into asking for suggestions from the public for prospective uses for the land.
The public opinion that followed varied greatly.
Helen Garten, a member of the Selectman's Real Property Committee, spoke about how she believed that zoning wasn’t going to solve the main issue with the land: that the lack of interest from the people and money from the government was keeping the land from being restored. Some members of the public suggested that the area should be rezoned, and along with it, that pickleball courts and other recreational activities be installed for the sake of bringing together Westport’s youth and elderly populations.
Matthew Mandell, chair of RTM Planning and Zoning Committee, opined that the subcommittee should not be handling the property at the moment, and that instead, “rezoning should come after an idea.” He argued that, “the zoning can’t thwart the ideas of what we can use this property for.” He suggested that instead of using a subcommittee for rezoning, the concept should come first. He said that he thought “some bocci and some pickleball” made sense. Some members of the public in attendance agreed with his suggestion that the plan to improve the property should come first.
One member of the public emphasized protecting the overgrown nature that has developed there and creating a “pollinator pathway” for birds and insects instead of paving over any plant life. Jay Walshon, another member of the public, spoke about a successful community effort to improve an open space in another state and suggested creating storybook paths and story time for children outdoors. Chair Dobin pointed out that organized story time for children is actually prohibited by the current zoning.
The meeting concluded with the subcommittee members calling for the discussion to continue in the future with the Chair proposing a potential joint meeting of the P&Z Regulations Revision Subcommittee and the P&Z Open Space Subcommittee, and asking for the Parks and Recreation Commission to participate by bringing a draft plan to that meeting so that participants can see what is being proposed and what zoning changes might be necessary to effectuate any plan.
Downpours Postpone Levitt Concert to September 11th
Tonight’s downpours postponed Borboletta: A Tribute to Santana, with the music group now planning to be on stage on September 11th. WestportLocal.com photo
MoCA and WAAC Will Exhibit Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC) Works in Winter Show
Contributed piece from the WestPAC collection. Photos by Larry Silver, Yangzhou, China, 1997-2000
Two community-focused arts organizations, MoCA Westport and Westport Arts Advisory Committee (WAAC), are excited to announce a new collaboration that will commence with an exhibition at MoCA featuring selected works from Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC). The exhibition will be co-curated by Westport Town Curator Kathie Bennewitz and Liz Leggett, MoCA Westport's Director of Exhibitions. The exhibition will be on view at MoCA Westport (19 Newtown Turnpike) in the Winter of 2021/22.
WAAC's mission is to bring attention to Westport's artistic treasures, of which WestPAC is the most significant. "WestPAC has a foundation that dates back to 1910, with more than 1500 artworks displayed in schools and municipal buildings to create rich learning and visually stimulating environments," stated Bennewitz. "A partnership with MoCA Westport, with their expansive gallery space, is an ideal venue for ongoing thematic exhibitions from our collection," she added.
"We strive to present thought-provoking and relevant arts experiences, and we look forward to sharing WestPAC works that are often displayed in settings that may be inaccessible to the public. We hope that through this collaboration, we can create a dialogue, reframe perspectives and build community," stated Ruth Mannes, MoCA Westport's Executive Director.