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Record of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting Summary - February 10, 2026

Zoning Board — Tuesday, February 10, 2026
BodyStamford, Connecticut
SessionZoning Board
DateTuesday, February 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:29:56

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Manita, am I a uh co-host, or if not, could you make me please?

0:13

I will make you a co-host.

0:30

Um, we can get started, David.

0:34

Okay.

0:37

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

0:43

I'm David Stein, Chair of the Zoning Board, and it is 637 on February 9th, 2026.

0:53

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

1:00

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

1:06

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

1:10

Uh Bill Morris.

1:12

Here.

1:12

Roseanne McManus.

1:14

Here.

1:15

Jerry Bozak.

1:16

Here.

1:17

And um so we have all the board members here.

1:20

And now for the uh staff, Ralph Blessing.

1:25

And Vanita Matter.

1:28

Good.

1:29

We have everyone.

1:30

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

1:35

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

1:41

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

1:48

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

1:55

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

2:00

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

2:05

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.

2:13

And we'll call on you at that time.

2:15

If you called in on one of the telephone uh phone numbers, uh please press star nine, and this will raise your hand, and then star six to unmute when it is your turn to speak.

2:29

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.

2:38

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

2:46

If you have a problem trying to speak, you you want to raise your hand and it doesn't work or some other issue, please send an email to Vanita and she will do what she can to get you on.

3:01

Um her email address is VMT at the VMATHUR at StamfordC T.gov.

3:12

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

3:17

And you can find the agenda for tonight's meeting and the meeting applications and other materials by going to our website, www.stanford ct.gov slash zoning.

3:35

The first application that we're taking up tonight is a continuation from our last meeting on January 26th is application 225-37.

3:48

Five Harbor Point Square LLC, Harbor Point Master Unit S5, aka zero Washington Boulevard, number S5, General Development Plan, Site and Architectural Plans and or requested uses and coastal site plan review.

4:06

Applicant is proposing to transfer 34,000 plus or minus square feet of commercial floor area from block P7 to the property to facilitate a new health and wellness use known as the Bath House.

4:24

So attorney Feinberg, welcome.

4:28

And you please take it away.

4:33

Great.

4:34

For the record, my name is Lisa Feinberg.

4:36

I'm a partner with Carmen Torrent, Sandack, and Hennessy.

4:39

As you know, I am here tonight on behalf of the applicant in connection with the Bath House proposal.

4:44

This is our third night of a public hearing, so we will do our very best to be brief.

4:49

When we left you on January 26th, you asked us to give some additional thought to the SRDS design guidelines and consider ways that we could increase window transparency and provide some additional enhancements to the building facades.

5:06

You all should have received a package with an updated architecture narrative, which includes new rendered views as well as a memo from my office describing compliance with the SRDS design guidelines.

5:18

We also included an updated landscape plan and civil plans uh depicting the new landscape buffer on the western side of the building.

5:27

These materials were also posted on the zoning board's website.

5:31

In terms of tonight's presentation, I thought I would just briefly walk you through the facade changes and then turn to any questions that you may have.

5:40

So, Mr.

5:40

Chairman, may I share my screen?

5:43

Yeah, please go ahead.

5:53

Okay.

5:54

You all see that?

5:55

Yep.

5:56

Yep.

5:57

Yes, ma'am.

6:00

Okay.

6:04

So this is the Washington Boulevard facade.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Urban Design█████████████████17%
Parking██████████████14%
Affordable Housing█████████████13%
Planning and Zoning████████████12%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Community Engagement████4%
Procedural███3%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Stamford Zoning Board Meeting Summary - February 10, 2026

Note on date: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on February 9, 2026, but the instruction specifies the date as February 10, 2026. This summary uses the provided date; the discrepancy is noted.

