Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting - September 12, 2023

Zoning Board — Tuesday, September 12, 2023

BodyStamford, Connecticut

SessionZoning Board

DateTuesday, September 12, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 5:47:22

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:39

David, I think you can start the meeting.

0:51

I'd like to welcome everyone and call tonight's zoning board meeting to order.

0:55

I'm David Stein, Chair of the Zoning Board, and it is six thirty on September 11th, 2023.

1:02

The members of the board and the staff are holding this meeting by Zoom video conference.

1:08

The public is in attendance, both on video conference and by teleconference.

1:14

First, I'd like to do a roll call of the board and the staff.

1:18

Bill Morris.

1:19

Here.

1:22

Here.

1:23

Jerry Bozak.

1:25

President.

1:27

Raquel Smith Anderson.

1:31

Yeah, please.

1:33

And now for our staff, Ralph Blessing.

1:37

Present.

1:38

And Vanita Matter.

1:40

Yeah.

1:42

Okay, good.

1:43

We have a full full house.

1:46

During tonight's meetings, meeting, the microphones of the board will be open throughout the meeting.

1:53

Applicants' mics will be open during the public hearing for their applications.

1:58

However, I would ask the applicants to please mute their mics when not speaking in order to reduce background noise.

2:05

The first part of tonight's meeting is a public hearing during which the public will have an opportunity to speak.

2:11

Each member of the public will be muted until it is your turn to speak.

2:21

If you came in through Zoom, please use the raise your hand function and you will be unmuted when it's your turn to speak.

2:29

If you called in on one of the telephone conference call phone numbers, please press star nine and this will raise your hand.

2:36

Then press star six to unmute when it is your turn to speak.

2:42

If you have any problem trying to get in, you can send an email to Vanita.

2:49

And her email address is V Mater V M-A-T-H-U-R at Stanford C T dot gov.

3:01

When members of the public speak, uh please give us your name and address for the record and whether you are in favor of or opposed to the application.

3:11

The board requests that members of the public limit your comments to three minutes so that everyone will have a chance to speak.

3:18

This meeting is being recorded and will be posted at the zoning board's website.

3:24

At that website, you can also find the agenda for tonight's meeting and all of the meeting applications and other materials.gov slash zoning.

4:01

Could we please have a moment of silence to remember that terrible day and the victims of that attack?

4:08

Thank you.

5:10

Um discussion favorite say I was at an eye.

5:21

Yes, please.

5:22

Okay, so uh it's five oh um so um to the members of the public, uh the board is along with the staff and our council.

5:32

Um the attorney Cindy are going into executive sessions.

5:38

And um on this matter.

5:40

Um please stay on this uh on the Zoom.

5:46

We will be back.

5:47

Um as soon as we can.

5:50

So um thank you.

55:31

David, you're muted.

55:36

Mr.

55:36

Chair, I'd like to move that we leave executive session.

55:41

Okay, we're missing Bill.

55:43

Aren't we?

55:45

Yeah.

55:46

But you can move.

55:47

Go ahead.

55:48

Is there a second?

55:50

Second.

55:52

Okay.

55:54

All in favor, say aye.

55:56

Aye.

55:57

Aye.

55:58

Okay.

55:59

And the record should show at seven twenty-eight PM.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural███████████████████████23%

Planning and Zoning████████████████████20%

Zoning███████████████15%

Parking████████████12%

Affordable Housing████4%

Landscaping████4%

Harbor Management████4%

Urban Design███3%

Traffic███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting - September 12, 2023

The Stamford Zoning Board met on September 12, 2023, to consider several zoning applications, including a hotel project, a residential infill development, a parking garage addition, and two zoning text amendments. The board also held a brief executive session. No votes were taken; most items were continued to the next meeting scheduled for September 18, 2023.

Executive Session

The board entered executive session at 6:39 PM and exited at 7:28 PM. Participants included board members, staff Ralph Blessing and Vanita Matter, and attorney Cindy Anger. No votes were taken.

Public Comments & Testimony

Paul Arvoy (59 Lancer Lane) spoke against the hotel (Application 221-24) and the Bedford Street rezoning (223-20/21), questioning the need for more hotels and rentals, and opposing the trend of map changes.
Charles Abate (owner of 607 Bedford Street) expressed concerns about drainage and screening for the Bedford Street project, but noted the applicant had addressed his main concerns.
Kathy Klegler (21 Friar Tuck Lane) asked about BMR priority, elevator, and laundry facilities for the Bedford Street project.
Susan Blacksbaum (29 Highland Road) opposed the Bedford Street project due to traffic and parking concerns, and supported the pollinator pathway idea.
Angelo B. (545 Bedford Street) supported the Bedford Street project, saying it fits the neighborhood.
Barry Michelson (Idlewood Drive) expressed concerns about under-parking and traffic.
Sue Halpern (30 Alm Craft Road) supported green space and asked for more plantings.
Jeanette Villinski (125 Idlewood Drive) asked for notification triggers for trails and block connections in the PAAS text change.
Sue Halpern (again) questioned the fee-in-lieu provision for public amenity spaces.
Ray Mazio (East Over Road) suggested standards for amenity spaces be based on required amount.
Harish (owner at 257 Grey Rock Place, Apt 1) opposed the parking garage addition, citing loss of light, air, and construction impacts.
Susan Blacksbaum (again) spoke against the parking garage, citing traffic on Grove Street.

