Stamford Zoning Board Meeting - February 4, 2025: Hotel Conversion, Toll Brothers GDP, and Administrative Approvals
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Stamford Zoning Board Meeting - February 4, 2025
The Zoning Board of Stamford, Connecticut, met on February 4, 2025, to conduct a public hearing and regular meeting. Key agenda items included a special permit for converting the historic 300 Main Street building into a 149-room Hilton Curio hotel, approval of a GDP and map change for Toll Brothers' residential development at 700 Fairfield Avenue, approval of the extended stay hotel at 0 West Park Place, and several administrative items. The meeting was held via Zoom, with public participation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Michael Moore (President, Stamford Downtown) expressed strong support for the 300 Main Street hotel project, citing demand for upscale lodging, activation of the underperforming 300 block, and removal of over 100,000 square feet of obsolete office space. He noted unanimous support from his committee.
- Sue Halpern (Elmcraft Road) raised a question regarding ADA compliance, referencing a recent article about the Stamford Marriott. She asked whether similar conditions would apply to the new hotel. The applicant responded that all building codes, including ADA, would be followed during the gut rehabilitation.
- Elizabeth Macaulay (18 Walter Wheeler Drive) commented on the aesthetic design of the proposed addition, suggesting it better mimic the historic building with cream coloring or ornate molding to blend in.
- Heather Kavanaugh (President & CEO, Stamford Chamber of Commerce) voiced strong support for the hotel project, emphasizing its role in connecting Main Street and Atlantic Street, supporting corporate travel, and stimulating the local economy.
Discussion Items
- Application 224-36: 300 Main Street Hotel Conversion – The applicant (FD Rich/West Main Street LLC) seeks a special permit under Footnote 23 to add two stories atop the existing 1980s addition, converting 90,000 square feet of vacant office space into a 149-room Hilton Curio hotel with ground-floor restaurant, meeting space, and a rooftop lounge. The existing parking garage (approx. 140 spaces) will serve the hotel (75 spaces required) and may remain partially public. The board expressed strong support, noting the project will preserve the historic Union Trust building, increase tax revenue, and remove obsolete office space. The application was continued to February 10, 2025, pending HPAC review and additional information on EV parking, handicap spaces, and sidewalk compliance.
- Application 223-48: 0 West Park Place Extended Stay Hotel – The board approved the site and architectural plans with conditions, including revisions to the shared driveway/sidewalk design, landscaping, removal of planters, and a 6-foot sidewalk. The applicant will contribute $100,000 for traffic improvements or construct them in-kind. The board also recommended on-site BMR units but noted the applicant may opt for fee-in-lieu.
- Applications 224-37 and 224-38: Toll Brothers – 700 Fairfield Avenue – The board approved the map change (224-37) from CC to a residential zone and the General Development Plan (GDP) (224-38) for 549 residential units (townhomes, condos, stacked flats) with coastal site plan review. Conditions include a draft affordability plan (6 units at 65-80% AMI, with fee-in-lieu option), conformance with departmental comments, and future site plan approval. The board noted the project will replace underperforming offices with homeownership opportunities.
- Administrative Reviews – Approved a building permit for 15 Durrell Farm Road (conversion of screened porch to three-season room) and extended the term of Acting ZEO Daniel Trapp through March 15, 2025, due to staffing shortages.
Key Outcomes
- Application 224-36 (300 Main Street hotel) continued to February 10, 2025, at 6:30 PM. The board will review HPAC recommendations, staff report, and additional details on EV parking, handicap spaces, and sidewalk plan.
- Application 223-48 (0 West Park Place) approved unanimously with conditions as modified during the meeting.
- Application 224-37 (map change) approved unanimously.
- Application 224-38 (GDP for 700 Fairfield Avenue) approved unanimously with conditions, including a recommendation for on-site BMR units.
- 15 Durrell Farm Road administrative approval granted.
- Extension of ZEO term approved through March 15, 2025.
- Minutes of January 27, 2025 approved as presented.
Meeting Transcript
So we're all you're in charge next week. Watch out. All right. David, I think we can get started. 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 634 on February 3rd, 2025. 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, let's call the role. Bill Morris. Here. Roseanne McManus. Here. And me, uh Jerry Bozak is not able to be here tonight. And now for the staff, Ralph Blessing. Here. And Benita Matter. Good. The board's microphones will be open throughout this hearing. The applicant's mics will be open during the public hearing when their application is being heard. 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 is 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 is 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 you are called on to speak. When members of the public speak, please give us your name and address for the record and whether you are for or against the application. If you have a problem getting on, um you're trying to raise your hand and it's not working, um, please send an email to Benita. Her email address is the matter. That's V as In Victor, M-A-T-H-U-R at Stamford C T.gov. And um Benita will try to help you get on. Uh 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. You can find the agenda for tonight's meeting and all of the meeting applications and other materials by going to our website www.stanford ct.gov slash zoning. Uh and now we are um moving in to the uh public hearing portion of our meeting. First item we have is application 224-36, TR West Main Street, LLC, 300 Main Street, Stanford, Connecticut, special permit. Applicant is seeking to convert existing office space to 149 room hotel, 1,500 square feet of meeting space and amenities for guests, and on-site parking in the existing garage. I do. Dave, you could read it, please. December 19th, 2024 to Mr. David Stein, Chair, City of Stanford Zoning Board regarding ZB application number 224-36, 300 Main Street. Dear Mr. Stein and members of the zoning board. During its regularly scheduled meeting held on Tuesday, December 17th, 2024. The planning board reviewed the above captioned application referred in accordance with the requirements of the Stanford Charter. The applicant is seeking to convert existing office space into a 149-room hotel with 1,500 square feet of meeting space and amenities for guests with on-site parking in the existing garage. After some discussion, the planning board unanimously voted to recommend approval of ZB application number 224-36 and found this request is in general harmony with Master Plan Category Number 11 downtown. Sincerely, Stanford Planning Board board Jay Tepper, Vice Chair.
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