Westport's Saugatuck Transit Oriented Development Steering Committee Selects Architect

WESTPORT, CT — The Saugatuck Steering Committee has selected Pennsylvania-based BartonPartners to prepare the Saugatuck Transit Oriented Development Master Plan, announced co-chairs Mary Young and Craig Schiavone.

BartonPartners is an architecture and urban design firm, and it will be joined by Langan Engineering, 4ward Planning, and Westport-based Becker + Becker.

"Each of these firms has extensive experience in similarly scaled visioning projects in the region as well as the capacity to assist in plan implementation," said Young and Schiavone in a statement.

Thirteen submissions were received in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP), and five firms were invited to make presentations to the subcommittee and respond to the RFP addendum. On January 24, the subcommittee unanimously approved BartonPartners’ submission.

The Master Plan will focus on improving the Saugatuck area "in a manner that will benefit residents, commuters and businesses," according to the committee. Among other things, the study will review how to successfully improve streets, sidewalks, lighting, crosswalks and streetscapes.

Seth Shapiro, Director of Urban Design for Barton Partners and his consultant team will make a public presentation of its proposal at a SSC Special Meeting at 8 a.m. on Feb. 3 in the Westport Town Hall Auditorium. The hearing is open to the public.

The Saugatuck Steering Committee’s Charge states that "the Master Plan will seek to promote a future for Saugatuck Center which is vital, livable, safer for pedestrians, offering diverse entertainment, dining, recreational, residential and business opportunities and at the same time respects Saugatuck’s small town character and historical heritage."

The Plan will also seek to guide future residential development so that additional vehicles are not added to the Saugatuck Center and that infrastructure is improved to better facilitate traffic flow and parking, and to reduce congestion.

Photo: Saugatuck Train Station