PUBLIC OPINION

Westport is confronting the most divisive issue it has experienced in recent history, the YMCA's plan to relocate to Mahackeno, but there is a solution that will both heal and improve our community.

I offer the following proposal for consideration by all of the concerned parties, who I identify as follows: The Town Administration, the YMCA Board of Directors, the thousands of Westport citizens who use the YMCA, the Taxpayers, the Winslow Park Preservationists, the Westport Playhouse, the thousands of Playhouse patrons, the Open Space Advocates, the homeowners who live north of Kings Highway and along Wilton Road, and the recreational dog walkers,

Please read through to the end.

1. Grant the YMCA a very long term ground lease - 100 years? - for six specific acres of land at Winslow Park, the area which presently comprises the "leash-free dog area". The proposed six acre parcel is in a low area and is not visible from Compo Road. It is located in a proper zone, has access to sewers and town water and has very few residential neighbors and is abutted on one side by only the Saugatuck Church parking area.

Good points: 1. The Y would be better located for use by patrons, most of whom are Westporters. 2. The projected traffic congestion at Mahackeno is eliminated. 3. The destruction of valuable open space at Mahackeno is avoided. 4 The residential integrity of River Rd and the neighborhood is maintained. 5. The costs for constructing a sewage treatment facility and the necessary improvements to exit 41 of the Merritt Parkway are avoided. 6. By not incurring community/neighborhood resentment with the present proposal, the Y's fund raising opportunities are improved.

Compromises: 1. The Y would have to pay for a new architectural plan. 2. The Y would have to start the approval process over again. (But, fewer approvals would be necessary and there would be more supporters.)

2. My suggestion is to provide vehicular access to the new site from both the Post Road and Compo Road North as follows: Double the width of the entrance to the Westport Country Playhouse ( there is already a curb cut on US-1) ; and also create an attractive, tree line driveway, with bike path, from Compo Road North beginning where there is an existing break in the far north end of the new stone wall.

Good points: There would be multiple and convenient access ways to both the Y and the Westport Playhouse. Since the Y would be moving only 500+/-yards from it present location, existing traffic patterns and traffic volume would probably remain nearly the same.

Compromise: There would be some traffic increase on Compo N., but the site lines at the exit are good and the increase should have minimal impact.

3. Require the town to give (perhaps it could sell) a conservation easement to the Land Trust for the remainder of Winslow Park to ensure that it will forever remain as open space, and that the vistas from Compo Road North and the Post Road will always remain in their natural state.

Good points: Eighty percent of Winslow Park's open space and lovely vistas would be preserved in perpetuity and the good work of the Winslow Preservationists would be done.

Compromise: Twenty percent of Winslow Park would be developed.

4. Expand the parking lot for the Westport Country Playhouse and combine it with a new parking area for the Y, none of which would be visible, except from the site. The Playhouse would have use of the expanded parking lot and both of the new driveways from the Post Road and Compo Road North.

Good points: One parking lot would serve both the Y and the Playhouse.

5. Require the Y to grant (perhaps it could sell?) a conservation easement for the Mahackeno land to the Land Trust to ensure that it will never be commercially developed. I would also include a request that the Y provide a small portion of Mahackeno as a park, to be used when camp is not is session, for the enjoyment of Westport residents. The new park would have only parking, canoes and picnic areas for public use.

Good points: The Mahackeno site would remain open space. The town would have use of a new, lovely park.

6. Have the town dedicate another six acres of Winslow Park (the open field visible from Compo Road North that is seldom used) for a leash-free dog park and have the Y pay for a fence, and other amenities for a first class dog park. The dog walkers could use the expanded parking facilities adjacent to the Westport Country Playhouse.

Good points: Recreational dog walkers would have a permanent area designated for their use.

Compromise: The area for dog walkers would be smaller than the existing area.

7. This plan would require that the Y raise the same funds it presently proposes to raise, part of which was to be used for major traffic improvements at exit 41 on the Merritt, plus a million dollar sewage disposal system at Mahackeno, and mounting legal bills. Those funds not needed for traffic, septic system and legal fees - and perhaps other monies to be realized from the sale of the Y's residential properties adjacent to Mahackeno which will no longer be needed for parking, etc., - could provide the funds needed to cover either leasing, or a direct purchase, of the 6 acres of land at Winslow Park.

Good points: The taxpayers would receive income from the lease/sale of the property and recover part of the purchase price of Winslow Park.

Conclusion. It seems to me this proposal could be a win-win-win-win-win-win-win situation (that's seven wins) for the following reasons: The Y would remain downtown, in a beautiful setting where it can offer outdoor recreation as well as its traditional services. The taxpayers would receive lease payments for their property. The Westport Country Playhouse would get better access to its property, as well as expanded parking. The Winslow Park preservations could rest comfortably in the knowledge that the vast majority of the park would be forever preserved from development. The Land Trust could add to its precious inventory. And, the dog walkers would have a leash-free setting, which would be safe and improved.

With goodwill on all sides, and strong leadership from the Town, all of the permitting for this can be done comparatively quickly, which is beneficial to everyone, particularly to the Y, which will receive a monetary bonus from David Waldman, purchaser of the present Y, if it vacates its present facility within three years. (The bonus might even be enough to allow the Y to purchase, rather than lease, the six acres of land at Winslow Park.)

Admittedly, this proposal requires some compromises, but the net result would be a better and improved Westport and something the vast majority of the town can get behind and support.