Okay, so welcome to this meeting of the 30 second Board of Representatives appointments committee.

I'm co-chair Felix Gardner.

The time is 6 3 PM.

And I call this meeting to order.

We have a quorum.

I'll quickly call the role.

We have Representative Bradford.

We have Representative Camborelli.

We have Representative Gardens myself.

We do not have Representative Hill.

We do not have Representative Hyatt.

We do not have Representative Pavio.

Representative Shaw is present.

Representative Weathers is excused.

And Representative Weinberg is present.

Okay.

So how is it going to work for our guests?

We are all here.

The meeting is recorded via Zoom from start to finish.

You're all welcome to stay or leave at any time after your interview is complete.

You can leave whenever you like.

So we're going to run down the list of interviews on in this order.

And then after that, we'll be able to take our votes.

You're welcome to stay for the votes.

You don't have to stay.

It's completely up to you.

When you take your interview, could you sit in this chair right here?

Because that's the best audio and video for the Zoom call.

People can see you best.

They can hear you best if you sit there.

I think that's it.

And then you're welcome to use our one of these sheets here.

This is the sort of just order of uh order of the agenda.

But these sheets here are for the board members with the uh personal information that we'll see these.

Okay, and then for the board of representative.

Yes, come on, sir.

Hello, are you here for the appointments committee?

Uh the dams.

Is there a dent's meeting tonight?

Is it uh it's probably in the cabinet?

Yeah, that's here.

It's probably on the other side.

On the other side.

I'll come.

Okay.

Thank you, Raman.

Okay, and for the committee members tonight, um, I would just like to say a little housekeeping thing.

If you want to ask a question, please raise your hand on Zoom or here in the room for Rhett Weinberg.

And um, and you'll be I'll make a note of your name and we'll get round to you.

We're gonna go in question order and we'll prioritize people who have not asked questions before, and uh also prioritize uh committee members over at exoficio members as well.

And I think just for uh to be respectful of our guest time and of our other committee members' time.

I'd like to ask people to refrain from asking questions with uh lots of follow-up questions and multi-part questions.

We want to stick to one question at a time, and if you'd like to ask a follow-up question, just raise your hand again, we'll go around the room and we'll come back round to you just so we can keep everything nice and efficient as possible.

Okay.

Uh okay, so we'll wait for Rep Weinberg to come back and then we will get started.

Mr.

Chair.

Yes, sir.

Yes, I've uh heard back from uh Representative Hill.

He's uh asked to be excused this evening.

Okay, Anderson.

Thank you.

We're just waiting for Rep Weinberg to come back from uh guiding the guest to where he needs to go, and we will begin.

Okay.

Rep Weinberg is back.

Okay, so uh we learned that um Miss Ashley Lai, who is uh item number six on our agenda, has a prior commitment at 7 30 pm, I believe.

So she asked uh the board office if she could be first, and to do that, we need to suspend the rules of the so moved.

Okay, uh any discussion on uh rearranging our rules to about is there a second?

Is there a second?

Second beautiful any discussion on rearranging number six to be number one on our agenda.

Okay, hearing none, let's do a voice vote.

Okay, hearing none, let's do a voice vote all in favor of suspending the rules to make Miss Lai number one on our agenda.

Say aye.

Aye.

Any against any abstentions?

Okay, motion closed.

So Ms.

Lyon your first law agenda.

Um, let's get started.

Let me just make you big on our screen here.

One second.

Perfect.

Okay, I'll get you started.

I think Miss Lyme, we saw um that you've previously served the city before on the board of representatives.

We thank you very much for the service you had to the city.

We really really appreciate that.

Um looking at your CD, I can see that you're an extremely accomplished urban planner and the sort of exactly the sort of person who would do a fantastic job on our planning board.

There's absolutely no doubt about that.

We have the right seating for this job.

My question for you is uh as an alternate on the board, you may not participate in every topic, but you will be uh you as part of that role, you'd be encouraged to stay on top of all the topics and to be able to step into the role at any given moment.

Uh it's quite a large obligation to you.

Is that um something you're comfortable with?

And um how we how would you make sure you stay prepared if you'll need it to contribute at any point?

Yes, it's something I'm comfortable with.

It's something that I I juggle in my daily life, um, attending lots of planning board meetings.

It's something that I uh was able to handle when I was on the board of representatives for four years and for when I was on the EPB for six years prior to that.

Um I started on the EPB as an alternate, so I'm very familiar with the process of staying on top of the applications that are submitted and then being prepared to vote when when necessary.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Okay, understood.

Thank you.

Hi.

Hi.

We miss you.

I miss you.

Okay.

Ashley was my uh my district 20 partner, or I was her partner, really.

Um Ashley, I I I of course my esteem for you is is unbounded, and I can't think of anyone in the city of Stanford probably who is better qualified to be uh to serve uh our our community on the planning board than than you.

Um I I we I was going I wanted to ask you if you could comment about two things on um in in the publications and presentation section of your of your of your C V because I'd like to learn about what you learned and and what you shared in those presentations.

Um was uh where you uh the presentation you gave um a few months ago, um tired to triumphant, reinventing Hamilton Avenue, and uh where there might be um analogs uh to uh in Stanford to the situation that that you faced on Hamilton Avenue and and how that can guide us in our planning.

Um and the other um I have to I have to congratulate you on such a great title, never compromise public engagement.

Um, if you could elaborate on that one as well.

So it really it's really from for us to learn.

Sure.

Um so the never compromise public engagement, that was for the American Planning Association's Metro Chapters uh conference, and that was coming out of COVID.

And so it was looking at ways of adapting um, you know, the use of Zoom, which was emerging at the time, now it's used all the time.

Um, but in ways of making sure that we were engaging the public, um reaching all audiences.

So as you all know, for those of you who've been on boards for a while, you get you have a lot of usual suspects who come to every meeting or many meetings, and sometimes it's hard to get the working parents or the people who worked uh, you know, not nine to five jobs.

Um so it's looking at ways of meeting people where they are and making sure that you are engaging at all levels.

So uh, you know one of the things that we do um when we're working on things like comprehensive plans is going to churches on a Sunday or going to farmers markets, um, going to different venues where people are comfortable and more in inclined to speak with you.

So these are all tools that can be used in a planning practice.

Um in terms of the Hamilton Avenue, that was regarding uh it was uh it's actually very relevant to Stanford, frankly.

It's it was the original mall in downtown White Plains that was a result of urban renewal.

So it was a super block.

Um it was a giant concrete building that was not particularly attractive.

Um, and it was taken down and replaced with a mixed-use development, um, transit-oriented development.

It's near the train station in White Plains.

Um, there's a an extensive amount of open space that was required to be included as part of the project to be able to get an FAR bonus.

Um, and that's a project that I worked on on the developer side.

But it's some of the the tools that were used in that type of a development, I think are relevant to Stanford.

I think we could be pushing for more open space as part of our projects, larger sidewalks.

Um, I have noticed that some of the newer buildings are fairly close to the street, and that's really inhibiting the ability to have more trees, street trees that will really survive.

Um, so things like that.

I I think would be relevant in Stanford.

Okay, thank you.

Uh actually I'll vote for you for anything.

And thank you for continuing your service.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

I just have to laugh just a little, Ashley.

Because you told me you were tired and you wouldn't be back for a while.

And we're like three or four months in.

I'm so happy to see you back, and I'm so happy to see you applying for this position.

You are the perfect person to be on the planning board.

I I wish there was an open seat that you'd be willing to take that wasn't an alternate, but I'm happy to have you in any capacity, and especially for the last couple of sentences that you just uttered, because I know that you know that cities of the future have green space and trees and rooftop gardens and and leaves and things hanging all over them, you know, you know, forests that are growing up the buildings and things like that.

And so um I have no doubt that you will help us, you know, forge ahead into the future and plan a city that is just full of green space.

So thank you for stepping up once again, and I can't believe you did it again.

And I'm really grateful for you stepping up, and I will be voting for you with my full heart and I yields.

Rhett Moson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Karen took everything I was gonna say.

And with just as much spirit, I'm very happy to see you jumping right back in.

I think I if I recall when you uh said that you weren't going to run for re-election, what's one of the first things I said you should consider doing?

And here you are.

So uh you have my undeniable support.

Thank you.

Excellent.

Okay, any further questions?

Go once, go twice.

Okay, thank you so much for time, slide.

