Note: The agenda and transcript reference Tuesday, May 14, 2024, but the user instruction specifies the meeting occurred on May 15, 2024. This summary uses the provided date but notes the discrepancy.
The Stamford Planning Board held a regular meeting via Zoom webinar at 6:32 PM. Chair Teresa Dell presided with Vice Chair Jay Tepper, Secretary Jennifer Godzino, and alternate members William Levin and Stephen Perry (serving as regular members due to recent resignations). Lindsay Colland, Associate Planner, provided staff support. The board reviewed minutes, discussed a significant text change application, and made recommendations on five Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) variance referrals.
Rick Redniss, representing River Bend Center LLC, presented a proposal to amend the HT-D (High Technology District) zoning regulations to allow residential uses by special permit. The HT-D district is the only one in Stamford, covering 36 acres with 12 buildings. Current occupancy is approximately 35%. The change would permit up to 470 residential units (0.3 FAR) as supportive infill to maintain the viability of existing industrial/flex uses.
Key discussion points:
Outcome: The board decided to continue the discussion to a later meeting (either June 11 or June 25, 2024) to allow the applicant to gather more traffic data, explore neighborhood feedback, and refine the proposal. No vote was taken.
Proposal: Change single-family dwelling to two-family with a deck. Variances for lot area (4,625 sq. ft. vs. 6,000 required) and parking setback (3.7 ft. vs. 5 ft.). Staff recommended approval citing harmony with the mixed-use neighborhood. Vote: Unanimous approval.
Proposal: Second-story addition over existing footprint (59 sq. ft. connector). Variances for coverage (49.64% vs. 25%), front and side setbacks. Board previously denied similar variances in 2023. Staff (Lindsay Colland) opposed, noting the home is already bulky. Board debate: Some members (Jay, Jennifer, Stephen, Terry) found the aesthetic acceptable given surrounding multifamily buildings; Bill Levin abstained. Vote: Approved 4-0-1 (Levin abstained).
Proposal: Two-story addition (mudroom, bedroom, etc.). Variances for side yard setbacks (3.2 ft. vs. 10 ft.; 19.6 ft. vs. 20 ft.). Staff expressed concern about bulk but acknowledged typical approval when aligning with existing footprint. Board felt the addition was reasonable. Vote: Unanimous approval.
Proposal: 86 sq. ft. second-floor addition. Variances for rear yard setback (27.7 ft. vs. 30 ft.; deck 21.4 ft. vs. 24 ft.). Staff noted minimal change. Vote: Unanimous approval.
Proposal: Demolish existing garage, construct new two-car garage with living space above. Variances for front street setback (24 ft. vs. 40 ft.; 48.9 ft. vs. 65 ft.). Staff suggested reorienting garage to Robinson Drive to avoid variance. Applicant cited practical difficulties. Board debated hardship; Terry and others found it reasonable given corner lot constraints. Vote: Approved 4-0-1 (Jennifer Godzino abstained).
Do you see it, Jennifer? I do not. Oh, here she is. I actually have to run to get my charger. Okay. But you can probably wait for you to come back. Okay. Welcome, Jennifer. Okay, I'll set. Yes. Good evening. I'd like to welcome you all to the Stanford Planning Board meeting. Tonight is a regular meeting. We are on internet and conference call. It is 6.32, and tonight is a Zoom webinar. All the information in regards to attending our meeting this evening was on our agenda that was filed with the clerk and posted on the planning board website. So you can get on our meeting by getting into the Zoom webinar and joining from a PC, a Mac, an iPad, an iPhone, and an Android device. You can also use a mobile phone, and you can also join by regular phone. And as I said, I'd like to welcome all of our planning board members and our attendees this evening. For the planning board, I am Teresa Dell, the chair. We have Jay Tepper, who is our vice chair, Jennifer Godzino, who is our secretary, and William Levin and Stephen Perry, who are both our alternates. This evening, Micah Totillo will not be present. And as you all know, Michael Bacino resigned the last Tuesday night of April. So Stephen Perry and William Levin will be regular members acting as regular members this evening and voting on every application that is before the board this evening. And we have a Lindsay Colland, who is our associate planner for the planning board. And as I said, I welcome everyone to our meeting. As tonight is a regular meeting, none of the items on the agenda, I believe, uh, will be public hearings. So there will be no speaking from the public, but I do welcome the public to be here and listening to everything that we discuss on our agenda. So the first item before the planning board this evening are the planning board minutes for April the 30th. All of us were present that evening. Does anyone have any adjustments or corrections or improvements to the meetings? Anything we left out. Okay, with none being stated, may I have a motion to approve the minutes for April 30th. Moved by Bill. Second by Stephen. All in favor, show of hands. Passes unanimously. Richard Redness 22 First Corp. And this is a text change. This is the River Bend Center LLC is seeking to amend the City of Stanford zoning regulations to revise portions of the HTD regulation and create an opportunity to infill new residential development, where it helps sustain the maintenance and viability of existing industrial flex type uses in new and existing buildings. In regards to this application, the planning board did receive numerous letters in opposition and letters in favor of this application. The letters, as uh everyone knows who has been on this uh site before, we do not read into the record, but we do put every letter that we receive into the record and we forward them on to the zoning board so they know what the planning board received. So Lindsay, why don't I turn it over to you before we turn it over to Rick for his um discussion on the application, and you can state whatever you feel is necessary before he begins. Sounds good. Thanks, Terry. Uh this text change application would have limited applicability because this is the only area in Stanford that is zoned HTD. Um the text change is significant because it allows residential as a special permit use to this district. Um, and that could result in the development overall of about 200,000 square feet of non-residential floor area and about 470,000 square feet of residential floor area, which could be between 376 and 470 units, depending on BMR, if approved by the zoning board by way of special permit. Um, so to be clear, this is a text change application. It's not for the development of any non-residential or residential floor area.