OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting – September 30, 2025: ZEO Appointment, Condominium, Senior Housing, and Hotel Expansion

Zoning Board — Tuesday, September 30, 2025
BodyStamford, Connecticut
SessionZoning Board
DateTuesday, September 30, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:02:20

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Oh, I see everybody now.

0:07

There you go.

0:09

We don't see you yet though.

0:11

Or I don't see you.

0:13

Oh, there you are.

0:17

Vanita Monica's phone number starts with 860.

0:21

Okay.

0:23

736.

0:28

Yeah.

0:37

I'll I'll send her an email.

0:46

You want to wait?

0:47

Um, we can start the meeting.

0:49

We can should we start the meeting?

0:51

Okay.

0:57

Oh, there she is.

0:58

Is that her?

0:59

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

1:09

I'm David Stein, Chair of the Zoning Board, and it is 632 on September 29th, 2025.

1:18

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

1:24

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

1:29

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

1:34

Bill Morris.

1:35

Here.

1:36

Roseanne McManus.

1:38

Here.

1:39

Jerry Bozak.

1:41

Present.

1:43

And now for the staff, Ralph Blessing.

1:47

Present.

1:48

And Vanita Monter.

1:50

Yeah.

1:51

Good.

1:51

We have everyone.

1:54

The board's microphones will be open throughout tonight's hearing.

1:58

The applicant's mics will be open during the public hearing when their application is being heard.

2:04

However, we would ask the applicant to please mute your mics when not speaking in order to reduce any background noise.

2:12

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

2:19

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

2:23

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

2:28

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

2:40

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

2:48

Then press star six to unmute when you are called on.

2:54

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

3:02

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

3:18

Something's not working.

3:27

That's V M-A-T-H-U-R at StamfordCT.gov.

3:33

And Vanita will get you on.

3:38

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

3:43

You can find the agenda for tonight's meeting and the meeting applications and the other materials for tonight's meeting by going to our website.

3:53

They are www.stanfordct.gov slash zoning.

4:03

Now the first item we have on tonight's uh agenda is a uh administrative approval, the appointment of Ms.

4:13

Monica Sims as the zoning enforcement officer for the city of Stanford pursuant to section C6-40-19 of the uh Stanford Charter.

4:27

Uh Ralph, would you like to uh just start us on this?

4:34

Uh sure.

4:36

Um so uh as you know, um our uh long time uh zoning enforcement officer um Jim Lani uh retired a while back.

4:47

Uh it's been uh very difficult finding a new CEO.

4:51

Um but um I think um we uh have now an excellent news EO who is up for appointment tonight.

5:03

Um Miss Monica Sims.

5:05

Um I have send or I think Vanita has sent you uh her resume uh in advance of this meeting, and uh she is here tonight uh to answer any questions you may have um about uh her resume and her about her previous experience she has been working as a zoning enforcement officer for a really long time, was really experienced.

5:29

So I think uh we can consider ourselves very lucky uh that she accepted um the job um with us.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Urban Redevelopment█████████████████17%
Affordable Housing████████████████16%
Zoning Board██████████10%
Housing█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Planning and Zoning██████6%
Disability Rights██████6%
Procedural████4%
Urban Design████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting – September 30, 2025

Note on date: The meeting was called to order by Chair David Stein at 6:32 PM on September 29, 2025, though the provided meeting date is September 30, 2025. The summary uses the provided date as instructed.

The City of Stamford Zoning Board held a public hearing covering four items: the appointment of a new Zoning Enforcement Officer, a proposed 56-unit condominium project, a nine-unit independent living facility for seniors and disabled, and an interior renovation and expansion of the Lloyd Hotel. The meeting spanned approximately two hours via Teams video conference.

ZEO Appointment – Monica Sims

  • Action: The board unanimously approved the appointment of Ms. Monica Sims as Zoning Enforcement Officer. Ms. Sims has over 20 years of experience in zoning enforcement across several Connecticut municipalities. During Q&A, she discussed plans to improve departmental procedures, track complaints, and collaborate with other city departments to combat illegal apartment conversions. She holds a CASIO certification (2007) but no bachelor's degree. The motion carried with all members voting aye; no opposition or abstentions.

225-18: 700 Fairfield Ave / 0 Cummings Point Road – 56 Condominiums

  • Overview: The applicant, represented by Attorney Feinberg and consultant Ray Masio, presented updated plans including an additional light pole, a sidewalk extension, native plant species, and a photometric lighting plan. No public comments were received. The board had no further questions, and the public hearing was closed. No vote on approval or denial was taken at this meeting.