We will uh let you go to your other meeting and uh wish you best of luck.

Thank you.

Have a good night.

Thank you so much.

Okay, just I'd like to just for the records uh recognize uh President Shaw has joined the call as next fish eventually.

And also for the record, I just like to clarify that that interview we just took was item number six, Alpha 32.026 planning board alternate actually live for the time expiring December 1st, 2028.

We're now gonna follow our agenda as planned originally with item number one, which is Alpha 32.020 Board of Assessment Appeals, Mr.

Larry Ginsburg for his term expiring December 1st, 2028.

That's a reappointment.

Thank you so much for being here from anybody can ask Mr.

Ginsburg a question.

I do have one for you.

Um you're you're a lawyer with a fantastic amount of history in Stanford.

You've been on a ton of boards and served our city in so many ways.

Thank you very much very much for all the time and effort you put into us.

Great city.

Um, actually for you, some good ones.

But I'm thinking since it's a reappointment that you've been on the board before, could you tell us about situation where you're on the uh Board of Assessment Appeals where your uh your convicts your convictions were challenged?

And you felt that um you've had a interesting event that took place in the board, which you'd like to tell us about something in my many years on the board, I think it's six.

I've only been challenged once uh that I'm aware of.

I mean, there could have been other challenges uh talking about me or anything like that.

But the only challenge I had was uh it was just before COVID.

So basically, I have to look at those documents before I do the hearing and everything else.

So it's gonna take me for something like that, it would probably take me 10 to 15 minutes to go through them at least to get enough of an issue so I know what the uh what's going on.

Um, but they were not the problem.

I handled that.

The next woman came up.

Um she uh for some reason uh uh probably because it we took so long with this first uh thing, and she unfortunately had no evidence for her claim.

And I spoke to her and I asked her questions, and I tried to find out what what her issues were.

Um, and I probably spent 10 minutes with her, and then I asked her if she had anything else to bring before the board at this time, and she said you listened to her for 40 minutes, and you're asking me if I have anything else.

And I said, Yes, I have to do a competent job for every appellant who comes before me.

And if you have more uh evidence or more statements for me, please.

But that was that was really the only time somebody actually questioning, I don't know if it's questioning my integrity or just my interest or whatever.

That's a very challenging role.

Very challenging.

Oh, and let the record show the um uh committee member Pedia has just joined the call as well.

Um Mr.

Chair, I I've I've been on since 6:30.

Uh just like I couldn't get promoted as a um a panelist.

So I called Angie and we got it solved.

Thank you.

Awesome.

Thank you, Marson Piper.

Okay.

Thank you.

I see I have more questions for you.

Uh okay.

Unless any committee members do.

Okay.

Um this is a good I think how would you handle a case where a property owner is uh visibly upset about an assessment that's being made on their property, uh, but you they do not have supporting evidence for their appeal.

I'm sure this happens all the time, but otherwise, how do you deal with that situation?

Unfortunately, it does.

Um there are there are a couple things that we can do.

One, if they it um, and it depends on whether we're we're doing the March uh appeals or the September appeals.

The September appeals we have one day.

So if somebody forgets something and they can't get it back to us within a half an hour, they're done.

Uh but in the April appeals or the March appeals, we have if somebody says, Oh, I left this at home, and we can tell them because we because we're not uh deliberating that day.

We can have them uh submit the document.

So that's one thing we can do.

Uh normally, though we just we just have to be um confident and caring for everyone.

We have to treat everyone the same, we have to be fair, we have to listen to what the evidence or or the or non-evidence is.

Now we do not now, even though we hear a public record and people can sit in on um our deliberations and everything else, like most of the boards.

Uh we tell them exactly what's going to happen if they ask us to sit in, and we will uh look at the uh agenda, find out when we when uh it's convenient for them the next time we're doing deliberations when it's convenient to us, and then we can have that person come in.

The one thing that we will not do is you have to leave it somewhat other than the one thing we will not do is we will not let people comment on uh that they can observe, but they cannot comment.

That's the rules of the BAA.

Um so what we have to do is you know, we we have to listen to that person, we can make suggestions to that person.

Uh if some it if somebody would come out up to me and let's say um every house in the neighborhood is appraised at 100,000.

Their house is appraised at 125,000.

We can ask them questions with Passover coming.

Why is this house different from all other houses?

But what we do is we try to figure out what's going on.

If this house was a brand new house, even though we're still going back to uh 2022 at this point, we take that house as a brand new house in 2022 as opposed to houses that are 40 years old in 2022.

So that's one thing.

If somebody if they say to us, uh, well, we look at the field cards.

If they say to us that the square footage is off, um we can't do anything about that.

We don't know enough about square footage to make that deal.

So what we can do is we can send somebody from the assessor's office out before we're going to do that deliberation.

And the assessment and then they will look, and if if the um if the person is correct uh and the square footage is off, the assessor will then make a change to the field card, and we've already agreed normally we've already agreed with the person that whatever the excessors changes is going to be accepted.

The the thing that we want to do is we want to keep everybody calm, we want to we we want to listen to everything.

If a person has, as I said, if a person has this much evidence, or if a person is just testifying.

Now, as a former lawyer, a in a court case, a person can testify to what they believe the value of the property is.

They can then give us reasons for that, and we as the hearing officers have to determine one, if the reasons are uh reasonable, and two, if we believe this person, because just as a judge or a jury, we we are we are forced to actually accept uh our belief is whether the person is telling the truth or not.

Okay, I see it.

Any other questions for Mr.

Ginsburg?

Oh, representative Weimar?

Uh hi Larry.

There you go.

I just full disclosure to the committee.

Um I I've known Larry for many and and Rhonda from for many years and have uh worked with uh actually both of them uh and other uh Stamford community organizations, and I've always been impressed not just with Larry's commitment, but um but with um the kind of rigorous analysis that he that he brings to situations.

Um I wanted to follow up on the you know the initial question that's that Felix asked.

Um what can uh what could the com what could the com the board uh the BAA, what could the PAA do help applicants to uh to be better prepared?

Well, when the letter goes out to them telling them when when the uh hearings are going to be, it does make suggestions.

Uh it it specifically talks about the possibility of getting an appraisal, it talks about looking at other properties in your neighborhood.

Uh it talks about finding figuring out what's different between your property and someone else's property.

Um of the things that we we're very watchful about is the the actual neighborhood.

I mean, a property in the cove is not rated to to the same degree as a property in North Stanford.

Um new properties, new construction is rated higher than old uh properties, but we do tell what they what they have, and we will ask pointed questions.

Um if somebody if somebody tells there are there are ways to reduce property values.

If somebody says uh if we rate the property good, and somebody brings us pictures and shows us problems with the property, that can that could take uh allow us to uh reduce the good rating to fair or a rating to B and that type of thing, that can bring down.

That can bring down.

We also look at the grounds as well as the property.

So if somebody has wetlands, and we don't know about it, um, and they can show us pictures.

And we and we had this, uh, I think it was a couple of years ago.

We had uh person with wetlands over um 40% of the property, and we were rating them as a full buildable lot with one acre.

I I don't remember where the property was, but was it in one acre only?

But we we were able to with the map and with some pictures of of what was happening, we were able to reduce the actual land value by two per by two tenths of a point because it wasn't because the whole land uh it was not usable, and sometimes in that same scenario, let's say let's say so they're in an acre zone, but they have 1.4 acres.

So we have um 1.0 for the one acre and point two uh 0.2, 0.3, 0.1 for the other four.

Now we can reduce that too if it's not usable, if it's not buildable.

So there are a lot of ways we can help people, but the most important thing is that the people have to the people have the burden of proof.

So in a legal situation, if somebody gives me an argument, and I can't decide whether they're right or the city's right, I have to go with the city on that that uh because they have not met their burden of proof.

Now when somebody meets their burden of proof, then it shifts to the city, and we would have an appra a member from the appraiser's office with us.

So if we have questions, we would ask them.

But the decision is totally ours.

Uh but the whole thing is the preparation is know your property, know what the value is, know what your comparisons are.

And I mean, we when we this last March, we only had 36 appeals.

So we did all the appeals the first night, and we did the uh deliberations the second night.

So we were able to say yes, we could have people come in and submit uh overnight documents that they had that they didn't know about, and we had.

And we also had had to send out the appraiser twice to look at properties, once for a basement square footage and once for a claim that the um uh an attic was not furnished, so uh it was not a bedroom.

