Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting – February 12, 2025

The Stamford Planning Board held a regular meeting on February 12, 2025 (the agenda listed February 11, 2025; this summary uses the official meeting date as recorded). The board acted on a request to purchase the YMCA of Stamford for use as a recreation center, approved 18 supplemental capital project appropriations, endorsed two zoning text amendments, and finalized its 2025-2026 Capital Budget recommendation. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• January 28, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes – Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No oral public comments were made. Written comments received on the capital budget and on the East Side Library proposal were noted by the board.

Discussion Items

1. Request for Authorization – YMCA Purchase and Sale Agreement

• Presenters: Matt Kinonas (Mayor’s Office) and Chris Deliselva (Office of Legal Affairs).
• Proposal: City purchase of Unit #2 at 909 Washington Boulevard Condominium (10 Bell Street), commonly known as the YMCA of Stamford, for $3,650,000. The property includes athletic and aquatic equipment. The total capital appropriation request is $5,300,000 ($3.65M purchase + $1.65M for capital improvements). The YMCA Board donated $1.5M, reducing the purchase price from an initial offer of $5.15M.
• Discussion: Board members asked about operating models; staff outlined three scenarios: city-operated, third‑party partnership, or partial sale. Vice Chair Jay Tepper expressed preference for city operation. The timeline for closing and renovations (6‑8 months) and the impact on West Hill pool plans were discussed. The contract was approved unanimously.

2. Supplemental Capital Project Appropriations (Items 1–18)

• YMCA Acquisition & Renovation ($5,300,000) – Approved as part of the contract vote.
• Lathon Wider Property Claim ($250,000) – Insurance deductible for flood damage due to mechanical failure; claimed on January 2, 2025. Approved.
• Glenbrook Community Center Property Claim ($250,000) – Insurance deductible for flood damage from sprinkler pipe failure. Board asked if this would affect ongoing community design process; staff confirmed building will be restored to prior use. Approved.
• Utility Paving ($750,000) – Additional funds to complete curb‑to‑curb paving coordinated with utility work. Approved.
• Street Patch & Resurfacing ($2,250,000) – Spring paving and drainage work on top‑200 road list. Approved.
• Mill River Playscape ($16,667) – Grant‑funded playscape at Mill River Park Carousel Pavilion. Approved.
• Boys & Girls Club of Stamford Playscape ($16,668) – At Yerwood Center; includes ADA compliance. Approved.
• Children’s Learning Center Playscape ($16,667) – At Hillandale Avenue location. Approved.
• East Side Library Design ($350,000) – Architectural design for a new Ferguson Library satellite branch on Courtland Avenue. Mayor’s Chief of Staff Bridget Fox and Ferguson CEO Alice Knapp presented. Estimated annual operating cost of $272,000. Parks Commission raised concerns about depleting park space; deed restriction issue to be resolved with Attorney General’s office. Approved unanimously.
• Traffic Signal Coordination ($1,084,550) – State grant reimbursement for previously completed work at six intersections. Approved.
• Washington Boulevard Safety & Mobility ($2,000,000) – Raised intersection at Washington Boulevard and Richmond Hill Avenue with pedestrian safety features. Approved.
• Citywide Pedestrian Signal & Safety Upgrades ($2,878,000) – ADA ramps, signals, crosswalks at 40 intersections. Approved.
• Broad Street Corridor Safety ($3,384,000) – Bump‑outs, protected bike lanes, new sidewalks. Approved.
• 360‑Degree Video Detection System Phase 2 ($3,852,000) – Replacement/installation of video detection at ~40‑50 intersections. Approved.
• Glenbrook TOD Implementation ($4,320,295) – Intersection reconstruction at Glenbrook Road and Church Street. Approved.
• North State Street Gateway ($4,600,200) – Multimodal corridor improvements, cycle track, safety enhancements. Approved (city match of $1.7M separately approved).
• Safe Routes to Schools ($8,440,000) – New sidewalks and crossings near schools; first phase of multi‑year program. Approved.
• South End Transportation Improvement Plan ($9,454,918) – Complete street reconstruction of Lower Atlantic Street; no eminent domain takings. Approved.

3. Zoning Board Referrals

• ZB #225‑03 (Text Change – Housekeeping) – Updates cross‑references; extends special permit/site plan expiration to 36 months with two‑year extensions; reorganizes use definitions; deletes tavern definition; adds mailboxes as permitted obstructions; aligns with state statute. Approved unanimously.
• ZB #225‑04 (Text Change – Daycare Incentives) – Allows child daycare centers to count as publicly accessible amenity space in certain districts; increases bonus floor area for providing daycare. Discussion on including “child care incubator” facilities; board recommended the Zoning Board consider adding language to include incubators. Approved with that recommendation.

4. 2025‑2026 Capital Budget Deliberation

• Background: Safe debt limit set at $40 million by Board of Finance; requests exceeded $100 million. Chair Gaddeno proposed a target of ~$45.7 million to give the Mayor discretion. The board discussed and adjusted specific line items based on urgency, phasing constraints, grant matches, and existing balances.
• Key adjustments: Fully funded district‑wide athletic fields renovation ($1.5M), reduced Davenport Ridge to design only ($80k), increased Town Clerk office renovations to $595k, increased Bartlett Arboretum greenhouse to $300k, set Schofield Manor repairs at $250k total, funded Cove Island Park completion ($200k), fully funded electric refuse trucks ($1.925M), added $50k for Government Center renovations, added $200k for heating system contingency, zeroed out several items with high balances (ADA compliance city facilities, citywide tree replanting, playground rehabilitation, etc.).
• Final motion: Approve a capital budget of $59,277,500 total, with general obligation bonds of $45,747,700, as discussed in prior meetings and that evening. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• YMCA Purchase – Approved ($3.65M purchase + $1.65M improvements). City will close within 30 days of final board approvals; operating model to be determined later.
• 18 Supplemental Capital Appropriations – All approved unanimously, totaling approximately $41.6 million (including grant‑funded amounts).
• Zoning Text Amendments – Both approved: #225‑03 (housekeeping) and #225‑04 (daycare incentives, with recommendation to include child care incubators).
• 2025‑2026 Capital Budget Recommendation – Adopted at $59.3 million total, $45.7 million in general obligation bonds. Chair Gaddeno will draft the transmittal letter with priority categories; letter to be circulated by email for final consent.