NEWS

Southport Conservancy and Sasquanaug Association Merge

Read the Press Release

SCS Opposition Letter

{Via E-Mail and USPS}

August 9, 2025

Mr. Thomas Noonan, Chair Town Planning & Zoning Commission 725 Old Post Road

Fairfield, CT 06824

Re: 65 Station Street Proposal for Zone Change and Proposed Development

Dear Mr. Noonan and members of the Commission:

The Sasquanaug Conservancy for Southport is confirming its opposition to the two 65 Station Street applications submitted by Russo + Rizio PC to the TPZ Commission. Attorney Christopher Russo has shared the proposed plans for the zoning change and development of the new office building with us. We understand that these applications will be reviewed at the August 19th TPZ meeting.

This is at least the fourth proposal for the development of 65 Station Street submitted to the Town’s government over the past 7 years. We have opposed each of these proposals for similar reasons:

This location lies in the heart of Southport Village. It occupies a prominent site, highly visible for all who arrive in Southport from New York City and Stamford by train.
The scale of the proposed 13,391 square foot new building (existing is 6,650 sq ft) will dominate Southport’s historic Congregational Church and the residential neighborhood surrounding Southport’s historic and picturesque eastbound train station.
The residential area adjacent to the train station is now buffered from the 65 Station Street building by the area currently zoned as residential but requested to be rezoned as NDBD, with the reduced setbacks and wide range of permitted uses that would attend such a rezoning.
The proposed zoning change from a residential to a NDBD would set a dangerous precedent for Southport Village and its historic character, opening the way for other developments out of character with the historic integrity of Southport and “commercial creep” inconsistent with the village and community.
The proposed development will add almost 50% more parking spaces, from the current 37 spaces to a total of 54 spaces, significantly increasing traffic congestion on the narrow, residential streets feeding into and out of the train station area posing a threat to pedestrians, commuters and traffic.

In opposing this proposed zone change and development, we are representing our Board of Trustees and advocating for the neighborhood coalition adjacent to 65 Station Street, including long time homeowners and the Southport Congregational Church, who are close to the property lines and proposed new structure.

For all foregoing reasons, the Sasquanaug Conservancy requests that the Town Plan and Zoning Commission deny the requested zoning change and the proposed development.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Becker Lawlor

Pam Toner

Co-Presidents, Board of Trustees The Sasquanaug Conservancy for Southport P. O. Box 744 Southport, CT 06890

Movies at the Pequot

Fight serious cabin fever with a free Oscar-nominated movie, popcorn and cocoa and a robot costume dance party pre-movie (1:30 party, 2:00 curtain)--fun for kids of all ages and afternoon fun during the home stretch of snow! Please pre-register/rsvp at link on flier to make sure we have enough & see you there ! RSVP here

UI Monopoles Update

In our role as active intervenor in the UI Monopoles proposed project, the Sasquanaug attended the hearing in Superior Court last week and will continue to be involved along with SCNETI and the other community representatives engaged in the fight.

While the presiding judge has 120 days to share his ruling, we are cautiously optimistic that reason and fairness will prevail and we may hear the decision as soon as February.

Either way, we will continue to keep you posted as we advocate for our community.

Stay tuned!

Click on the image or this link to an excellent recap from First Selectman Bill Gerber, who joined us at the hearing last week.

Click on the image for the First Selectman’s complete January 16, 2025 eNewsletter

Sharing an important update on the dredging of Southport Harbor, as notified by Bryan LeClerc, Harbor Master for Southport and Fairfield:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dredging crews will begin arriving at Southport Harbor on Monday, January 6, to begin the dredging!

The land crew will arrive first, with their land-based equipment, followed by the USACE dredge the Murden, a 156-foot long, 35-foot-wide vessel that is expected to arrive on January 10.

This will be a four-week long mission using powerful equipment to restore the channel to a nine-foot depth and a 100-foot width at low tide. As you know and have experienced, the channel is less than 50 feet wide, and in some places, only five feet of depth can be found at low tide due to sand and sediment deposited by the wind and current. The situation causes some boats to run aground at low tide and requires other boats to quickly take evasive action to avoid collisions due to one-way traffic.

This dredging is the result of a federal appropriation of over $1 million to remove 20,000 cubic yards from the Harbor, and deposit the material in an environmentally safe location to help nourish and develop oyster beds in Fairfield waters.

Rotating crews on land and aboard the dredge vessel will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in order to complete the project within the planned four-week schedule.

For anyone planning on heading out by boat during the next month, please note that there will be times that the harbor will be closed to entering and exiting boat traffic due to the size and restricted maneuverability of the Murden.

Bryan LeClerc

State of Connecticut Harbor Master
Fairfield and Southport

Cookies & Cocoa with Santa 2024