The basement square footage, uh the uh appellant was correct, and the city reduced the uh the assessment uh the uh attic.

For some reason, the person said they didn't want to go through with it, so we just kept the then there was no evidence to set to change anything.

Thank you.

I yield thank you.

Okay, any other further questions for Mr.

Ginsberg?

Going once going twice.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Kinplay for time.

We really appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

I'm gonna stay for a little while anyway, so I have to pick my son up in about 20 minutes.

Uh next up, number two.

I number two of 32.022 is Mr.

Jerry Bozak for the zoning board reappointment or a term ending December 1st, 2028.

Good evening.

Good evening.

How are you?

I'm well, how are you?

Well, very well indeed.

Um, I all I think we all probably know Miss Boseck is um and you have an incredible CD with so much experience and um so much you've done for our city so much as been an honor to serve the city.

It's uh truly truly has been.

A lot of a lot of city commands would be really appreciated very much.

Um my question for you as a reappointment that you've been on the board for quite some time, it's no give me all that credit, it's a lot of work.

But uh so how my question to you is how would you approach a zoning situation which is legally supportable in your opinion, but generates a lot of public opposition.

Yep, yeah.

Perhaps the the largest uh smoke shop stuff uh sure a bit extraordinaire.

So um that's my biggest burden, right?

Um uh being a part of the city, you know, my entire life and my family, that is my biggest, my biggest quandary uh on this board.

It's a lot of work, uh as you know, and it's it's the hours are equal to the board of reps.

Um what I find is difficult, and and I have to give the the credit to my chairman, uh, you know, Stein, because we we have uh, you know, sorry the part of the phrase, but a post-mortem on after the meetings, we spent about a half an hour, 40 minutes after after our meetings are over because uh I struggle with that.

So um, for example, we had a historic or my family started down in the uh the south end and uh on one of the historic streets there.

And the uh the property was uh an outhouse was partially demolished over a holiday weekend.

And furthermore, uh there were these old quaint uh you know homes that had the the porch and so on so forth.

Well, um the applicant uh ended up um demolishing the back of the house without without the parent went went further.

Uh with that, um he basically said he didn't know.

So with that, um it came down to uh really the rates.

Um I can either do it this way, and I'm also applying for with you know we had uh HPAC clearance, the historical district uh credits he was applying for.

And he said, quite frankly, if I don't get those and I don't I'm not able to do what I could do, I can make this monstrosity that is not in the texture of you know, really and the the look of the the historic South End, which is you know 66 acres of historical property.

But because the red say you could be in this box, he was going to develop something that was gonna be yield him more money.

And he ended up, um, we ended up working with him.

Neighbors were very upset.

Um, but it wasn't right.

And but the the standards are what the standards are.

So um we had to, you know, we I we had to agree with it.

Um also uh give you another example.

We had a um and I had great support from my um uh you know from my the leadership on the board, uh we had a house of worship and um in an area that's very very congested.

And um and you know what's going to be, and there's gonna be a a uh a future of a um of a school that's gonna develop on that that road as well, and it's impacted already with with cars on the street, and you could see this evolving.

However, because it's a house of worship and there's there are so many parking spaces, you have to pass it.

And those are uh that there's an ethical responsibility besides the development and the neighbors and people also have the right to live free and peacefully in on that neighborhood, but there also is um there's there's what is stated on our ranks, and I struggle with that all the time, all the time for a lot of issues.

And um, and also, you know, um you know, I think that one of the things the city needs to work with the state on is um our our historical credits.

I think some of the things that come forward, I'm a huge, huge proponent of historical credits and historical buildings, and the things that that are starting to come forward that are expecting or asking for historical credits, I don't think makes the threshold.

And uh, I think we really need to take a better look at that.

So yes.

I'm sorry for the long answer.

Uh representative shul.

You'll meet it, Mr.

Shaw.

I do that all the time.

You're muted.

Sorry about that.

Yeah.

More accustomed to being alive, sorry.

Uh yeah, uh, Jerry, uh a question for you.

Uh is as you know, I represent your district.

And uh across the street from me on the corner of Chapan Avenue and Downs, uh a historic home, the second oldest home on Japan Point was torn down.

Uh and when it was torn down, it was torn down without displaying any kind of a demolition notice.

Now uh having owned a historic home uh before we moved to Japan, uh I had walked through that house and I would make an argument that that house had to come down.

It was in such poor condition, uh unfortunately, because it was beautiful, and like I say, it was my view uh out the front.

But since that happened, first of all, uh the people in the neighborhood were highly offended that it came down without any kind of notice.

And since the construction, and and the and the lot has subsequently been divided into uh a split lot, and two houses are going up in its place.

Um and there have been complaints that have come across my uh transom uh regarding the uh job uh the job site itself, uh the safety of the job site.

Uh all of these things combined to what's becoming sort of an unwelcome situation for this project.

Uh if you were me, how would you advise uh uh constituents uh who have issues with uh everything that's going on there?

So that property, and I'll speak freely about this, uh, was um that that house out there for for quite a while.

Um and I think it at one point really could have been uh save, which is if we could use that term.

Um, but what I didn't like about that project or the project itself, that was starting to be demolished on a weekend, number one.

And there was uh there was some that's also had service the city, and there was also there was an issue possibly with the gas link and uh on that property.

And thankfully it was um there was uh it was avoided, but there was there were some issues that were with that with utilities, and it was it was begun to be taken down on a weekend.

The problem with these things, there is no um, there are no teeth to taking down a historical building, and that comes from the state.

So it's it's a very, very we struggle with this all the time, and we talk about this all the time.

If you're taking down a property, the the fine is minimal, it's minimal.

So if you're a developer and you want to come down and you want to take a building that's historical, they're gonna snub their nose at it because there is no key to the argument of oh, you're gonna be um you're going to be fined.

Furthermore, with that project specifically, the gentleman started getting heat.

He was a developer from out of out of the city out of the city, and he sold the property, and and the folks developed that that are developing the property.

Now you're penalizing a new owner for the uh the issues that this this person, the first owner had.

So he sold the property in interim because he knew that he did wrong.

Or let's imply that he didn't do the right thing.

And so he sold that property, made made some uh you know, money, and uh, and basically now we're gonna possibly restrict a um you know a building permit, but it was a new owner, it was a new new occupant, a new applicant of that.

So how do you do that?

How do you follow through?

And I think really we need to work with our state partners to really start developing teeth on people that that um really affect our historical buildings because we don't have a lot left in Stanford, unfortunately.

Right.

And it seems to me that uh and that's a great point you make about how the property ended up getting flipped after you know all those various transgressions.

But I mean but the fact remains that that now uh this subsequent owner uh has this project being built uh under the watchful and jaundice eye of the neighborhood.

And uh and so you know, I'm hearing things like you know, heaven forbid they come in early and start doing work.

I'll hear about it.

Yes, yep.

I I'm by there every morning.

So I'm at work probably around five o'clock, and they're already on the site, you know, developing with you know with the headlights on or already down in the pit.

I see it.

I see it all all the time.

So I I don't know how to um how to bring that back into uh where it's supposed to be, but you know, um I I think we just really need to talk to the developer on it, you know.

And let him know that there's watchful eyes around him.

That kind of helps um that kind of helps um the situation, I think.

Thanks, Jerry.

I yield.

Thank you.

Coaches, uh let the record show that um representative high has joined the cool committee member Hannah.

Thank you for being here, uh Rep.

Jerry, it's so good to see you back.

I just wanted to say that I've uh I've known Jerry for quite a while, and uh even in his tenure in the as a on the zoning board, um, he's a straight shooter, and uh he will always answer the phone and uh is very open to any uh thoughts or feedback.

So I'm just putting in the word that uh we need Jerry on this board.

And with that, I yield.

Thank you.

And thank you for your service, Jerry.

Thank you, Bob.

Appreciate it.

Hi, Jerry.

Uh so Jerry, I'm just like meetings like a lot faster.

Uh um, it'll get tough as we move along.

Um Jerry, I think I think you know that I I just have the the highest esteem for you both, you know, both personally and professionally, and in terms of your contributions to the city.

And I have great deal of esteem for um the members of our zoning board who work incredibly hard.

Um sometimes have to make decisions that they'd rather not make, but they really don't have a choice.

And you know, I think sometimes the public doesn't understand that.

But I do have a bone to pick with the board.

