OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting - August 14, 2024

Planning Board — Wednesday, August 14, 2024
BodyStamford, Connecticut
SessionPlanning Board
DateWednesday, August 14, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:20

Let me open this meeting of the board uh the planning board of August 13th uh 2024.

0:28

And uh before the meeting starts, I would like to turn the mic over to our outgoing chair of quite a while, Terry Dell to make a few words.

0:42

Thank you, Jay.

0:44

Tonight, it's a happy night and a sad night for me.

0:48

I have been a member of this board for the past 23 years.

0:53

Like many of our new people, Rave, Prasad, and Chess.

0:59

I came on this board very unaware of what the planning board did.

1:04

I was a commissioner of aging at the time for the city of Stanford.

1:10

And Donna Leglisi, who was on the planning board and who was a member of the uh Republican Party, uh, who I knew very well, came up to me and said, I think we'll get you away from old people.

1:24

I think it's time for you to try something new.

1:27

And she asked me to take her place on the planning board.

1:32

And so 23 years ago, I walked off the elevator on the seventh floor at seven o'clock in the evening because that was the time we started our meetings.

1:44

And we were all sitting around the conference room table that you've all seen if you've gone into the uh seventh floor land use bureau.

1:55

And that's where we conducted our meetings.

1:58

And the chair at that time was Dwayne Hill, who was very knowledgeable, and the lead Republican was John Garnjos.

2:09

And our principal planner who knew more of planning than anyone sitting around the table was Robin Stein.

2:18

And he became a wonderful mentor for me.

2:22

And it has truly been a journey.

2:26

I have served under four mayors, as I said, starting with Mayor Malloy and continuing with Mayor Pavia, Mayor Martin, and currently Mayor Simmons.

2:39

And when Mayor Pavia took office, and the board had its election, they surprised me and asked me to be their chair.

2:51

And for the last 15 years, I have been the chair of the planning board.

2:57

I'm getting misty, but it was quite an honor because I was really surprised that they put all their confidence in me to be their chair.

3:20

And I want to thank everybody who was part of that.

3:32

And along as I said with Robin Stein, mentored me and helped me understand exactly what the planning board did.

3:40

And then when uh Robin stepped down and the others came in as principal planners.

4:09

Lindsay and David Woods and all the others that came before him.

4:13

They have been true mentors.

4:15

And I can't say enough for Leslie.

4:18

Please, all the members of the board.

4:21

She is a valued assistant to the planning board.

4:26

Whenever you have a question or you don't understand something, she will find you the answer along with Lindsay and get back to you without questions.

4:36

They will never think your question is too insignificant.

4:39

They will find the answers and they will get back to you.

4:42

They are really important assets.

4:46

Vanita on the zoning side is the same thing.

4:49

When we have our zoning referral, quite often I've called her and I said, you know, Vanita, I'm not quite sure on something like this.

4:57

Can can you explain it a little better for me?

5:00

And she always, with a smile in her voice, you could hear it, said, Oh, sure, no problem, and would get back to me.

5:07

So it's very important for all of you, especially uh Rave Prasad and Chet to avail yourself of the staff.

5:19

They will never let you down.

5:20

As I said, they will never think your question is insignificant, and they will always be there to help and guide you, along with the members of the board.

5:31

They, you know, they they will help you whatever questions during a meeting.

5:35

Always feel free when an applicant is presenting and it comes to the questions and answers, ask them.

5:42

Say, you know, I really don't understand what you presented in this aspect.

5:46

Can you please explain it better?

5:48

And do that.

5:50

It's very important.

5:51

And to the other presenters who come before the board, they're very special.

5:56

And one in particular, I want to give a big thank you to, and I think you all know who he is.

6:02

And that's Tony Romano.

6:05

He is our OPM representative for the last over 20 years.

6:12

He has helped us.

6:14

I can't even say how much.

6:17

Um being our liaison for the capital budget.

6:22

He has answered our questions.

6:24

He and I used to get together starting in August, going over the letter that was being sent to the staff.

6:32

And during our meetings, he'd bring his trusty computer when we used to sit in the cafeteria for our meetings, and he'd put the screen up and he'd show us his computer screen.

6:44

And we'd had instantaneous results.

