New Haven Independent

Yacht Club Survives Squall

by Thomas MacMillan | June 18, 2009 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

A yacht club looking to drop anchor in New Haven sailed into troubled waters on Wednesday night, when its charted course was questioned.

But it was smooth sailing in the end. The City Plan Commission granted the organization permission to come aboard.

The Pequonnock Yacht Club, which has been berthed in Bridgeport since 1905, is planning a move to South Water Street in New Haven, near Bayview Park. Representatives of the club came before the City Plan Commission on Wednesday evening, seeking approval for their plan.

The commissioners voted unanimously in support of the yacht club, with an official recommendation that the club work out a parking agreement with a local restaurant. The yacht club still needs building permits and permission from the Historic District Commission.

Parking was just one concern raised by neighbor Lucian Addorio (at right in top photo), who lives on Howard Avenue. He said he’s worried about the Yacht Club changing the character of the neighborhood. He also raised concerns about increased traffic, building expansion, and a planned liquor permit.

In May, the Pequonnock Yacht club purchased two buildings and surrounding property on South Water Street, which were formerly owned by the Oyster Point Marina. Bob Criscuolo (center in top photo), the club’s engineer, told the City Plan Commission on Wednesday night that the club plans to repair and expand the historic buildings. Other than these changes, which will require the approval of the Historic District Commission, the usage will remain similar to what it was under the marina, Criscuolo said.

An easement for access to the Sage American Grill and Oyster Bar will remain, Criscuolo said. The restaurant is located on a promontory extending into the water and is surrounded by what is now yacht club property.

Lucian Addorio, wearing a short-sleeve shirt swimming with pictures of fish, had some questions about the club’s parking arrangement with Sage owner, David McCoart. Addorio noted that the restaurant currently holds a lease on 36 parking spaces in the area. That lease was made with the Oyster Point Marina and inherited by the club when it purchased the property. What, Addorio asked, does the yacht club plan to do when the lease is up in November?

He said he was concerned that Sage would have no place for its customers to park. “Mr. McCoart will go out of business,” Addorio said.

John Venditti (at left in top photo), a Pequonnock Yacht Club board member who had the image of a fish embroidered on the back of his leather belt, said that the club is currently in discussions with McCoart and no agreement has been reached.

Next, Addorio raised the issue of a yacht club liquor license. The club has a Bridgeport liquor license that they hope to transfer to New Haven, so that club members can enjoy alcoholic beverages in the club bar, part of a proposed expansion of one of the buildings.

“We have an existing business with a liquor license,” Addorio said. Between the addition of a liquor license near the Sound School and congestion caused by the yacht club’s 250 members, Addorio saw “a tremendous amount of incongruency” between the club’s proposal and the existing character of the neighborhood where he has lived for 30 years.

“We’re talking about radically changing the nature of the neighborhood,” Addorio said. The club will be a “more high intensity use than the marina,” he said, raising concerns about increased boat storage.

“There are 128 slips there,” Criscuolo said. “That’s not changing.”

The site includes 100 parking spaces, the engineer went on, which is ample space to accommodate the club’s members. “Even on a busy Sunday, only 30 percent of the members come to use boats.”

The club, including the bar, will be accessible only to club members, spouses, and their guests, Venditti said. The club’s bylaws do not allow for “social members.”

Venditti said that Addorio’s comments were a “misrepresentation of what we’re doing there.”

Later, in the hallway outside the meeting, Addorio said he wasn’t impressed by the club’s presentation. “Everyone sounds plausible” in a meeting, he said. “It’s the service after the sell.” It’s what the club will do after it gets permission to inhabit the area that worries Addorio.

He mentioned the nearby Harbor Landing condos, which he described as “two big white boxes.” The condo developers came in, cut down all the surrounding trees, and built two buildings that are out of proportion with the neighborhood, Addorio said. He drew a comparison with the yacht club’s plan to expand its building by raising a second story over an existing addition.

“They can do anything they want,” he said. “And they will do.”

“I think they have an agenda,” Addorio went on. If the club doesn’t renew the parking lease with the Sage restaurant, it can “force them out of business.”

“It’s not our intent to put anybody out of business,” said Venditti, a few minutes later. He reiterated that negotiations with Sage are in progress.

The yacht club building will be expanded from 2,100 square feet to 3,900, Venditti said, but the number of boat slips will not increase. The plans for building expansion will require the approval of the Historic District Commission.

Vendetti said that the Yacht Club did not want to leave Bridgeport, but its property was taken by the city to make way for a development project.

But now that it’s moving to New Haven, the club wants to “be part of the neighborhood,” he said. “We want to work with the people there.”

Vendetti pointed out that Addorio was not joined at the meeting by a mob of angry neighbors. “He was the only guy here.”

Back in the meeting room, the City Plan Commission was deliberating the proposal.

“The intensity of this use is probably less than Oyster Point Marina,” said City Plan staffer Joy Ford.

The commission acknowledged the problem of the parking lease with the Sage restaurant, but noted that it was beyond its power to require the yacht club to re-up the lease. Instead, the commission made an official comment encouraging the club to reach a parking agreement with Sage.

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Comments

Posted by: anon | June 18, 2009 2:09 PM

It is clear from all of these discussions (State St., Route 34 west, Grand Avenue, Science Park etc.) that the city needs more rigorous TDM (transportation demand management) standards for development.

Parking should be shared and greatly reduced, and some of the spaces reclaimed as park space, possibly with support honeycomb for permitted, special event use. How about a TDM "council" in each neighborhood? The neighborhoods should have a say over parking and the resulting induced demand that degrades their neighborhood, not just private interests. This is not a complaint about the yacht club, which is fairly small, just a general policy point.