So since you're here, you're the one I'm gonna pick it with.

Um what can the uh and I'll give an example okay, and this this took place long before you were on the board.

Yeah, okay.

So when the zoning board made the decision to um to permit a um mixed use of residential construction on the office parks, uh, which is something I heartily support um because those were uh the you know were basically stranded large tracts of land and land that were stranded, and we need and we need the additional housing.

Um they didn't they didn't construct the rules in such a way that it um motivated developers to build more of the kind of housing that I think we need, which is a lot of very um deeply affordable housing on the one hand, and um what I'll call um or what the the comprehensive plan I think aptly calls missing middle housing um and to me that was a failure of anticipation uh of what we um of of what we of what we needed so my question for you is how can we use that type of experience as a learning as a learning experience.

I know you were the epitome of a lifelong learner, um and you know, so that we so that as a zoning board that has the power to make modifications going forward in in the zoning regulations, so we can so we can anticipate um uh trends land use trends in the future and develop um zoning regulations that look forward rather than look backward or look only at the present.

Yeah, I I can really appreciate that.

Um so we hear a lot of um the term affordable housing.

I and I think you quantify perfectly deeply affordable housing.

I think we need more deeply affordable housing.

I want a community that's gonna stay, not transient.

Um I want moderate development because I want deeply affordable housing.

I don't know how to get there.

I know we have I will need a consensus on the board, you know, to develop that and be able to move forward.

But I think you're right.

I think in the future, as we are growing larger, I think we really need to look at that deeply affordable housing because it just seems the trend seems like we're building for rent worse.

Um and I love to see more people stay, you know, adding to, you know, we're we're only as good as our community.

And uh we're we're we're a welcoming city, but we need to have the deeply affordable because right now um and we have to look at and and and as I say, and I bring this over using the metaphor, our seniors.

You know, I I think with that deeply affordable housing, we have to really continue to look at seniors owning their own homes, are keeping their own homes um and retaining that and young families.

Um, so I think the board um really needs to uh continue to keep that looking that forward and projecting that.

Uh so I agree with you uh with that.

I'll I'll give I'll give another example, and this is one that is looking is perhaps I don't know if I need forward.

No, it's you know you need a consensus to do something.

That was absolutely yeah.

Um so as I as I understand it, correct me if I'm mistaken.

Um our current zoning regulation, this concerns um uh cannabis dispensaries.

No, um our current regulations call say that we can have as many as one for every 25,000 right people.

is one that is looked yep is perhaps I don't know if I need forward no it's you know what you need a consensus to do something that was absolutely yeah um so as I as I understand it correct me if I'm mistaken um our current zoning regulation this concerns um uh cannabis dispensaries no um our current regulations call say that we can have as many as one for every 25,000 right people um so that means square at about 135000 now uh and it's step function um that means we can have five and I think that there are four built and more on pending one pending okay but in not too many years we could easily be at a population of 1500 which under the current rules would mean that um that would mean that um another a six uh dispensary might open um so that's an area that's a subject that I would encourage the zoning board to start asking ourselves do we do we need a you know does the does the public want a six does the is it is is that um is that in the public interest right I'm frankly agnostic on the subject yeah um but uh um and if it isn't is now the time that we should start looking at considering a revision of that formula in the regulations um assuming that that we could do it is compliant right with you know with with with with state law it's an example but I bring this up as an example of how I would love to see I would love for the zoning board to be looking forward at situations and needs that could be arising in five ten years right and how we plan for that in our zoning regulations so you hit that right on the head so what that is is the answer is after we had the development on and um glad this is a public meeting on hybrid road um you know I I voted against the project right and uh with that I said and and we have a lot of applications though so and I'm someone that's I'm a measured person uh and I said let's just create a moratorium let's study this and see how it's affecting and we had we had the cannabis applications we had you know the smoke shops opening up and I said let's just let's take a look at this let's have a more term and I think the answer to your question is you're right we have to forward look but let's besides looking forward let's study what we have now and see where we are before we move forward and consider anything else before we know we're gonna hit those numbers but let's let's create the and I and I and I was my suggestion I said you know I asked for the board let's create a moratorium now to study and move forward and um I I think you may see that something like that in the future um and and I and I have to say something uh the our board is a really really great board they they put a lot of time in um and um and they're really open to to the considerations I didn't find it's it's actually from the board of education I was on the board of finance the zoning board is the toughest board I've I've ever attended and the most time uh continuously you know you have your your times a year you need to go with your budgets this is budget every you know every you know 12 months out of the year and I think this board they're very helpful there's a lot to learn and every member there is willing to help you and to search that information out and when I and I only add that parson part two um when I suggest the moratorium or suggest it there the my board is very open to um of suggestions and let's look at this and that's a great board that's a great board okay thank you you're welcome thank you I yield thank you pardon my back thank you chair um hi Jerry how are you um would it be possible for you to move closer to to Carl because we can't see you there we go um I wanted to ask you about setbacks do you do you believe that that we should have uh stronger setback and greenery and tree preservation standards and if so um how can you as a board member make that happen well I think I if you if you're watching those meetings our board is very very keen and very strong on uh you know agriculture and plantings and you know and trees uh there that that is that takes a you know um a great deal of discussion with our every single application how that's going to look um so our our chairman and members are very very open to uh looking at that and became creating those standards um so so I think the the issue is I think with and I think you're correct on setbacks I think that's really important I'm a little um discouraged at myself um there was a great project on Bedford Street um it's a fantastic development um and the way it looked on the schematics uh and I'm seeing it now it's not set back enough you know for my standards uh the aesthetics of it because of the the rest of the buildings

Um so so I think the the issue is I think with and I think you're correct on setbacks.

I think that's really important.

I'm a little um discouraged at myself.

Um there was a great project on Bedford Street.

Um it's a fantastic development.

Um and the way it looked on the schematics, uh and I'm seeing it now, it's not set back enough, you know, for my standards, uh the aesthetics of it, because of the the rest of the buildings that are there, you know, the developments.

So I I think that we we could look at that a greater because I think I didn't do my job well, you know, on that specific projects.

It's a great building, it's a great um, it's a great development, great application.

The the the the uh the the concept was fantastic, but I I agree with you, Karen.

I think it could have been back a little bit more, and so I think we need to take a greater look at our setbacks.

I I agree with you, yes.

But but also in the setbacks, like I'm just gonna use I'm gonna use a stupid example just so you have a visual on what I'm trying to say.

Um the building across the street from Mill River Park that used to have it used to be Trump Towers.

Okay, you know, that building for a city lock, it has a nice setback, but then it has these trees on it, you know, and no greenery at all.

It just has these like little twig trees that almost look like they're out of place.

I I guess what I'm asking is can standard can can Stanford have fedter standards set in place so that you know you don't even have to make those decisions.

They're already they're already in the standards, you know what I mean?

Set up so that the the builders have to abide by them.

I think it can be, and I think uh I think those suggestions are made all the time from our board, and you know, this doesn't look right.

Can we add some more greenery?

This looks a little too stark.

I think we do that.

And I think that to I heard exactly what you're saying in regards to creating standards for that, and I think that it's a great suggestion.

Um especially with the comp plan calling for so much of that, you know, like there were really great when I was going over the comp plan, there were some really really great things in that plan for cities that are sustainable.

Um and I I just wanted to put that that little bug in your head.

Um, because I think we could do more as a city uh with that part of the comp plan and start implementing some of the things that it's calling for.

And I just want to uh iterate what everybody else said.

I'm so grateful for people like you.

Uh you know, you're a generational Stanfordite and your your family and families like yours have built the city that I love to live in and that I don't want to leave.

And so I'm very grateful for that.

You know, I thank you for doing what you guys do.

And this isn't just you know, platitudes, everybody that's here and spends their time.

We all know it's away from our families.

And uh so thank you, and thank you for all your support all the time, you know, with just being able to talk things out.

But I want to reassure you this that the board of the zoning board really takes looking at a you know uh a development plan for plantings and trees and flowers and tips for different types of species really seriously.

Um they spent a lot of time on it, and it's important.

It really is important.

Thank you.

Thank you, Karen.

I yield chair.

Thank you, Rebecca.

But also thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Jerry, thank you for continuing your service to the city.

Uh and I know that I know personally that that you appreciate the balance between development and preservation.

And to represent Camparelli's point, uh green green spaces and uh maintaining that element to everything.

So I am you have my support uh to continue doing this kind of work for us.