Discussion Items

Application 221-24 – Old Town Square Hotel (160 Atlantic Street): The applicant, represented by Attorney John Leiden, presented revised plans addressing board concerns, including use of thin brick, five new windows on the south elevation, and a parking agreement with the city. The board expressed support for the design and the resolution with the Stamford Town Center. The public hearing was closed.
Applications 223-20 & 223-21 – 589 Bedford Street (Rezone and Residential Building): Steve Ivalis presented a 4-story, 21-unit studio building with 19 parking spaces and 20% BMR units. Board members asked about BMR affordability, parking management, landscaping, and compliance with the street tree manual. The applicant agreed to provide revisions. The public hearing was continued to September 18.
Applications 223-24, 223-25, 223-26 – 74th Street /251 Grey Rock Place (Text Change, Rezone, Parking Garage): Attorney Ray Mazio proposed a text change to allow reduced side yard setbacks for a parking garage accessory to the High Grove building. Board members expressed concerns about the text change applicability and impacts on neighbors. The applicant requested a continuance to work with adjacent property owners. Continued to September 18.
Application 223-30 – Text Amendment to Combine Use Tables: Staff presented a cleanup of zoning use tables, updating terminology and adding cross-references. Board members discussed the pending appeal on cannabis regulations and clarified that the regulation remains in effect. The public hearing was closed.
Application 223-31 – Text Amendment on Publicly Accessible Amenity Space (PAAS): Staff proposed expanding PAAS requirements to additional districts and adding trails. Board members raised questions about administrative vs. site plan review, fee-in-lieu, and language consistency. The public hearing was closed.
CSPR 1169 – 141 Downs Avenue (Coastal Site Plan Review): Staff presented a proposal to lift the house, add a pool, and modify the driveway access. The Harbor Management Commission had recommended disapproval, requiring four board votes. Board members were not ready to vote due to late hour and need to review conditions. Continued to September 18.

Key Outcomes

No votes were taken on any application. All public hearings for the hotel, text amendments, and the Bedford Street project were closed; the board will deliberate at a future meeting.
Applications 223-20/21, 223-24/25/26, and CSPR 1169 were continued to the next meeting on September 18, 2023, at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
The board noted that the parking garage and residential projects require additional revisions and neighbor coordination before a vote.

Meeting Transcript

David, I think you can start the meeting. I'd like to welcome everyone and call tonight's zoning board meeting to order. I'm David Stein, Chair of the Zoning Board, and it is six thirty on September 11th, 2023. The members of the board and the staff are holding this meeting by Zoom video conference. The public is in attendance, both on video conference and by teleconference. First, I'd like to do a roll call of the board and the staff. Bill Morris. Here. Here. Jerry Bozak. President. Raquel Smith Anderson. Yeah, please. And now for our staff, Ralph Blessing. Present. And Vanita Matter. Yeah. Okay, good. We have a full full house. During tonight's meetings, meeting, the microphones of the board will be open throughout the meeting. Applicants' mics will be open during the public hearing for their applications. However, I would ask the applicants to please mute their mics when not speaking in order to reduce background noise. The first part of tonight's meeting is a public hearing during which the public will have an opportunity to speak. Each member of the public will be muted until it is your turn to speak. If you came in through Zoom, please use the raise your hand function and you will be unmuted when it's your turn to speak. If you called in on one of the telephone conference call phone numbers, please press star nine and this will raise your hand. Then press star six to unmute when it is your turn to speak. If you have any problem trying to get in, you can send an email to Vanita. And her email address is V Mater V M-A-T-H-U-R at Stanford C T dot gov. When members of the public speak, uh please give us your name and address for the record and whether you are in favor of or opposed to the application. The board requests that members of the public limit your comments to three minutes so that everyone will have a chance to speak. This meeting is being recorded and will be posted at the zoning board's website. At that website, you can also find the agenda for tonight's meeting and all of the meeting applications and other materials.gov slash zoning. Could we please have a moment of silence to remember that terrible day and the victims of that attack? Thank you. Um discussion favorite say I was at an eye. Yes, please. Okay, so uh it's five oh um so um to the members of the public, uh the board is along with the staff and our council. Um the attorney Cindy are going into executive sessions. And um on this matter. Um please stay on this uh on the Zoom. We will be back. Um as soon as we can. So um thank you. David, you're muted. Mr. Chair, I'd like to move that we leave executive session. Okay, we're missing Bill. Aren't we? Yeah.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com