OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Stamford Planning Board Meeting - March 25, 2026

Planning Board — Wednesday, March 25, 2026
BodyStamford, Connecticut
SessionPlanning Board
DateWednesday, March 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 37:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Okay.

0:04

Good evening.

0:05

This is the March 24th meeting of the Stanford Planning Board.

0:13

And we have a full house of our membership today.

0:19

The first item on our agenda is the planning board meeting minutes from March 10th.

0:26

Are there any questions or clarifications about the minutes?

0:38

This is the mask.

0:43

So I'm maybe looking at the wrong bit.

0:47

Yeah, the minutes from uh March 10th.

0:51

Um I don't see it, but maybe please go ahead.

1:01

Okay.

1:02

Uh well, um, so we uh all were present, um, so can vote.

1:10

Um do I have a motion on the minutes.

1:17

Uh chat motion for approval.

1:19

Do I have a second?

1:20

Second from Jeremy.

1:22

Um Ravi, do you want another minute?

1:24

Or yeah, I'll abstract because I somehow don't have the top yet.

1:28

Okay, sure.

1:29

That's fine.

1:29

All right.

1:30

Uh so all voting in favor, please raise your hand.

1:35

Thank you.

1:36

And uh we'll have the abstention from Robbie.

1:43

Uh next on the agenda, uh zoning board of appeals referrals.

1:50

Uh first to ZBA application 1526.

1:55

Nicholas L.

1:56

Faustini, architect PC representing Mari Ruiz, 29 Congress Street variants of appendix B.

2:04

Table two, schedule of requirements.

2:07

Applicant owns a single family dwelling with a detached garage and is proposing to construct a one-story addition to connect the existing basement to the first floor residence.

2:16

The applicant is requesting a front street setback line of 5.1 feet in lieu of the 25 feet required and a front center street setback of 30.1 feet in lieu of the 50 feet required.

2:31

Um do you have a presenter on this item today?

2:34

I know we don't always for ZPA.

2:36

Uh I did see that Mr.

2:38

Faustini is here.

2:40

He's allowed to just unmuted himself.

2:43

Um so if uh Nicholas, if you'd like to say a few words about your application, you're welcome to do so.

2:49

Um, but it is not necessary.

2:51

Certainly.

2:52

Um just attending to answer any questions the board might have.

2:57

My name is Nicholas Baustini, I'm the design architect for the project.

3:00

Um, it's a rather small addition.

3:02

Um essentially squaring off the rear corner of the house.

3:06

Um it's a front side yard.

3:08

I'm sorry, it's a corner property.

3:10

So there's a front yard setback request or variance requests.

3:14

And the intent behind this project is to align the addition with the existing wall, which is already um existing non-conformity.

3:21

If the board has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

3:26

Um are there questions from the board?

3:28

Again, this is aligning with the existing non-conformity.

3:36

Um seeing no questions.

3:41

Uh do we have a motion on this item?

3:45

Uh Bill.

3:47

Uh are you uh approve.

3:53

I don't give a second.

3:55

Second from Ravi.

3:56

All in favor, protect your hand.

4:00

Uh and it passes.

4:01

Thank you.

4:02

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████91%
Procedural██5%
Disability Rights█2%
Aging█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Stamford Planning Board Meeting - March 25, 2026

Note: The transcript identifies the meeting date as March 24, 2026, but the provided instruction states the meeting took place on March 25, 2026. This summary uses the instructed date.

The Stamford Planning Board convened to review several zoning board of appeals referrals, acting on variances for residential and commercial properties. The board approved minutes from the previous meeting, handled five ZBA applications, and set future meeting dates.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of March 10th Meeting Minutes: The board voted unanimously to approve the minutes, with one abstention (Robbie).