And thank you for everything you're doing.

Thank thank you.

Thank you.

Well, any other any further questions, Mr.

Mozak?

Okay, go once going twice.

Thank you so much for thank you.

I just uh a last statement is I have to thank my board and put it for absolutely having patience.

Anybody that joins the board, it takes a while, and it really is uh you know the competency of the board to bring you along.

So um so I I you know I want to thank my board for having the patience with me because it takes a while.

It really does.

Thank you.

I hope they extend the same.

I guess they will.

Absolutely.

You have a great board to learn from, believe me.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, very much.

Okay, so yeah, take a seat, Mr.

Wolverine.

So next up again, item number three, Alpha 32.023 for the zoning board.

It's Mr.

Keith Booker.

Uh new appointment to the zoning boards, return expiring December 1st, 2027.

Welcome, Mr.

Wood.

How are you?

Thank you.

Thanks for having me.

Thank you so much for being here.

And thank you for stepping up for this uh very important role.

I found that I found that discussion to be very uh insightful.

Actually, yeah.

I I encourage you to uh go in our archives and listen to an appointment speed last year.

I I I I have listened to Mr.

Sign, yeah, but yes, super interview we had with him.

Yes, I did.

I listened to so I I read your CD.

You have a fantastic CD for this role as property developer, property investor and sort of an asset manager of uh real estate.

And um I was going to ask you uh what you are looking forward to achieving on the zoning board.

What drew you to the hope to achieve what you have to get out of role?

Sure, not sure.

Can you bring special expertise?

That's a good question.

So I've been in this real estate game for 35 years.

Um I have appeared at on behalf of owners and and uh different sides of the real estate world in other cities.

I've worked in 38 um states around the country and have appeared before zoning courts um and have seen different nuances and intricacies and I wanted to get back.

Um I tried this two and a half years ago, and uh it it didn't go so well.

And um I got a phone call and said, are you still willing to give your time?

And I said, absolutely.

Um I've lived here 10 years, um, have seen this city change and grow.

Um and I I just I don't have all the answers.

I don't have the experiences of being in Stanford and dealing with you know the historic neighborhoods and things of that nature, but I do have a lot of um knowledge and real estate experience.

Um great listener, and I and I just want to get back to the community.

I think I could be a good fit and a good teammate and and uh people have asked some some amazing questions because I've appeared before zoning boards, and some people don't ask some of the questions that have that have gone on.

So yeah.

Thanks so much for stepping up.

We really we really appreciate it.

Uh I will ask raise your hand, Amy, if you'd like to ask Mr.

Walker question.

But um, Mr.

Walker, what if if you uh elected to this position, appoint to this position, yeah.

Um what principles would guide you deciding where that proposed exception to a zoning or a site plan or a zoning proposal uh was appropriate for Stanford to be sure you're just following the paper rules, I guess that we have right.

Let's put that to the to the side.

Um I think first and foremost is the community at large.

Um the best question I ever was asked when I appear before a zoning board.

Someone said to me, and I would ask this question to a to a future applicant, if this application was approved, what value would it bring to the town?

Um and I thought it was a it was a it was a great question.

Yeah, and the reason that I bring that up is because at the end of the day, you know, you were talking about areas of you know the community, what's happening with the teardown and things of that nature.

How do we avoid those things?

The daily impact of what goes on in real estate affects everyone's lives.

So to understand everyone, you know, you're always gonna have people that are gonna go agree with you.

There are people who are gonna disagree with you.

The the question is, how does it impact the you know the community?

So I think that was that's first and foremost as far as a guiding principle.

Thank you very much.

I agree, I agree.

Especially, yeah, Stanford is in a city with so much change and so many so many different stakeholders, it's very challenging role you're signing up for here.

Yeah, yeah.

Any questions for Mr.

Walker from the Zoom remote applicant members.

Uh Rep Wars.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Keith, it's very good to see you back.

Thank you.

Very good.

I'm glad you are I'm glad you are still as interested and committed uh as you were last time.

Thank you.

Sure.

Thank you, Rep Walson.

Mr.

Walker, could you tell us more about what happened last time?

I'm intrigued.

I don't know what happened.

I'm pleased.

Oh, um, I came before the appointments committee.

Um was not nominated.

The mayor put my nomination through.

And I don't know, it was two, two and a half hours of an interesting discussion.

Okay.

Um and you know what?

People asked a lot of um people asked a lot of questions.

People also ask a lot of sort of gotcha questions, which was a little disappointing.

I I don't, you know, I don't I don't want to get in.

Listen, I don't think that zoning, while it is political, the decisions that end up happening affect the community, and for that reason it's political.

Um I don't think zoning should be guided by politics, it should be guided by what's in the best interest of of the the community.

So I think I got caught up in a you know a little bit of uh whatever, and you know what?

It happens.

Um, and I felt like you know what, I I still want to volunteer, and let's let's let's do it again.

And you're right.

Well, thank you.

I don't know if whoever was here last time, if I described that correctly or not pretty close.

It was an interesting evening, and then and then I afterwards got even more interesting.

So uh yeah.

I think representative short was first good.

Go ahead, Shore.

Well, come check.

Thank you, thank you, Chair Gardner.

Uh yeah, so uh uh and uh uh I think I speak for Chair Gardner when I say that what one of uh one of our objectives coming into this 30 second board was to try to conduct these meetings as cordially as possible.

And uh I I think we recognize that everybody's here because they want to be here.

Everybody's here because they're volunteering for this position.

Uh you've run a certain gamut coming to this point of meeting with us, and uh uh and I and I just think it by the time you reach us, uh it's it's clear that you've passed muster with all those other folks, and and it's it's really just a great opportunity to get to know you and meet you.

And I have one question for you though, and it's just a a little bit of a philosophical question.

And it's it's come up uh not not this evening, but it's come up in prior uh conversations with uh zoning board applicants.

And and and and it's um we're repurposing a certain number of buildings, and I know there are members of the zoning board who prefer building new as opposed to repurposing ex uh existing uh structures.

And I was uh wondering if if you had an opinion on that.

Um sure.

Um I've I've done an adaptive reuse program, actually.

And uh which I thought I I think if if if you know my nomination goes through, I could be um helpful in that process and in asking questions.

Um I don't think we should be in the business of just tearing down things to to rebuild them.

Um obviously there are buildings that are functionally obsolete that need to be torn down for for various reasons, but um I I do not think that that property should be torn down just for the sake of being torn down.

I I appreciate that.

Thank thank you very much.

Uh I I yield.

Thank you.

Sure.

Next up was Representative Wayne.

Your boss, okay.

Uh President Schul.

Thank you so much.

Um, I just wanted to say that uh Mr.

Wilkins, I was in that uh meeting that you were there before.

Yes, you remember.

You asked the first question.

You actually were the only person that asked me about me.

So thank you.

I'm glad you remember that.

And I I thought back then you were a fantastic candidate, and I still think you're a fantastic candidate.

And I'm like uh Representative Morrison said, we're glad you're back and you wanted to serve the community.

And you're right, this but this shouldn't be um political, it is based on um your experience and I remember you having a great background.

Um it's based on the passion uh about what you you know as volunteering for the community because I think it's a complicated board and it takes a lot of time just like our boats.

So um I wish you the very best, and I will be fully supportive of you and uh look forward to working with you in the future.

Thank you for those kind words.

Thank you, Professor Schulf.

Uh yeah, thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Kemperly.

Hi I think you're really brave for coming back.

Um I I won't tell you what some of my friends have told me.

What's wrong with you?

I I was I didn't want to say it because it was I would just have been joking, but if I were your friend, I'd ask you the same question.

Um my question to you is how do you how are you going to balance uh development pressures with what the neighborhoods want?

You know, like when when we were coming out with the complan, uh the 2035 comprehensive plan, we heard from so many constituents.

We heard from so many constituents.

I mean, we just had hundreds of people showing up for our community um sessions and everything, and town halls and public hearings, you know, and all of them are afraid that they're going to lose the essence of what each of their neighborhoods are.

And what makes Stanford great is we have every kind of neighborhood.

I mean, we have we have North Stanford, we have the the water side.

I mean, I don't have to tell you, you've been living here for a while now.

How do people on the zoning board balance the pressure to develop with keeping?

I'm gonna use the word character of each neighborhood and quality of life.

Sure, sure.

Um, really good question.