225-27: 961 Long Ridge Road / 16 Wire Mill Road – Senior/Disabled Independent Living Units

  • Overview: This is the first application under the city’s new senior housing amendment. The applicant, represented by Attorney Joseph Capalbo, proposes nine three-bedroom single-family homes on a 2.1-acre site, with one bedroom on the ground floor designed for accessibility. The site includes wetlands and will have a 20,000-gallon fire suppression tank, three wells, and sewer connection.
  • Key Discussion:
    • Accessibility: Extensive debate on whether the units meet the zoning regulation requiring “fully ADA accessible” floor. The architect stated the first floor has 36-inch doors and level entries, but board members questioned if it meets “type B” or higher standards. The building department suggested the plans may need modifications. The board asked for a meeting with the building department and for Vanita to provide definitions of accessibility levels.
    • Traffic and Safety: Public comment raised concerns about the 2023 traffic study not accounting for 800–900 new units being built nearby. The board asked staff to check with TTP on whether an update is needed.
    • Affordability: A public speaker questioned the likely high sale price (over $1 million) and the lack of below-market-rate units (exempt because fewer than 10 units).
    • Design: The board requested color 3-D renderings (front and back) showing the units together.
  • Public Comments: Three speakers opposed or raised concerns: Dan Lombardi (questioned affordability, enforcement of age restriction, and lack of BMR); Michael Kelleck (traffic study outdated, soil contamination, water source); James Moore (traffic danger at Long Ridge/Wire Mill intersection, sewer/septic, wells maintenance).
  • Outcome: The board continued the public hearing to October 6, 2025, and requested additional materials: written answers to Rep. Weinberg’s letter, color renderings, TTP approval for curb cuts (or confirmation not needed), EPB permit copy, and a check on traffic study update.

225-30: 909 Washington Boulevard – Lloyd Hotel Expansion

  • Overview: The applicant, RMS Hotel LLC (represented by Attorney William Hennessy), proposes renovating the former YMCA building to increase guest rooms from 94 to 146, add a public restaurant, an interior courtyard, a new floor in the gymnasium, a rooftop amenity area, and a valet-only parking operation using the existing basement garage. The project requires special permits under Footnote 23 (FAR/parking flexibility) and Section 12D-13 (reduced parking with valet). The planning board recommended approval unanimously.
  • Key Discussion: Minimal board questions. David Stein asked about Architecture Review District compliance and street tree requirements (to be reviewed by staff). Bill Morris noted a possible error in a parking report claiming only two handicap spaces in the Bell Street garage (the garage has many more). No public opposition; Mike Moore (Stamford Downtown) spoke in strong support.
  • Outcome: The public hearing was closed. No vote on approval or denial was taken at this meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • ZEO Appointment: Approved unanimously.
  • 225-18 (56 condos): Public hearing closed; no decision.
  • 225-27 (senior housing): Continued to October 6, 2025; specific homework assigned to applicant and staff.
  • 225-30 (hotel expansion): Public hearing closed; no decision.
  • All decisions and continuances are subject to the board’s next scheduled meeting on October 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Oh, I see everybody now. There you go. We don't see you yet though. Or I don't see you. Oh, there you are. Vanita Monica's phone number starts with 860. Okay. 736. Yeah. I'll I'll send her an email. You want to wait? Um, we can start the meeting. We can should we start the meeting? Okay. Oh, there she is. Is that her? Yep, it looks like 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 632 on September 29th, 2025. The members of the board and staff are holding this meeting by Teams video conference. The public is in attendance both on video conference and by telephone. I'd like to do a roll call first of the board and the staff. Bill Morris. Here. Roseanne McManus. Here. Jerry Bozak. Present. And now for the staff, Ralph Blessing. Present. And Vanita Monter. Yeah. Good. We have everyone. The board's microphones will be open throughout tonight's hearing. The applicant's mics will be open during the public hearing when their application is being heard. However, we would ask the applicant to please mute your mics when not speaking in order to reduce any background noise. The first part of the meeting tonight 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. Here's the procedure for the public to let us know that you would like to speak. If you came in through Teams, 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 five and this will raise your hand. Then press star six to unmute when you are called on. When members of the public speak, please give us your name and address for the record and whether you are in favor of or opposed to the application. The board request that members of the public limit your comments to three minutes so that everyone will have a chance to speak. Something's not working. That's V M-A-T-H-U-R at StamfordCT.gov. And Vanita will get you on. This meeting's being recorded and will be posted on the zoning board's website. You can find the agenda for tonight's meeting and the meeting applications and the other materials for tonight's meeting by going to our website. They are www.stanfordct.gov slash zoning.

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