Discussion Items

  • ZBA Application 1526 – 29 Congress Street (Mari Ruiz): Nicholas Faustini, architect, presented a proposal to construct a one-story addition connecting the basement to the first floor. The applicant requested variances for front street setback (5.1 ft vs. 25 ft required) and front center street setback (30.1 ft vs. 50 ft required). The addition aligns with an existing non-conformity. The board approved the referral.
  • ZBA Application 0162C26 – 245 Skyview Drive (Roberto Bravo and Marcella Barza): Contractor Arsim Hadari presented a proposal to add a second story over the existing garage to create a home office. The applicant requested a side yard setback variance of 8.1 ft vs. 15 ft required. Staff planner Lindsay noted that the existing non-conformity is not a legal hardship for a variance, and recommended the applicant work with Kendall Richie to develop hardship arguments for the ZBA. The board approved the referral, finding it consistent with the comprehensive plan.
  • ZBA Application 01826 – 3 St. Charles Avenue (Adrian and Jennifer Arango): The applicant was not present. The proposal sought a front yard setback variance (19.7 ft vs. 30 ft required) for a 400 sq ft addition to support multi-generational living. Staff noted additional variances needed (street centerline setback) and questioned whether the addition could be placed within existing setbacks. The board voted to table the item, asking the applicant to clarify why the addition cannot be configured within the zoning envelope.
  • ZBA Application 02126 – 47 Ferris Avenue (Nestor Pasmino, 47 Ferris LLC): The applicant was not present. The proposal sought multiple variances (lot coverage, front and rear yard setbacks) for a second-story addition to a commercial/industrial building used as a rug cleaning business. Staff reported the property is in an R2 future land use category, has unapproved modifications (widened curb cut, paving, garage doors), and the use is not a neighborhood amenity. The board voted to deny the referral due to incompatibility with the comprehensive plan and zoning violations.
  • ZBA Application 022-26 – 53 Archer Lane (Paula W. Green): Architect Lyle Fischle presented a revised proposal for a small bathroom addition to aid mobility (aging in place). The applicant requested side yard setback variances (14 ft vs. 20 ft required, and total 31.9 ft vs. 35 ft required). The board approved the referral, noting consistency with the comprehensive plan's goal of promoting aging in place.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes Approved: Unanimous, with one abstention.
  • ZBA Application 1526: Approved (motion by Bill, second by Ravi, all in favor).
  • ZBA Application 0162C26: Approved (motion by Robbie, second by Chut, all in favor).
  • ZBA Application 01826: Tabled (motion by Ravi, second by Chut, all in favor). Applicant to provide additional information on placement feasibility.
  • ZBA Application 02126: Denied (motion by Bill, second by Chut, all in favor) due to incompatibility with comprehensive plan and existing violations.
  • ZBA Application 022-26: Approved (motion by Robbie, second by Chut, all in favor).
  • Next Meetings: April 14, April 28, and May 5, 2026.
  • Adjournment: 7:11 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Good evening. This is the March 24th meeting of the Stanford Planning Board. And we have a full house of our membership today. The first item on our agenda is the planning board meeting minutes from March 10th. Are there any questions or clarifications about the minutes? This is the mask. So I'm maybe looking at the wrong bit. Yeah, the minutes from uh March 10th. Um I don't see it, but maybe please go ahead. Okay. Uh well, um, so we uh all were present, um, so can vote. Um do I have a motion on the minutes. Uh chat motion for approval. Do I have a second? Second from Jeremy. Um Ravi, do you want another minute? Or yeah, I'll abstract because I somehow don't have the top yet. Okay, sure. That's fine. All right. Uh so all voting in favor, please raise your hand. Thank you. And uh we'll have the abstention from Robbie. Uh next on the agenda, uh zoning board of appeals referrals. Uh first to ZBA application 1526. Nicholas L. Faustini, architect PC representing Mari Ruiz, 29 Congress Street variants of appendix B. Table two, schedule of requirements. Applicant owns a single family dwelling with a detached garage and is proposing to construct a one-story addition to connect the existing basement to the first floor residence. The applicant is requesting a front street setback line of 5.1 feet in lieu of the 25 feet required and a front center street setback of 30.1 feet in lieu of the 50 feet required. Um do you have a presenter on this item today? I know we don't always for ZPA. Uh I did see that Mr. Faustini is here. He's allowed to just unmuted himself. Um so if uh Nicholas, if you'd like to say a few words about your application, you're welcome to do so. Um, but it is not necessary. Certainly. Um just attending to answer any questions the board might have. My name is Nicholas Baustini, I'm the design architect for the project. Um, it's a rather small addition. Um essentially squaring off the rear corner of the house. Um it's a front side yard. I'm sorry, it's a corner property. So there's a front yard setback request or variance requests. And the intent behind this project is to align the addition with the existing wall, which is already um existing non-conformity. If the board has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Um are there questions from the board? Again, this is aligning with the existing non-conformity.

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