Um, when I came before the board two and a half years ago, it was the discussion was all about residential and and units.

Um I don't know if we're if we're done with that.

I know we're not.

Um there's there's definitely two sides to this equation.

In one, in being in being in real estate, and I talk to people within the industry, and where are you from?

Oh, you live in Stanford.

Stanford is I I told the mayor this Stanford's the envy of a lot of cities, um, and a lot of people that are like, you're getting development, you're getting young people, your your city is vibrant.

Um, when you redo the transit center, people are really going to think even more of the city of Stanford.

But I think your point um is extremely valid in the fact of how much is too much.

Um but it's not just residential.

Um, I don't think anyone benefits from an empty box, whether it is the grosser, um, you know, the the fairway that's been sitting vacant for so long, you know.

How do we improve these areas?

Um that can be reused.

And you know, Representative Shore, you asked me the question.

That's why I'm uh I'm in favor of you know, what do we put?

How can we put our creative heads together and say let's do something with this piece of property?

Um, let's not just tear it down and put up something new to build, you know, 4,000 more units or 5,000 more units.

But I I in the same respect, I I did listen to the questions the other um I guess it was um a month ago.

Someone asked the questions how do we bring down the cost of living um with all these units?

I raised my kids in Nure Shell, they have successfully brought down the cost and the increases within um above market rate by having a certain amount of units.

So there is sort of this fine line, and you know, there is no silver bullet to answering your question.

I think it's it's a it's a process, and I think once again, it gets back to what's in the best interest of the community, what's in the best interest of these neighborhoods to keep their character and preserve them.

Um I think that's what's important.

Thank you.

I I yield, Chad.

Thank you, Rebecca Burley.

Any further questions, Mr.

Wilcom?

Going once.

Going once.

Thank you so much for talking to you.

Really appreciate being in.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, next up.

Item number four, Alpha 33.024 for the flight board was missing up.

Check the sunny.

Thank you, Mrs.

I can see yeah.

Okay.

Thank you so much for being here.

We really appreciate it.

Thank you.

This is your uh your new applicant for the planning board.

And I see from your experience uh 45 years of experience for um in design construction municipal facility schools and the like.

Um point of information.

Yes, sir.

Isn't correct that industry salad is currently an alternate?

Yes, yep.

So it'd be stepping up for an alternate table.

Oh that's a great point.

Thank you.

I was not aware of that, actually.

Um thank you so much.

That's fantastic.

Okay, so that's even better.

Or remember your interview.

Great.

So the uh full seat.

That's fantastic.

Um you also be on multiple other political commissions of South as well.

Um no, this is my first.

Okay.

Um so what would you say uh is the planning board's most important role in balancing Stanford's growth with neighborhood quality of life?

And uh that's something which came up just now.

And I know that the zoning board is deeply involved in that sort of that balance, and so is the planning board as well.

Um, and how would your sort of background and history and experience help analyze those trade-offs and get the best sort of results for our city?

Um the comprehensive plan, as you know, is uh once every 10 year event.

Um took a tremendous amount of work, tremendous amount of input from the community from various stakeholders throughout the community.

Um and and I suspect um it probably not did not quite achieve a consensus by the definition of consensus.

Um but we have to take into consideration everyone's point of view, can't necessarily uh accommodate everyone's point of view.

Um but like in so many other endeavors here in the city, we're trying to find balance.

Yeah, yeah.

Absolutely.

I have many uh a lot of negative feedback we received as board up said this member throughout the 2035 plan.

A lot in favor, a lot against, and uh your your uh so we've let's see questions.

Um go ahead, Rip on.

Thank you.

Bye.

Um so uh it really have a question that uh take advantage of your Los Angeles experience.

Um one of the things I mean at full disclosure, both my kids look there.

So I'm well aware of what they paper is.

Um one of the things that from what I've from what I've heard and what I've read, one of the things that Los Angeles has been pretty successful at fairly recently, is uh creating new reasonably affordable for LA housing um through the use of accessory dwelling units.

Um we've been um we've been remarkably unsuccessful, I think that we since since the ADU rates came in, uh the number I've heard is eight applications, so um, which tells me that that's that that has not made a serious dent in our you know in generating a housing supply units and um what is LA doing that's that we can learn from when it comes to the responsible development and uh of of ATUs uh in all in all camp, or I'm sure that I can fully answer that.

Uh I haven't lived there in the last four years.

Um I was not uh very much involved uh professionally in development of uh accessory drawing units.

Um point of information.

I I'm sorry to break this up, but it's very difficult, and I and I'm sorry because I'm not there, but we can't hear him.

No, okay.

Also, why don't you speak to this?

I I'll ignore it.

Sorry, or maybe if he just moves a little closer to Rep Weinberg.

I know you don't want to sit next to him, but it would be helpful.

It would would it be better if he scooted down a little bit?

I think so.

Because I can hear you.

Okay, well and I'll try to project better.

Sorry.

Um so coming back to uh coming back to it, uh accessory dwelling units relative to Los Angeles.

Um a lot of what has uh promoted that is a totally different tax structure um in the state of California than currently exists in Canada as an example.

Um Proposition 13, which was passed in California long before I got there.

Um but probably now I think it was going on about 50 years the way or so um you know was was uh had a good deal of bearing in my opinion on how the city took advantage of or to the extent that they did of those uh that kind of feature.

Um they also have very different zoning regulations and uh from smaller lots uh with in multiple parts of Los Angeles to bigger lots still than our our largest uh three acre, I think um so they all it all contributed.

I'm not sure that I can give you a you know the answer uh fair enough.

Okay, to my way of thinking, it it is in there there's opportunities with with ADU expansion to um you know from frankly we could really mess up neighborhoods, but but there's also enormous opportunity to create um uh again the the phrase I used before that actually comes from the comprehensive plan to create this missing middle house.

Yes, yes, um that would generate um you know reasonably priced um uh residences um and in the aggregate while they're ones and twos in the aggregate they could really start to make a dent in in helping us with that nature.

Um so I would encourage you if if you're if you're um if you're confirmed uh to you know move up to uh full voting uh role uh to do what you can on the planning board to um to learn from uh you know you know from examples where ADUs seem to be working not just in terms of creating housing, but also in terms of preserving name remote continuity, um, and see how we can apply some of those lessons here.

I think it's a really significant untanned potential for us.

I I tend to agree.

So thank you.

I'm gonna yield.

Thank you, Ravilak.

Any questions from those on the call, Mr.

Silith.

Okay.

I think that's all your questions.

Thank you.

So much for the time, Mr.

Smith.

That was easy.

Oh, um, really, sorry.

Council.

Sorry, I can never find the hand thing.

How are you?

Um how will you how you balance uh development with preservation?

Uh the um well, first um in the comprehensive plan uh preservation was one of the items that I that I advocated uh fairly um vocally uh relative to the rest of the board um uh in terms of the comprehensive plan.

Um being an architect um my my passion has always been the built environment.

Um and I as a prior candidate had suggested, we don't need to tear down everything um just because it's old, just to build something new.

Um so that that happens to me in my own personal philosophy.

Um and and I I think it deals directly with a development versus preservation.

Thank you for that answer.

I yield, Chair.

Excellent.

Thank you, Robarelli.

I think with that, any other questions.

Okay.

Thank you so much for time.

We really appreciate being here.

Sure.

Thank you very much for entertaining me.

Thank you.

You had seen us considering thank you so much.

Good night.

Thank you.

Great.

Is it Mr.

McKay or Mr.

McKay?

McKay.

McKay.

Okay, next up we have item number five, Alpha 72, point zero two five for the time boards.

Drew McKay.

Uh, with a time exploring December 1st, 2027.

Um I really like your CV.

Ms.

McKay, I think you had a really good CV.

And I I liked very much your listing morale builder as a skill as a critical skill in life.

And uh that was very cool.

We put that on your CV.

That really made me smile.

Um, and I also really like your uh why you're interested in this role in response to the sort of boilerplate question.

It's a very good response.

And definitely if I if I could purely just see your documentation, I would put for you.

My answer, my question for you would be as an author, you are stepping into very complex uh you know planning matters, which are complex planning ongoing and you'll sort of step into a role where they may have been ongoing for many months or even something.

And you're expected to step into that and become educated on these complex topics, and then if necessary, give your opinion and step into the role.

Is that uh is that something you're comfortable with doing?

You're you're ready to take on that sort of quite complicated responsibility.