The Stamford Zoning Board met on February 10, 2026, at 6:37 PM (via Zoom) to hear four public hearing applications. Chair David Stein presided. The meeting adjourned after 11:00 PM without taking any final votes on the applications; all items were either closed pending further information or continued to a later date.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Application 225-37 (Bath House):

    • Supporters: Cody Heisinger (181 Brookdale Road) spoke in favor of the wellness concept and design; Marie Roca (100 Tressor Boulevard) supported the health-oriented use and dismissed associations with brothels.
    • Opponents: Barry Michelson (Idlewood Drive) argued the use is non-conforming and cited historical concerns; Sue Halpern (30 Elmcroft Road) raised noise from rooftop pool/bar; John DeRosa (62 Elmcroft Road) opposed design and clientele; Vinny Montemuro (256 Washington Boulevard) requested a noise study; Michael Falvey (256 Washington) questioned the need for a special permit due to alcohol and pool; Dave Adams (Clipper Road) felt the location inappropriate; Matt Kruchkewitz (256 Washington) alleged undisclosed cryptocurrency mining and water discharge issues; Aaron Williams (256 Washington) voiced noise concerns; Monica Twal (37 Hanrahan Street) condemned the moral impact; Salvatore Zarella (waterside) questioned the adult-only nature and alcohol.

  • Application 225-39 (Mosque):

    • Supporters: Regina Begum (Strawberry Hill) cited local attendance and carpooling; Jamal Ahmed (Stanford) mentioned staggered prayers to reduce traffic; Furkan Ahmed (210 Fifth Street) noted multiple mosques spread the load; Farhan Memon (CAIR-CT chair) referenced RLUIPA provisions; Mustafa Ahmed (14 Howard Avenue) clarified the mosque does not replace the Exit 6 site.
    • No opposition speakers were recorded; Monica Twal attempted to speak but was cut off for religious references.

  • Application 225-46 (St. John Towers):

    • Supporters: Brittany Lawrence (Washington Boulevard area) asked questions about affordability and vouchers; Michael Moore (president of Stamford Downtown) expressed support for affordable housing and pedestrian connectivity; Marie Roca (100 Tressor Boulevard) endorsed the project as an upgrade.
    • Opponents: Monica Twal (37 Hanrahan Street) criticized architecture and traffic impacts; Sue Halpern (30 Elmcroft Road) worried about delivery truck congestion and relocation of current tenants.

  • Application 225-48 (Daycare):

    • Opponents: Attorney Phil Pierce (representing the 77 Havemeyer condominium association) raised concerns about inadequate traffic and drainage studies, and insufficient legal access rights. He requested denial without prejudice. The association provided peer reviews from Simco Engineering and Tig & Bond.

Discussion Items

  • 225-37 (Bath House):

    • Applicant (Attorney Lisa Feinberg) presented revised facades with increased window transparency (17% to 42% on Washington Boulevard, 3% to 44% on north), added landscape buffer on west, and offered weeping juniper rooftop plantings. Co-founder Travis Talmadge explained Bitcoin miners are used as pool heaters (not a data center) and emphasized no noise issues at their Williamsburg location. Applicant agreed to condition requiring a noise study and compliance with noise ordinance.
    • Board members (Bill Morris, Rosanne McManus, Jerry Bozak) praised the improvements. Chair David Stein asked about music; applicant confirmed low-decibel background music only. Board discussed conditions for rooftop planting plan.

  • 225-39 (Mosque):

    • Applicant (Peter Sakora) showed revised site plan with 29 parking spaces (10% over code) and valet for 44 spaces, plus a light map indicating no off-site light pollution. He noted the mosque will serve about 115 individuals, with staggered prayer times to manage peak parking.
    • Board members expressed concerns about parking during high holidays and congestion on Lockwood Avenue. Applicant committed to exploring off-site parking and implementing parking management strategies with quarterly reporting for first year. Board accepted a condition for a future planting plan.

  • 225-46 (St. John Towers):

    • Applicant (Raymond Mazio, Redness & Mead) presented an all-affordable 305-unit building (12 stories) with 306 parking spaces (93 off-site in Atlantic Station garage), new pedestrian through-block connection, and extensive landscaping. Public amenity space includes indoor/outdoor courtyards and playground.
    • Board members discussed parking assignment (unassigned), delivery access (loading area on east side), relocation of current tenants (less than 50% occupancy; priority return for eligible tenants), and need for separate Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDMP) and Parking Management Plan (PMP). The board requested revisions to landscaping plans with native species and street tree calculations.
    • Project developers (Heritage Housing) confirmed all units are LIHTC-eligible (30% to 80% AMI), with 31 units at 30% AMI, 120 at 50%, and 123 at 60%. No project-based vouchers; voucher holders welcome. No supportive services planned for lowest-income units.

