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STAMFORD, Conn. Shutting down Brewers Yacht Haven West would be close-sighted, says lifelong Stamford resident and former boater Michael Jachimczyk. Anyone looking to buy or rent property near the water would want a boatyard, he said.
Were doing them a favor by keeping the boatyard open, Jachimczyk said. But Building and Land Technology is looking to close Brewers Yacht Haven West and possibly develop the property into residences.
Jachimczyk was one of several Stamford residents in the parking lot of the Ponus Yacht Club, next to Brewers, as Republican Board of Finance candidates Joseph Tarzia and Bob Kolenberg held a news conference Tuesday to call for a cease and desist until the developer makes its plans more clear.
In my opinion, theyre looking at profit over people, Kolenberg, who is a boater, said of the developer's plan to possibly close the last working boatyard in the city.
In August, it became known that Building and Land Technology would not renew Brewers lease so remediation and repairs could be made. Although the developer has not announced plans for the site, Kolenberg said he learned the cleanup would be done to residential standards, which makes him believe a boatyard would not return.
A message left with Building and Land Technology was not returned.
In 2007, the citys zoning board wrote a certificate to Antares, the developer in the South End before Building and Land Technology, outlining what could be done in the area. That certificate says, Phase I final plan submittal shall include conceptual plans to improve and ensure the continued operation of the 14-acre boatyard as a working boatyard and full service marina where Brewers Yacht Haven is located.
Tarzia and Kolenberg said the current developer may try to change the agreement, using its pipeline to the 10th floor, referring to the Stamford mayors office. When asked about the area, Mayor Michael Pavia, a developer by trade, said the Zoning Board Certificate is clear, and he was unsure how anything else could be built on that site.
There are very specific plans for that area, Pavia said. He said he has not seen any plans for the site but would like the land cleared of contaminated soil.
A petition to keep the boatyard open has gathered more than 1,000 signatures so far, Kolenberg said. The signatures include Stamford residents and boaters who use Brewers and Stamford Harbor.
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