Venditti: "He was the only guy here." While you're probably correct that a lot of people are looking forward to attracting new business to the city, that's never a good thing to say. Where there's smoke, there can be fire!

Posted by: Bruce | June 18, 2009 4:47 PM

The marina is basically changing hands from one owner to another. Same number of slips, same number of parking spaces. The only real difference is that they are trying to add a private bar, which means some people will be buying drinks on the premises rather than packing their 6-pack from home. Any building plans will need to be approved by the neighborhood-based historic commission. I would also think that the club members would see the restaurant as a perk of the location. Nothing better than getting back from a long day on the sound and settling in for a big feast on that deck out by the water.

I don't think this will adversely affect the neighborhood. Better a yacht club than another condo development.

Posted by: sea breeze | June 18, 2009 8:06 PM

Its unfair the public cannot use the restaurant or bar. There arent places in the city where residents can relax by the ocean. The yatch club. There should be social memberships. I am not rich enough to drink or eat in Sage. I only live a few minutes walk from it. Looks like these rich Bridgeport people are taking over from New Haven people.

Posted by: Been Called Worse | June 19, 2009 9:44 AM

I can't tell if Sea Breeze's comment is in jest or not.

There arent places in the city where residents can relax by the ocean.

Ummm, Lighthouse, maybe? Fort Nathan Hale, perhaps? The Seawall?

I am not a yacht club member or in any way affiliated with them, but I fail to see how their purchase, expansion and use of property in any way infringes upon you. I fail to see how it becomes this group's responsibility because you are "not rich enough to drink or eat in Sage".

Posted by: Mister Jones | June 19, 2009 2:47 PM

Once again the NH Independent shows why it's so nice to have a community news outlet covering things that really matter to those in the neighborhoods, like zoning hearings. Good job!

Posted by: Concerned in City Point | June 20, 2009 5:33 PM

It is a sad state of affairs when such a historic neighborhood like city point is coming under "attack" in all directions!

First, the destruction of the sound barriers and park trees for the I-95 projects...which wont be done until well into 2012. The increased pollution both sound and air is ridiculous. Even sleeping with our windows closed does not drown out the sounds!

Secondly, City Point residents have had to deal with the increased detour traffic from the long warf highway construction projects - clogging up our narrow neighborhood streets. Of course the angry detoured drivers dont care about speed limits and stop signs. Many a CP resident has narrowly missed getting hit simply trying to pull out of their driveway but some idiot speeding down the narrow road and then "rolling" through the stop light.

Now, City Point will have to deal with this yacht club. I agree with Mr. Addorio, the one person that was aware enough to attend the meeting, regarding this group's intentions...they are suspect to say the least. I work in Bridgeport area. The few places where there have been initially " private yacht clubs" eventually gave way to a portion of the club becoming social...with that came a nightclub along with an increase in noise, littering, and crime. I believe this group's intention is to "squeeze" the Sage out of business. Of course they will not admit that publicly...then they will take that nice pice of property and incorporate into their "marina."

City Point already has issues with clogged streets from people parking on both sides of the streets; especially south water street. The problem is significant when the sound school is in session. How will our narrow streets handle the increased traffic when this "private club" holds functions and these people dont want to park too far from the front door. Instead they will think it their right to use our streets in front of our homes so they dont break a sweat walking. Let's face if there are 250 boat slips..no one boats alone (at least a well trained boater will not)..and only 100 parking spots. Even if there were only 30% usage (very low estimate!) and we assume they only have 250 members that is 30% X 250 = 75 cars.. Just to illustrate a point..let's say each of the 30% membership attending the club on a specific day have some friends meet them for a day of boating...that could translate from 75 member cars plus the car their friends came in..another 75 cars..Even if the yacth club took over the Sage lot there still is not enough parking to accomodate the increased usage!! The yacht club claims it only has 30% usage at any given time..Really? I would like to see the documentation to prove that! Also, what about events like the 4th of July or any others where there are fireworks just off of city point? CP already struggles with the crazy traffic volume & parking on those nights! Now the neighborhood will have to some how manage another 150+ cars (driving the people to their boats!). This is ridiculous!

They want to put a bar essentially next to a school?! The Sage already has a bar...why can they work out an agreement with then to use the bar? Oh, maybe their members might have to mingle with riff raff...No one has even considerd the increase in drunk drivers both on the streets and water that this "bar" would create.

For those people that are thinking this yacht club/marina contribute to the local businesses think again! Do you think for one minute the type of person that belongs to a yacht club people would patronize places like the C-Town market, Kimerbly Pizza, or any of the other small markets in the neighborhood? NO! Most of these people would be too scared to get out of their cars on Howard ave from 5th Street on up!!

People of City Point need to organize NOW! Get in touch with the historic committee, the liquor permit granting body, the NEw Haven Board of Education, and even the dept of transportation. Impact Studies need to be done! BEFORE this yacht club is allowed to set shop and be open for business!

Posted by: Walter Sobchak | June 21, 2009 10:49 PM

"Looks like these rich Bridgeport people are taking over from New Haven people."

I don't think I've ever heard these words spoken in my lifetime.

Posted by: Eric Yuhas | June 22, 2009 9:47 PM

Concerned....

We were just talking about the parking issue today, and would like to try some changes for next school year that we hope will make things better for everyone. We'd like to talk to neighborhood folks when its convenient.

Eric
Assistant Principal
The Sound School

Posted by: Yougotta be kidding me | October 13, 2009 10:57 PM

Not for nothing but the place is a total dump. The short time these guys have been here they have made improvements to clean up the neighborhood.Let's face if folks, this small section of the neighborhood is OK but go one house up and you go from neighborhood to hood. I think they are great for CP. Also, they aren't stuck up snobs. PYC was known as a working man's yacht club. All hard working blue collar people who take pride in their club.

Yacht Club Survives Squall

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