Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting – April 9, 2025

Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on April 8, 2025, but the instruction provided specifies the date as April 9, 2025. This summary uses the instructed date.

The Stamford Planning Board met virtually on April 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. to consider several items, including lease authorizations, a capital appropriation, the Vision Zero Action Plan, a subdivision application, and a zoning referral. All actions were approved except one subdivision vote had an abstention.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of February 25, 2025 – Approved unanimously.
• Minutes of March 11, 2025 – Approved unanimously after incorporating changes.

Request for Authorization

• Sublease – 138 Stillwater Avenue – The City of Stamford (subtenant) will sublease 1,500 sq. ft. from Optimus Health Care, Inc. (sublandlord) for the city’s health clinic displaced by water damage. The lease is month-to-month through October 15, 2025, at $2,667.50/month, with utilities paid by the city. Motion to approve carried unanimously.
• District Office Lease – Congressman James A. Himes – The city will lease 966 sq. ft. on the 10th floor of Government Center to Congressman Himes for a two-year term (January 3, 2025 – January 2, 2027) at $2,390.05/month. The lease came late due to finalization with the congressman’s office. Motion to approve carried unanimously.

Supplemental Capital Appropriation Request

• Observatory – Astronomy & Physical Science Center (Project CP3152) – $3,000,000 request to complete the final phase of construction, finishes, and equipment for the planetarium and observatory at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. The project’s total cost escalated from $11–12 million to over $16 million post-COVID. The city previously committed $1 million; the state committed $2 million (bonding) but that has not been released. The requested $3 million will come from the city’s capital non-recurrent cash account (surpluses). The project is expected to be completed by Labor Day 2025, serving 139 schools and 36,000 students annually. Motion to approve carried unanimously.

Planning Board Discussion

• Stamford Vision Zero Action Plan – Luke Buttenwieser, Transportation Planner, presented the plan aiming for zero serious injuries and traffic fatalities by 2032. The plan includes 57 policy recommendations in three categories (collaborate/engage, analyze/adapt, redesign/implement) and five key priorities, including funding ($500,000 approved in capital budget), prioritizing the high injury network, and creating pedestrian safety zones. The plan was developed with over 3,000 engagements, a task force, and consultant support. It will be a living document updated annually. Motion to adopt the Vision Zero Action Plan as a city plan carried unanimously.

Subdivision

• Subdivision #4053 – 90 Haviland Road – Proposal to subdivide a 2-acre parcel into two 1-acre lots in the RA-1 zone. The environmental assessment found no on-site vernal pools, but the EPB approval included conditions requiring wetlands permits before development on the two lots. The board received three letters of opposition from neighbors citing environmental concerns. The applicant noted that the site plan minimizes tree removal and adds buffer plantings. After discussion, a condition was added requesting EPB to pay special attention to potential vernal pools during future permit review. Motion to approve with condition carried 3-0-1 (Ravi Subramanian abstained).

Zoning Board of Appeals Referral

• ZBA #007-25 – 2517 Long Ridge Road – Applicant seeks a special permit for a house of worship (Plymouth Brethren Christian Church) on a former swim and tennis club site in the RA-1 district. The proposal includes demolishing existing structures, removing tennis courts, and restoring native plantings, reducing impervious surface. The EPB unanimously approved the wetlands permit, and engineering staff did not object. The 15-acre site will have a 9,215 sq. ft. meeting hall, 180 parking spaces (137 required), and improved stormwater management. The master plan lists houses of worship as compatible uses in category one. Motion to recommend approval to the ZBA carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items, authorizations, and the capital appropriation were approved unanimously.
• The Vision Zero Action Plan was adopted as a city plan.
• Subdivision #4053 was approved with a condition regarding vernal pool monitoring, vote 3-0-1.
• The ZBA referral for the house of worship received a unanimous favorable recommendation.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2025 (public hearing).