  • 225-48 (Daycare):

    • Applicant (Rick Redness, Redness & Mead) presented plans for a 220-child daycare facility, with adaptive reuse of existing building. He highlighted drainage improvements (29% peak flow reduction in a 25-year storm) and traffic impacts (19 cars in PM peak hour). He expressed frustration that the neighborhood association's peer reviews were submitted late and without prior coordination.
    • Lead attorney for the opposition (Phil Pierce) argued the project fails site plan standards due to inadequate traffic analysis (understated trips, improper pass-by credits), drainage deficiencies (undermodeled), and insufficient legal access rights under the private deed covenant. The board did not discuss details and continued the hearing to the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • No final approvals were granted for any of the four applications.
  • 225-37 (Bath House): Public hearing closed; board indicated favorable reception but deferred vote pending final conditions (noise study, planting plan).
  • 225-39 (Mosque): Public hearing closed; board requested updated parking management plan and separate TDMP before vote.
  • 225-46 (St. John Towers): Public hearing closed; board required separate TDMP and PMP, revised landscaping plans, and awaited WPCA comments before scheduling a vote.
  • 225-48 (Daycare): Public hearing opened but immediately continued to the next meeting (date not specified) to allow review of newly submitted opposition materials and additional traffic/drainage analyses.

Next steps: Staff and applicants will provide additional documentation; the board will resume hearings on pending items at a future meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Manita, am I a uh co-host, or if not, could you make me please? I will make you a co-host. Um, we can get started, David. Okay. Um I'd like to welcome everyone and call tonight zoning board meeting to order. I'm David Stein, Chair of the Zoning Board, and it is 637 on February 9th, 2026. The members in the board, sorry, 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. I'd like to do a roll call of the board and the staff. Uh Bill Morris. Here. Roseanne McManus. Here. Jerry Bozak. Here. And um so we have all the board members here. And now for the uh staff, Ralph Blessing. And Vanita Matter. Good. We have everyone. Um the board's microphones will be open throughout tonight's meeting. The applicant's microphones 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 tonight's meeting is the public hearing during which the public will have the 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. And we'll call on you at that time. If you called in on one of the telephone uh phone numbers, uh please press star nine, and this will raise your hand, and then star six to unmute when it is your turn to speak. 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 requests that members of the public limit your comments to three minutes so that everyone will have a chance to speak. If you have a problem trying to speak, you you want to raise your hand and it doesn't work or some other issue, please send an email to Vanita and she will do what she can to get you on. Um her email address is VMT at the VMATHUR at StamfordC T.gov. This meeting is being recorded and will be posted at the zoning board's website. And you can find the agenda for tonight's meeting and the meeting applications and other materials by going to our website, www.stanford ct.gov slash zoning. The first application that we're taking up tonight is a continuation from our last meeting on January 26th is application 225-37. Five Harbor Point Square LLC, Harbor Point Master Unit S5, aka zero Washington Boulevard, number S5, General Development Plan, Site and Architectural Plans and or requested uses and coastal site plan review. Applicant is proposing to transfer 34,000 plus or minus square feet of commercial floor area from block P7 to the property to facilitate a new health and wellness use known as the Bath House. So attorney Feinberg, welcome. And you please take it away. Great. For the record, my name is Lisa Feinberg. I'm a partner with Carmen Torrent, Sandack, and Hennessy. As you know, I am here tonight on behalf of the applicant in connection with the Bath House proposal. This is our third night of a public hearing, so we will do our very best to be brief. When we left you on January 26th, you asked us to give some additional thought to the SRDS design guidelines and consider ways that we could increase window transparency and provide some additional enhancements to the building facades. You all should have received a package with an updated architecture narrative, which includes new rendered views as well as a memo from my office describing compliance with the SRDS design guidelines. We also included an updated landscape plan and civil plans uh depicting the new landscape buffer on the western side of the building. These materials were also posted on the zoning board's website. In terms of tonight's presentation, I thought I would just briefly walk you through the facade changes and then turn to any questions that you may have.

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