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Record of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting - June 25, 2024

Zoning Board — Tuesday, June 25, 2024
BodyStamford, Connecticut
SessionZoning Board
DateTuesday, June 25, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

Uh and then at the end, Vanita, we got to talk about adding an additional meeting.

0:09

Right.

0:14

We're too popular.

0:23

Umita, would you make me co-host, please?

0:26

Sure.

0:28

Thanks.

0:33

Mr.

0:33

Chairman, can I bring up something before we go into public?

0:37

Well, she's turned on the recording.

0:40

I think we're we're public at this point, right?

0:43

Yeah.

0:46

Is this something you want us to stop?

0:49

Uh no, I know absolutely not.

0:50

I just wanted, I guess I'm gonna have to talk to corporation counsel because of the um the potential conflicts.

0:57

I see that um attorney Capabo is continuously, you know, the on the agenda.

1:02

So I I just would like a uh uh I'm getting a lot of emails regarding um I I've always kept an arm's length because I don't want to have you know just the the look of it for Joe and myself as well.

1:14

Um I'm getting emails and and and uh correspondence in regards to saying no, you're just kind of um not uh not avoiding the responsibilities on this board, um just kind of um softballing it.

1:27

So I just want to get an actual opinion so it's on the record what what he should do, you know.

1:34

Yeah, talking to corp counsel would be a good idea.

1:37

Okay, all right, just one court here.

1:40

David, I think we can start okay.

1:44

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

1:49

I'm David Stein, chair of the zoning board, and it is 6 33 on June 24th, 2024.

1:56

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

2:01

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

2:06

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

2:10

Uh Bill Morris here.

2:13

Roseanne McManus.

2:17

Uh I see you.

2:19

Uh Jerry Bozak.

2:21

Present.

2:22

Raquel Smith Anderson.

2:24

Here.

2:26

Uh Vanita Matter.

2:28

Yeah.

2:29

And um, for the record, I note that uh Ralph is um at another meeting tonight and not with us.

2:37

Um the board's microphones will be open throughout tonight's hearing.

2:42

The applicants' mics during will be open during the public hearing for their application.

2:48

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

2:56

The first part of the meeting um will be the public hearing, during which the public will have an opportunity to speak.

3:05

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

3:09

Here's the procedure for the public to let us know that you would like to speak.

3:14

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.

3:22

If you called in on one of the Zoom telephone conference call phone numbers, please press star nine, and this will raise your hand to Vanita, and then press star six to unmute when you are called on to speak.

3:38

If you run into a problem trying to uh speak or get recognized, um please email vanita.

3:47

Uh and her email address is V, it's V is in Victor, V Mater V M-A-T-H-U-R at Stanford C T.gov.

4:02

And she can uh try to resolve whatever issue you're having.

4:06

Uh 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.

4:14

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

4:21

Vanita will let you know uh when you have 30 seconds left so you can wrap up.

4:27

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

4:32

You can find the agenda for tonight's meeting and all of the meeting applications and other materials by going to our website, www.stamford ct.gov slash zoning.

4:46

Um and we will now um proceed with the uh public hearing.

4:53

Um the first uh two items we have are applications 223 23 and 224-04.

5:05

Um, both relating um connected to 91 Hope Street.

5:11

223-23 is Joseph Capelbo, the second 91 Hope Street, Stamford, Connecticut map change.

5:20

Applicants proposing to rezone 91 Hope Street from the present R7 and a half single family low density to proposed RM1 multifamily low density design district.

5:34

Application 224-04 is Joseph Capalbo the second on behalf of I can't read it.

5:45

R something LLC 91 Hope Street, site and architectural plans and or requested uses.

5:52

Applicants proposing to construct 27 townhouses along with on site parking and associated landscaping.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning████████████████████████████████████36%
Historic Preservation████████████12%
Procedural████████8%
Traffic████████8%
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure█████5%
Building Permit Fees█████5%
Parking████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Senior Housing████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting - June 25, 2024

The Stamford Zoning Board met on June 25, 2024, to hear several applications, including a major redevelopment at 800 Long Ridge Road, a text reorganization, and senior housing amendments. The meeting began at 6:33 PM via Zoom, with Chair David Stein presiding. The board continued some applications to July 8, 2024, approved text changes, and set an additional meeting for July 29, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Multiple residents opposed the 800 Long Ridge Road development (354 apartments, 9,394 sq ft commercial). Common concerns: traffic safety on Long Ridge Road, incompatibility with single-family neighborhoods, lack of need for more apartments (citing 3,000 vacant rental units), and BLT's construction record (falls, electrocutions, mold). Speakers emphasized the area's master plan designation for low-density and the precedent set by the 900 Long Ridge Road rejection.
  • One speaker supported the project, arguing development is not bad for the city and that new housing can lower rents.
  • Public comments on the text reorganization (224-07) included opposition (citing vagueness and developer advantage) and support (simplification benefits all).
  • A speaker mistakenly believed the public hearing on the senior housing text change was still open; it had closed.