Uh thank you for the planning words, Representative Gardner.

Um I am a morale booster.

I've I run fairly large teams, um, multiple teams managing multiple million dollar developments.

Um, so stepping into you know, in the middle of a project or an application, it is normal day current for me.

Um so it's just a matter of getting up to speed and you know, just kind of you know doing your homework.

Thanks.

Um, I I have absolutely no idea of the right skills for this role.

And um would you say would you say that your philosophy around uh preservation plus development lines of this we we just uh heard?

It very much does.

Um I I'm I'm I lean towards the thoughtful development.

Um you know, it needs to be thoughtful.

Every um, you know, that's what's great about Stanford is that we have so many amazing diverse communities, and in each of those communities, they have their own needs and characteristics, and I think that's important to each of those uh you know areas and neighborhoods.

Yeah, absolutely.

And in our experience in those neighborhoods, it's very very vocal about um change and planning, and uh it's it's always a huge undertaking to balance those neighborhoods priorities versus the overall goals of our city, keeping our city financially healthy, buoyant and uh great place to live.

It's a very complex and stake as we appreciate it for a lot of stakeholders, a lot of stakeholders, and uh we really appreciate you joining the uh joining the army to take on that challenge.

Everybody good, yeah.

Thank you.

Um True, thank you.

Uh thank you for uh for being here.

Uh and I agree your uh your resume looks great.

I would love to learn more about one of the projects that you describe in a little bit of detail on resume and learn more about it.

And it's the one for Garvey's point.

Uh yes, uh and uh not just because I grew up in Rosland.

So I know you like the area.

My mother lived in Rothschool.

There we go.

Okay.

Um but there are a couple of things about that project.

Um as as you describe in your resume that really interest me, uh, really intrigue me.

Um, and I'd be interested in there are the opportunities, their applications here in Stampo.

So two things in particular.

Um first is the fact that it combined interestingly, rental units and condo, you know, equity units, units.

Um I'm a I'm a strong believer that we need more uh condo development again, getting this you know, odd nausea theme that I'm doing here tonight, uh less transfer.

And on missing middle, you know, um good and particularly missing middle equity-based housing.

Um so that really intrigues me that it's a combination of both rental and and and condos.

And the second is um something that representative camparelli alluded to earlier.

Uh uh the fact that it uh contained a green roof as a way to you know, particularly in our more uh uh in our denser areas downtown and so forth, to you know, as a way to um significantly increase the green space and get the amenity lifestyle and also and frankly health benefits of that.

So I was hoping you could tell us a little bit more about how those elements of that project came about and how we might create those opportunities.

Absolutely.

That's great question.

Thank you.

Um that was like weinberg.

So for those of you that don't know that development, it's uh it's a development out on the north shore of Long Island uh in Glen Cove.

Um it is uh uh was a it's currently a 60-acre uh site.

It was uh one of the largest uh super fun sites in the country.

Um my team of uh of construction managers uh ended up uh remediating 60 acres of that um of that area of that land and uh and developing uh and creating uh several uh residential uh buildings uh on that land, um a vast open green great lawn, as they call it.

Uh it was right on the water.

Uh so there was a a boardwalk promenade that existed.

Uh it was uh or it is a mixed use uh development.

So as Representative Weinberg mentioned, uh there were three there are three buildings that are uh uh rentals.

Uh and then the furthest building out on the point is uh condominium complex that we built.

Um and then they just subsequently had uh an affordable housing building go up on that same development as well.

Um that that development was uh a very controversial development in Glen Cove.

Um getting that through the planning board and and zoning board took years and and lots of revisions.

Um and we still didn't um uh the developers still didn't you know get everybody's approval, right?

Because can't kind of please everyone.

But um it was it was uh a truly it truly transformed uh the city of Glen Cove.

Um and uh and it really made uh a really wonderful vibrant community.

A lot of young folks started moving in.

Uh a lot of uh a lot of the older people that lived in Glen Cove ended up selling their houses and buying condos in the building.

Um it was really one of the fantastic developments that I was uh I was a pleasure to be a part of.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the the green roof concept and particularly how we might um we might make that a more do that more frequently?

It was it was it was definitely um the green roof was definitely pushed um not so much by the developer but by um by the city of Glen Cove.

Um they pushed for uh more green green spaces, particularly on the multiple uh apartment complexes that we were building.

So we ended up uh uh you know installing uh uh a beautiful green roof that had meadows on top of it.

Um there were some walking paths on on the roof that um led to some benches and seating areas um within the the greenery uh on the roof, uh really uh really created another um amenity space on a building that would have been just you know wasted for you know nothing really.

It was really and that was pushed that was pushed strongly uh on the developer by uh the city of Glencove in that landing zone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Representative Camperly.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I wanted to ask you your thoughts on it on environmental justice as it pertains to city planning.

Um, you know, in Stanford, uh what were red line districts, the South End, East End, West End of Stanford, um, the life expectancy of a resident that lives on the south end of Stanford is 11 years shorter than someone that lives in North Stanford.

Um air quality, congestion, things like that contribute to unhealthy outcomes.

Uh how will you help in planning a city that takes those things into consideration for the people living in the south, east and west sides of uh Stanford?

That's a great question, thank you.

Um I think that you'll have uh in the upcoming years with the transit-oriented development, you'll have a big uh a big opportunity to uh you know address some of those issues down over uh at the south end.

Um lean towards more green spaces, right?

Uh more more trees, more thoughtful landscape architecture in those areas to help address some of the some of those concerns about uh environmental impacts.

Um that that would be uh you know a great starting point, especially with that huge development coming on on board.

Those those kind of things are not easily fought for as the representative that's sitting next to you knows.

You know, what what skills or how will you how will you fight for those things if you're if they're important to you, if you feel they're important to the community, which I think all of us in this room know they are.

in those areas to help address some of the some of those concerns about uh environmental impacts um that that would be uh you know a great starting point especially with that huge development coming on on board those those kind of things are not easily fought for as the representative that's sitting next to you knows you know what what skills or how will you how will you fight for those things if you're um if they're important to you if you feel they're important to the community which I think all of us in this room know they are well I think it I think I think it comes down to m meeting people where they are right and and and the the the people uh andor the developers that'll come in and and put forth their plans um to develop those areas uh you know to to challenge them uh uh and see you know what they make them step out of their comfort zone and and maybe they have spend uh a few more dollars on landscape architecture than they would have liked but you know that's the that's the course of doing business here right we you know that's that's my thought I like that thank you so much and thank you for uh for stepping up to volunteer for this chair I yield my time thank you Rev Camarelli any further questions Mr.

McKay well thank you so much for the time sweeping really appreciate being it thank you very much thank you so much okay have a seat come up here sneak we have our final interview candidate this is item number seven alpha 32 point zero two seven is for the parks and recreation uh commission parks and recreation commissioners yeah shriya Nadela uh who is gonna have time to expire December first 2000 thank you social baby yeah apologies for you being lost and what is time perfectly off yeah and I believe this is this is your first Southford forward appointment so thank you for stepping up and uh going through the process we have rather arduous we hope it won't be too much longer and I also from your C V that you're product manager of sorts as well so am I so I very much I very much get uh your C D and I know to be to be good at uh your role our role it requires you to be sort of good at everything and be a people person and also a analyzer and a uh I mean sort of everyone um and so I think that definitely translates well in my opinion to the your role on the Pars American commission.

I think that's gonna be fantastic.

But um my question for you is what do you think should be the top priority the commission should it be expanding programming the parks should it be uh improving maintenance improving access preserving our open space what what would be your top priority?

I think the uh government has done a really good job actually in moving the parks already I've taken a look at a scalsey park and they've redone the courts which is really nice there.

Um a little bit of refinishing still to be done but that's to be expected because of course there's a limited budget and uh you can't do everything all the time um there is a good opportunity to be able to partner with some of the local um local um who's in the word organizations uh such as the Run Club or the Racket Club who is already playing at Scalsey in the hockey rank um so I think expanding some of our community programs and making sure that it's successful and drawing more people to the parks is probably what we want to do.

And there's a lot of great parks like we have um Quaizuco Park and we have like Scalsey and we have uh we have a couple of parks over in um Westover as well that people don't even know about so I think attracting them to that location probably is a great way to do it.