6:47

So we knew how we were going to dwindle 140 million dollar budget to the safe debt limit of where we started at 40 million and into the last few years, 25 million.

6:59

The work that he has done with the planning board, I can't praise him enough.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Procedural███████████████19%
Planning and Zoning████████████15%
Historic Preservation██3%
Affordable Housing██2%
Capital Budget█1%
Economic Development█1%
Fire Department█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting - August 14, 2024

Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting was held on August 13, 2024, but the provided date for this summary is August 14, 2024. This discrepancy is noted.

The meeting began with farewells from three departing members—Chair Theresa Dell (23 years, 15 as Chair), Voting Member Michael Totilo, and Alternate Stephen Perry—and then proceeded to action items. Three of the four voting members were attending their first meeting. The board deferred the election of a new chair and approval of prior meeting minutes until the next meeting (August 27, 2024) due to absences and membership changes.

Farewell Remarks

  • Theresa Dell reflected on her 23 years, thanked mentors (Robin Stein, staff), and praised Tony Romano (OPM liaison) for capital budget support. She noted the rarity of a minority-party chair being elected.
  • Michael Totilo expressed gratitude and said he was leaving on his own terms.
  • Stephen Perry thanked the board and staff, noting he was leaving due to circumstances beyond his control.

Request for Authorization – EPA Lease Amendment

  • Item: General Services Administration (EPA) lease amendment for 1,380 sq. ft. on the 9th floor of Government Center. The third amendment grants a second 5-year option (to October 30, 2029), sets annual rent at $71,191.45 (Year 1) escalating 3% annually to $80,126.60 (Year 5), and adds federal acquisition clauses.
  • Discussion: Voting member Ravi asked how the rent was determined; Deputy of Operations Josie Carponzano replied it was based on fair market value comparisons (Class B commercial).
  • Outcome: Motion to approve carried unanimously.

Zoning Board Referrals (Text Changes)

Both applications were read into the record and then tabled to the August 27, 2024 meeting to allow time for review by new members and for absent members to participate.

  • ZB #224-24: Amend Below Market Rate Housing regulations (Section 7.4) to increase affordable housing requirements.
  • ZB #224-29: Clarify the purpose section (Section 1.A) of the Zoning Regulations.
  • Discussion: High-level procedural questions were raised; detailed discussion deferred.
  • Outcome: Both items tabled unanimously.

Zoning Board of Appeals Referrals

ZBA #027-24 – 16 Columbus Place

  • Description: Variances for a two-family dwelling (first level below grade). Requested setback reductions (18.5 ft vs. 25 ft street line; 43.5 ft vs. 50 ft street center).
  • Discussion: Associate Planner Lindsay Cohen noted a new sidewalk requirement was overlooked; applicant not present. New members lacked documentation.
  • Outcome: Motion to table to August 27, 2024 carried unanimously.

ZBA #029-24 – 68 Spruce Street (Juan P. Paredes, representing Andrzej Rutkowski)

  • Description: Proposal to build a three-story, two-family dwelling (1,348 sq. ft. footprint, 1,293 sq. ft. per unit) on a vacant, undersized lot with topographic challenges. Variances requested:
    • Side yard setbacks: 3.58 ft (vs. 8 ft), 2 ft (vs. 10 ft), total 5.58 ft (vs. 18 ft).
    • Rear setback: 17 ft (vs. 30 ft).
    • Tandem parking (2 spaces) and parking in front yard.
  • Discussion:
    • Lindsay Cohen (Associate Planner) recommended approval, noting the lot is in Master Plan Category 4 (residential medium density) and the proposal aligns with infill housing goals.
    • Applicant (civil engineer) explained the design maximizes the difficult site, citing a nearby precedent (660 Spruce Street).
    • Board members expressed concern about the 2 ft side setback (south side) regarding light, air, fire, and maintenance. Chet noted the master plan does not dictate precise setbacks.
    • Prasad suggested a condition to recommend increasing that setback.
  • Outcome: Motion to approve with a recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals that the applicant further consider increasing the south side setback from 2 ft to something larger, for reasons of light, air, fire safety, and maintenance. Motion carried unanimously.