Discussion Items

  • 800 Long Ridge Road (Application 223-38) : Attorney Lisa Feinberg presented revised building facades (more residential appearance, dormers, gables, stone/brick), increased landscaping (375 new trees, 63 removed), and argued the project is compatible with the CD zone and senior housing precedents. Board members requested corrections to parking counts (discrepancies between 609 and 613 spaces), updated parking management plan, EV space location near building entrances, class A bike storage details, and compliance with transportation demand management requirements. The board continued this application to July 8, 2024.
  • Zoning Text Reorganization (224-07) : Staff explained the non-substantive consolidation of 22 sections into 12, with updated cross-references and placeholders. The board approved it after discussion.
  • Senior Housing Text Change (224-06) : Staff presented clarifications, including a new restriction: properties in historic districts zoned single/two-family cannot get additional density for independent living facilities. The board debated the minimum age for seniors (settled on 55, matching state/HUD definitions), increased BMR requirements from 10% to 12% for projects using density bonuses, and added design standards (detached/townhouse style, clustering). The board decided the density bonuses require a special permit. Approved 3-1-1 (Raquel opposed, Bill abstained).
  • Cannabis Dispensary (223-16) : At 1308 East Main Street, the board approved the special permit and coastal site plan review with conditions: security guard to clear parking lot at closing, gate to block vehicle access after hours, additional plantings, 24/7 camera monitoring, and street trees with bonds. Approved 5-0.
  • Pre-Application (224-25-3) : For 45 De Barrow Lane, an architect proposed critical reconstruction of a cottage and two new rear units (three total). Concerns included height (30 feet, but roof peak at 34 feet) overshadowing the historic replica, and the precedent for using reconstruction to circumvent zoning. The board offered feedback but did not vote.

Key Outcomes

  • 224-07 (Text Reorganization) : Approved 5-0.
  • 224-06 (Senior Housing Text Change) : Approved 3-1-1 with amendments (age 55, special permit required, 12% BMR, historic district exemption).
  • 223-16 (Cannabis Dispensary) : Approved 5-0 with conditions.
  • Continued Applications : 223-23/224-04 (91 Hope Street) and 223-38 (800 Long Ridge Road) continued to July 8, 2024.
  • Additional Meeting : Scheduled for July 29, 2024, to handle upcoming workload.

Meeting Transcript

Uh and then at the end, Vanita, we got to talk about adding an additional meeting. Right. We're too popular. Umita, would you make me co-host, please? Sure. Thanks. Mr. Chairman, can I bring up something before we go into public? Well, she's turned on the recording. I think we're we're public at this point, right? Yeah. Is this something you want us to stop? Uh no, I know absolutely not. I just wanted, I guess I'm gonna have to talk to corporation counsel because of the um the potential conflicts. I see that um attorney Capabo is continuously, you know, the on the agenda. So I I just would like a uh uh I'm getting a lot of emails regarding um I I've always kept an arm's length because I don't want to have you know just the the look of it for Joe and myself as well. Um I'm getting emails and and and uh correspondence in regards to saying no, you're just kind of um not uh not avoiding the responsibilities on this board, um just kind of um softballing it. So I just want to get an actual opinion so it's on the record what what he should do, you know. Yeah, talking to corp counsel would be a good idea. Okay, all right, just one court here. David, I think we can start okay. 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 6 33 on June 24th, 2024. The members of the board and staff are holding this meeting by Zoom video conference. The public is in attendance both on video conference and by teleconference. I'd like to do a roll call of the board and the staff. Uh Bill Morris here. Roseanne McManus. Uh I see you. Uh Jerry Bozak. Present. Raquel Smith Anderson. Here. Uh Vanita Matter. Yeah. And um, for the record, I note that uh Ralph is um at another meeting tonight and not with us. Um the board's microphones will be open throughout tonight's hearing. The applicants' mics during will be open during the public hearing for their application. However, I would ask the applicant to please mute their mics when not speaking in order to reduce background noise. The first part of the meeting um will be the 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. 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 one of the Zoom telephone conference call phone numbers, please press star nine, and this will raise your hand to Vanita, and then press star six to unmute when you are called on to speak. If you run into a problem trying to uh speak or get recognized, um please email vanita. Uh and her email address is V, it's V is in Victor, V Mater V M-A-T-H-U-R at Stanford C T.gov. And she can uh try to resolve whatever issue you're having. Uh 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. Vanita will let you know uh when you have 30 seconds left so you can wrap up.

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