Just we we all I think we're gonna have a lot of uh no no objections of the importance of city parks and how a lot of uh fans of how well they're managed and they're development recently their improvements um we all are huge I I routinely go for a walk at Minus and I've literally run into people who come from New York City to come and walk in our parks just because a city obviously doesn't have um anything besides like Central Park it's like you know not really a big park to be walking in.

So it would be great if we could actually get more people into Stanford just to like you know experience nature.

Absolutely absolutely and yeah another we should uh absolutely do that.

Reb Shu go ahead coach is rule doing this on touch grid it was a little boggy uh thanks uh thank you uh chairgardner and and uh thank you so much for stepping up and volunteering to do this uh being uh prospective new member of the commission maybe this is an unfair question uh but uh this year the 30 second board decided to merge uh the parks and rec committee with the operations committee and I was curious uh for your opinion on what impact if any that may have and it may be that you have no opinion just uh as a newbie so uh but but I thought I'd pose the question um that's a great question as you mentioned I am still new to the role and to understanding a little bit more about the government but I am a hundred percent ready to learn about what this change would imply and I would really like the opportunity to be able to um prove my merit and grit in that way thank you very much uh I yield thank you coach I'm sure

Um that's a great question.

As you mentioned, I am still new to the role and to understanding a little bit more about the government, but I am a hundred percent ready to learn about what this change would imply, and I would really like the opportunity to be able to um prove my merit and grit in that way.

Thank you very much.

Uh I yield.

Thank you, Coach.

Sure.

Thank you, Chair, and good evening.

Um I think parkland and the lack of it in Stanford is one of the most important issues in the city uh currently.

Um so I had a couple of questions for you.

I don't know, Chair, if you want me to ask them all or you want me to ask one and then relinquish the floor.

Go ahead, my camera, we're making great time almost time.

Okay.

Um so my first question to you is your your thoughts about astro turf on park property.

Um I think there's some pros and cons for using it.

Um uh some somewhere we can uh I think if we want to maintain the integrity of of the park, I would suggest using more natural substances versus an Astros turf per se.

Um, and it really depends on how much we want to really uh contribute to uh to microplastic usage as well.

There is major opposition to astro turf in Stanford.

How will you how will you handle that?

Um I personally am not a huge fan of uh microplastics myself, but I would love to hear both sides of the opinion, and then I would like to resolve it in a um respectful discourse because I understand why the usage of AstroTurf would probably be uh a good way to move forward just in terms of maintenance, but in terms of like microplastics, I think.

Yeah, so I would uh I would personally advocate against it, but uh just to maintain the integrity of the park itself.

Thank you for that answer.

Um wanted to ask you a question on your resume.

You had applied for it, looked like you were applying for the zoning board.

You said zoning and planning was I guess your first choice.

How did you end up in the parks and rec?

Well, I have a huge interest in zoning and planning because I can see the city is growing, and I have uh a lot of perspectives from the younger generation about how the city is growing and how we can make it a more equitable place for the long term in terms of how we can attract and keep our younger individuals here.

Um I don't think I have the experience to be able to do that well enough.

And I think the parks, I also have a passion for nature.

I love um, I love the trees, I love the grass.

I want to make sure that you know, we've maintained the integrity of um of Stanford and how people have access to um nature because it's great for mental health, it's great for like people who just need a space to go and rest uh away from their apartment buildings, you know, and all that.

So I think this was a great way for me to get introduced to a local city government and uh volunteer and uh make my space here.

Um and then my my last question you actually just touched on um how would you parkland in Stanford is not always equitable.

You know, we don't have uh parks in certain areas.

Um some of the some of the parkland that we do have, like for I wouldn't just just give you an example.

We have a piece of park land.

Um I forgot what district it's in, but it was actually deeded to the city as parkland.

And the city had planned to turn that, this is a very controversial issue, um, into a library.

And I'm so for libraries, right?

But I'm also really for green space, and I'm also for uh honoring when someone gives their land to a city or anyone, you know.

I mean, this land is probably the most important thing a human will ever have in terms of of financial, you know, growth or whatever.

Um how do you feel about that?

Well, um, if we want to um achieve both objectives, if we do want to have a space, I understand the importance of libraries because it does uh give people access to education, which helps them get out of any sticky situations that they may be put into due to social inequality, but having parks is also important, and we can merge the two.

Um I think as it was mentioned previously, people have built parks on top of buildings.

So if we built a library in this scenario, um maybe there is a way to build a park around the library and maybe on top of the library as well.

So people have a space to go, but we also have uh a library that people have access to.

Thank you.

Um Chair, I yield.

Thank you very much for stepping up and volunteering.

Thank you.

Thank you, Abri.

Any further questions, Ms.

Nanilla?

Okay, seeing that.

Thank you so much for your time.

We really appreciate you being here.

Thank you so much for the opportunity.

No, thank you.

Thank you for giving us your time.

Okay.

That concludes our the interview portion.

We'll now get to the votes.

Okay.

So starting with our votes, I will go.

I'm gonna follow the uh order that we conclu conducted our our interviews in.

So we're gonna start our voting with number six, which was number one.

So we're gonna start with uh item number six, alpha 32, period 026.

Planning board alternate Ashley Larry, which expires December 1st, 2028.

I move to accept.

Uh I move to accept item number six.

So move.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Any discussion?

Seeing none.

Okay, let's move ahead to the voice vote.

All in favor of approving Ashley Lye for the planning board.

Say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Any abstentions?

Okay, the motion passes.

That's gonna be one, two, three, five, six, six, seven, zero, zero.

Okay, moving on.

Uh we're gonna take up item number.

Well, would be this case being the item number two, uh Alpha 32.020, Board of Assessment Appeals, Larry Ginsburg for a term that expires December 1st, 2028.

I propose a motion to approve item number two.

So I have a second.

Second.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, let's move over the voice vote.

All in favor of approving Larry Ginsberg for the board of assessment appeals, say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Motion passes, 700.

Okay, item number three, alpha 32.022 for the zoning board, Mr.

Jerry Bozak, a reappointment with a term expiring December 1st, 2028.

I move to approve Mr.

Bozak.

Do I have a second?

Some uh some move.

So moved.

Do we have a second?

Very good.

Thank you, Reb Sure.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, let's move ahead with a voice vote.

All in favor of approving Mr.

Bozak for the zoning board, say aye.

Aye.

Any against any abstentions?

Motion passes.

700.

Okay, item number uh four.

Four, I think.

Um it uh that's alpha 32.024 for the planning board chet salit with a term expiring December 1st, 2026.

I move to approve Mr.

Chile, Mr.

Summit for the planning board.

So move.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Okay, any discussions.

Seeing none, let's move ahead with a voice vote.

All in favor of approving Mr.

Salit for the planning board, say aye.

Aye.

Any against any abstentions?

Uh motion passes, 700.

Hi, um I missed one on your I had it here, but Keith Walker, I'm not sure if you see it on yours.

Uh that's that was next.

So if you want to do his I apologize.

No, no, that was my mistake.

Yeah.

No, I didn't know what the bottom of my shoulders.

Oh, you do.

Okay.

Okay.

Oh, well, let's do him next.

Let's do the next.

Um, so okay, the next item is to take up um item number three uh for the zoning board, Alpha 32.023, Keith Walker uh for a term expiring December 1st, 2027.

I move to approve Mr.

Walker.

So move.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Second.

Okay, any discussion.

No discussion.

Okay, moving forward to the voice vote.

All in favor of approving Mr.

Walker for the zoning board.

Say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All against any abstentions.

Motion passes.

700.

Now we should be on item number five.

Alpha 32.025.

The planning board's alternate candidate, Drew McKay, with a term expiring December 1st, 2027.

I move to approve Mr.

McKay.

So move.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Okay, any discussion?

Seeing none.

Let's move ahead with the voice vote.

All in favor of approving Mr.

McKay for the planning board, say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any against any abstentions?

The motion passes.

700.

And finally, item number seven, Alpha 32.027, the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Uh Mr.

Della with a term expiring December 1st, 2028.

I move to approve Mr.

Della for the planning for parks and recreation.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Any discussion.

Seeing none, let's move ahead with a voice vote.

All in favor of approving Mr.

Della for the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Or any against any abstentions.

Motion passes.

700.

That concludes the voting portion of our meeting.

I move to adjourn.

So move five, Mr.

Thank you all for being here.

Good night, everyone.

Thank you very much.

Thanks, Representative Gardner.

Thank you all.

Have a good evening.

Take care.