Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting – June 25, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Stamford Planning Board Regular Meeting – June 25, 2025
The Stamford Planning Board met on June 25, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. (the agenda and transcript indicate June 24, but the meeting date is given as June 25) to consider a subdivision extension, several zoning board referrals, and a variance referral. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. All items were approved unanimously except the variance, which was denied.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of June 10, 2025: Approved unanimously by all voting members.
- Subdivision #4053 – 90 Haviland Road: A 90-day extension to file the final map (new expiration date October 26, 2025) was approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
ZB Application #225-19 – 72 Cummings Point Road Addition
- William Hennessy presented on behalf of 72 Cummings Point Road LLC. The applicant proposed a ±2,790 sq. ft. addition to the existing Stephen and Alexandra Cohen Foundation building in the IPD zone. The board found the proposal aligned with Master Plan strategies 3a-3, 3B-4, and policy W1. Approved unanimously.
ZB Application #225-20 and #225-21 – Child Day Care Center Text Change and Special Permit
- Richard Redniss presented a text change to create specific standards for two-story child day care centers as a single use in the C-D zone, tailored for the Children’s Learning Centers (CLC) at 60 Palmers Hill Avenue. The text change (225-20) was approved unanimously, followed by the special permit and general development plan (225-21) for CLC’s one-story addition and reuse of the existing building. The project is a partnership with multiple local organizations and serves one-third of Stamford Public School kindergarten classes.
ZB Application #225-22 – Text Change for Below Market Rate (BMR) and Bonus Floor Area
- Ralph Blessing, Land Use Bureau Chief, presented a text change prompted by UConn’s acquisition of 1201 Washington Boulevard (The Boulevard), which contained 9 BMR units. The change requires zoning board approval when affordable units are lost, mandates 1:1 replacement, allows a fee-in-lieu payment to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and gives displaced tenants priority in future BMR units. It also addresses removal of bonus floor area when the associated amenity is lost. The board noted the urgency to codify protections before the summer break. Approved unanimously.
ZBA Application #016-25 – 564 Webbs Hill Road Variance
- The applicant requested variances for a second-floor addition over an existing non-conforming footprint (1.1 ft side yard setback vs. 20 ft required, and total side yard of 16.9 ft vs. 35 ft). The applicant was not present. Staff recommended denial due to inconsistency with the Master Plan category (very low-density single-family), worsening an existing non-conformity, and lack of stated hardship. The board denied the application unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All items approved except the variance at 564 Webbs Hill Road, which was denied unanimously.
- The board will be on hiatus in July; the next regular meeting is August 12, 2025 (using Microsoft Teams).
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Good evening. Welcome to the June 24th meeting of the Stanford Planning Board. I am Jennifer Godzano, Chair. And we have with us full members of the board, Robbie Supermanion and Jeremy Linder, and our two alternates, Bill Levin and Chet South. First on our agenda is the planning board meeting minutes from June 10th. Do the planning board members have any uh modifications, questions about the minutes. Hearing none, um all here were present, so we can all vote on the minutes. Can I please have a motion to approve the minutes? I'll move that motion. Okay, move by Jeremy. May I have a second? Seconded by Robbie. Um, all in favor, and everyone will be voting this evening. Please raise your hand. I think Bill is a little occupied, but we've got four to approve the meds. Thank you. Uh next item, zoning board referrals. Uh the you should have received an updated agenda um with subdivision number 4053. Uh um if not, I can send a link to the agenda onto the I can um let me pull up the email from Leslie with the updated agenda. Uh right, that is the memo. I mean I'll put a link to it in the chat. All right, I pulled it up. All right. Okay. So on the agenda um under subdivision, subdivision number 4053 90 Haviland Road. Request for a 90-day extension of time to file the final map with a new expiration date as of October 26th, 2025. Um, and we have uh presenting uh John Lytton, please introduce yourself for the record. Thank you, Madam Chair. It's John Leiden of the Law Office of John Leiden for the applicant, Stavros or Steve of Illus. Thank you, members of the board, Ms. Cohen. Um the request has been stated properly. Um we'd like a 90-day extension as we work with the surveyors and staff, do what's necessary to get the site prepared and the map ready for filing. So we'd appreciate the extension. Are there any questions from the board um seeing none? Uh Bill. Are you do you have a question? Are you moving the you're on mute? So move approval. Um so first from Bill, do I have a second to move approval? Second from Ravi, all in favor, please raise your hand. Uh Jeremy. Oh, so it is hot out. It is a tough day. All right. Uh so it is uh approved unanimously. Uh thank you. Thank you all. Have a nice night.
openpublica.com