Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting - March 12, 2025
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Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting - March 12, 2025
The Stamford Planning Board held a regular meeting on March 12, 2025, via Zoom. Chair Jennifer Godzeno presided with Vice Chair Jay Tupper, Secretary Ravi Subramanian, and alternates Chet Sallett and Bill Levin present. The board considered approval of prior meeting minutes, two supplemental capital appropriations for bridge projects, and three zoning board referrals. All votes were unanimous except where noted.
Minutes Approval
- The board tabled the approval of the February 25, 2025 minutes after Secretary Subramanian identified significant errors, including misattribution of dollar amounts and misplaced sections. The minutes will be revised and resubmitted.
Supplemental Capital Project Appropriations
- Old Long Ridge Road Bridge (#135007): City Engineer Lou Castellow requested a $57,800 increase (from $140,000 to $197,800) for design. The increase resulted from a competitive RFP; the project is 50% state-funded. Approved unanimously.
- Wire Mill Road Bridge: Requested a $404,142.50 increase (from $2.2 million to $2,604,142.50) to cover the low construction bid. The project is 100% federally funded (80% federal, 20% state). Construction is tied to completion of the Cedar Heights Road Bridge. Approved unanimously.
Zoning Board Referrals
- ZB #225-05 – Hamilton Avenue Industrial LLC (102, 120, 128 Hamilton Ave.): Applicant proposes to consolidate lots and build a ±112,757 sq. ft. one-story warehouse. Presentation highlighted improved stormwater management, enhanced landscaping along the residential eastern property line, removal of existing curb cuts, and new sidewalks. The board discussed noise mitigation, lighting, and traffic patterns. Approved unanimously.
- ZB #225-06 – Zoning Text Change (Use Regulations Consolidation): Staff proposed moving use regulations from C-D, R-HD, TCD-D, and V-C districts into Appendix A Table I to improve usability. Minor additions of uses consistent with similar districts. Approved unanimously.
- ZB #225-07 – Single-Family District Consolidation: Staff proposed consolidating all single-family districts (RA-1, RA-2, RA-3, R-7½, R-10, R-20) into one chapter, adding Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and lot coverage limits. Secretary Subramanian expressed concern over adding regulations for single-family homes, but the chair noted FAR is standard nationally. The board voted 4-0 in favor (Bill Levin absent).
Key Outcomes
- Minutes of February 25, 2025 tabled pending corrections.
- Old Long Ridge Road Bridge supplemental appropriation approved unanimously.
- Wire Mill Road Bridge supplemental appropriation approved unanimously.
- ZB #225-05 (Hamilton Avenue warehouse) approved unanimously.
- ZB #225-06 (use regulation consolidation) approved unanimously.
- ZB #225-07 (single-family district consolidation) approved 4-0.
- Chair noted the capital budget was submitted to the mayor by the March 1 deadline; the mayor’s proposed budget increased overall amounts using capital non-recurring funds, with the bond issue under $40 million as required.
Meeting Transcript
Go ahead. All right. Good evening. This is the March 11th meeting of the Stanford Planning Board. I am Jennifer Godzeno, the chair of the planning board, Jay Tupper is our vice chair, Ravi Supermanion, our secretary, and our two alternates, uh Chet Sallett and Bill Levin are all in attendance today. Our first order of business is the approval of the February 25th, 2025. Are there any amendments or uh questions about the minutes? Yeah, Jennifer, uh, I'll be here. Can I speak? Sure, please. Yeah, so page two sentence. Uh Ms. Godsono call for a motion to include the YMCA project. It says $350,000. I I'm not able to link this $350,000 to the $5.3 million that I thought we were discussing. Oh, maybe that's full sentence is in mistake. Is that that's for the East Side Library, Ravi, right? Right. Yeah, but but it yeah, but this is YMCA. Oh, there's an right, you're right. There's an that's an error. Um, so that was the amount for the East Side Library, but the amount for the YMCA acquisition uh is higher. Oh, it's all she put it all under the YMCA. Yeah. Um, no, no. I think this project 001429 is actually YMCA. Yes. But then the amount of 350,000 is incorrect. Uh right, but and also as chat has uh pointed out the chunk for it of the minutes for the East Side Library are under the YMCA acquisition project and should be moved up into item two. Yeah, and uh as is uh the stuff uh for Hague Avenue Park is also under the YMCA. Okay. And all right. Um that is one change, and then the next page uh on the top, it says Ms. Godzilla asks Mr. Romano to confirm this is capital non-recurring and it is confirmed capital non-recurring. Once again, this is it increases from 50,000 to 3.5 million. What what is that? Um I don't I don't recollect the 50,000 to 3.5 million. So the um yes, those figures are also wrong. Um so the capital non-recurring amount within the submitted capital budget was quite small. Um to begin with, but yeah, this should be amended to match the um the total figure, which is inclusive of the YMCA. Yes, yes. Okay, so these two changes is what I've got made. Thank you. Yes, thank you very much. Um thanks for all of your diligence. Um so I actually I think that's this is substantial enough that I would actually like to table the minutes and request that they be revised uh and corrected before we approve them. Um it looks like most of the text is appropriate, but needs to be reorganized substantially. Um second um all in favor of tabling uh uh pending a revision of the minutes. Bill Oh, you were you uh you were not present.
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