ZBA #030-24 – 50 Leonard Street (Kevin and Natalie Maguire)

  • Description: Variances for a front porch, back porch, and mudroom addition on a legally non-conforming historic home (built 1897) on a corner lot. Variances involve setbacks from both Leonard and Central Streets.
  • Discussion:
    • Lindsay Cohen presented the case, noting the house is fully outside the permissible building area, so any addition requires variances. The additions are largely hidden from street views and consistent with neighborhood character.
    • Board members agreed the proposal aligns with the master plan's single-family residential character and does not create further impact.
    • Prasad noted the addition moves the building more toward compliance.
  • Outcome: Motion to approve carried unanimously.

Planning Board Discussion – Bylaws

  • The discussion on revising the Planning Board Bylaws was deferred to the next meeting (August 27, 2024) pending review by the Law Department.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: EPA lease amendment (unanimous).
  • Approved with recommendation: ZBA #029-24 (68 Spruce Street) – recommend increasing south side setback.
  • Approved: ZBA #030-24 (50 Leonard Street).
  • Tabled (to August 27, 2024): ZB #224-24, ZB #224-29, ZBA #027-24, and Planning Board Bylaws discussion.
  • Next meeting: August 27, 2024, where the board will elect a new chair and approve prior meeting minutes.

Meeting Transcript

Let me open this meeting of the board uh the planning board of August 13th uh 2024. And uh before the meeting starts, I would like to turn the mic over to our outgoing chair of quite a while, Terry Dell to make a few words. Thank you, Jay. Tonight, it's a happy night and a sad night for me. I have been a member of this board for the past 23 years. Like many of our new people, Rave, Prasad, and Chess. I came on this board very unaware of what the planning board did. I was a commissioner of aging at the time for the city of Stanford. And Donna Leglisi, who was on the planning board and who was a member of the uh Republican Party, uh, who I knew very well, came up to me and said, I think we'll get you away from old people. I think it's time for you to try something new. And she asked me to take her place on the planning board. And so 23 years ago, I walked off the elevator on the seventh floor at seven o'clock in the evening because that was the time we started our meetings. And we were all sitting around the conference room table that you've all seen if you've gone into the uh seventh floor land use bureau. And that's where we conducted our meetings. And the chair at that time was Dwayne Hill, who was very knowledgeable, and the lead Republican was John Garnjos. And our principal planner who knew more of planning than anyone sitting around the table was Robin Stein. And he became a wonderful mentor for me. And it has truly been a journey. I have served under four mayors, as I said, starting with Mayor Malloy and continuing with Mayor Pavia, Mayor Martin, and currently Mayor Simmons. And when Mayor Pavia took office, and the board had its election, they surprised me and asked me to be their chair. And for the last 15 years, I have been the chair of the planning board. I'm getting misty, but it was quite an honor because I was really surprised that they put all their confidence in me to be their chair. And I want to thank everybody who was part of that. And along as I said with Robin Stein, mentored me and helped me understand exactly what the planning board did. And then when uh Robin stepped down and the others came in as principal planners. Lindsay and David Woods and all the others that came before him. They have been true mentors. And I can't say enough for Leslie. Please, all the members of the board. She is a valued assistant to the planning board. Whenever you have a question or you don't understand something, she will find you the answer along with Lindsay and get back to you without questions. They will never think your question is too insignificant. They will find the answers and they will get back to you. They are really important assets. Vanita on the zoning side is the same thing. When we have our zoning referral, quite often I've called her and I said, you know, Vanita, I'm not quite sure on something like this. Can can you explain it a little better for me? And she always, with a smile in her voice, you could hear it, said, Oh, sure, no problem, and would get back to me. So it's very important for all of you, especially uh Rave Prasad and Chet to avail yourself of the staff. They will never let you down. As I said, they will never think your question is insignificant, and they will always be there to help and guide you, along with the members of the board. They, you know, they they will help you whatever questions during a meeting. Always feel free when an applicant is presenting and it comes to the questions and answers, ask them. Say, you know, I really don't understand what you presented in this aspect. Can you please explain it better? And do that. It's very important. And to the other presenters who come before the board, they're very special. And one in particular, I want to give a big thank you to, and I think you all know who he is. And that's Tony Romano.

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