The Stamford Zoning Board met via Zoom on June 11, 2024, according to meeting metadata; the chair called the meeting to order at 6:34 PM on June 10, 2024, per the transcript. Board members present were David Stein (Chair), Bill Morris, and Jerry Bozak; Roseanne McManus and Raquel Smith Anderson were absent. Staff members Ralph Blessing and Vanita Matter were present. The meeting included an executive session, the appointment of an acting Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO), and public hearings on two applications.
The board entered executive session at approximately 6:35 PM and returned at 7:37 PM. No votes were taken during the executive session. The purpose was to consider the appointment of an acting ZEO due to the retirement of Jim Lunny, who served as ZEO for many years.
Staff introduced Dan (last name not provided in the transcript), a land use inspector who has worked with the city for 18 years. Dan described his experience with the housing task force, illegal-unit inspections, and plan reviews. He stated he is taking the required zoning enforcement certification classes and has completed the first session.
Board members discussed the term of the appointment. They agreed to appoint Dan for a six-month term, subject to renewal by the board, and ending when a permanent ZEO is appointed. The board voted unanimously to approve the appointment (all three present members in favor). Staff noted that the city's law department had reviewed Dan's qualifications.
The application proposed to finalize the ongoing reorganization of the zoning regulations by consolidating and reordering zoning sections, updating cross-references, adding placeholders for districts without standalone sections, and updating the table of contents.
Due to the board's reduced membership, the board decided to continue this hearing to the next zoning board meeting on June 24, 2024, at 6:30 PM on Zoom. No action was taken.
This is the former Xerox headquarters property, approximately 25.26 acres on the west side of Long Ridge Road. The applicant, 800 Long Ridge Road, LLC (an entity related to BLT), seeks special permits for a redevelopment consisting of 354 apartments (186 one-bedroom, 148 two-bedroom, 23 three-bedroom; no studios) and approximately 9,394 square feet of commercial space, along with associated landscaping and site improvements. The project would demolish the existing 300,000 sq ft office building and 250,000 sq ft parking garage.
Applicant representatives presented the following:
Board members asked questions about siding materials (ASAC composite trim), accessible parking spaces (a discrepancy was noted: the plan showed 4 spaces, but the zoning chart requires 6; the applicant agreed to correct the plans), weekend traffic impacts, sidewalk fee-in-lieu calculations, and the term of the acting ZEO. Board members raised concerns about traffic on weekends and the loss of trees, but no decisions were made on the application.
The public hearing remained open. The transcript ends as the board was beginning to take public comments, so no public testimony is recorded in this transcript.
We can start the meeting. Okay. Welcome to everyone. And I'd like to call tonight's meeting to order. I'm David Stein, Chair of the Zoning Board, and it is 6 34 on June 10th, 2024. The members of the zoning board and the staff are holding this meeting by Zoom video conference. The public is in attendance both on video conference and by telephone. First, I'd like to do a roll call of the board and the staff. Bill Morris. Here. Jerry Bozak. Present. And I'd note that Roseanne McManus and Raquel Smith Anderson are not with us tonight. Now for the uh staff, Ralph Blessing. Yeah. Vanita Matter. Here. During tonight's meeting, the microphones for the board will be open throughout. The applicant's microphones will be open during the public hearing when we're on their application. However, I would ask the applicant to please mute their mics for not speaking in order to reduce background noise. Part of the meeting tonight will be the public hearing during which the public has an opportunity to speak. Each member of the public will be muted until it is your turn to speak. Here's the procedure for the public to let us know that you would like 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 the telephone conference call phone number, then press star nine, and this will raise your hand. Her email address is V, as in Victor, V Motor, M-A-T-H-U-R at Stamford C T dot gov. When members of the public speak, please state 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.gov slash zoning. I'll make that motion, Mr. Chairman. Second. Okay, all in favor, say aye. Okay. Um, the board will now be going into executive session. Um, sorry for the delay here. Um, why don't you just hang on and um uh we will be back in a few minutes. Uh going into executive session, the um Ralph Blessing, Vanita Monter, uh, Bill Morris, Jerry Bozak, myself, and we will be with uh Cindy Anger from the city's uh law department. Uh Vanita, should we be uh leaving this meeting then? Yes, yes. Okay. Good. Ready back? We need Ralph. Cookies. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to come out of executive session. Okay, all in favor say aye. Motion is approved. The zoning board went into executive session at approximately six thirty-five and has come out at seven thirty-seven. No votes were taken during the executive session. Okay.