In the waiting room.

Because everybody's traveling for the holiday.

Yeah.

Oh, do you know what anybody knows traveling?

Me shortly.

Well, it was good to show in a row.

Is that what you're saying?

That's what we're saying, though.

All right.

Um, David, I think you can get started.

Okay.

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

I'm David Stein, Chair of the Board, and it is now 102 on July 2nd, 2026.

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

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

First, let's do a roll call.

Uh Bill Morris, Roseanne McManus, Jerry Bozak.

Here, Keith Walker, Peter Rustin, and now for staff, Ralph Blessing, and Manita Matter.

Okay.

As this is a special meeting of the uh board, a special regular meeting, there will be no uh public participation or thinking during the meeting.

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

Uh you can find the agenda for this meeting and um the meeting materials by going to our website www.stanford ct.gov slash zoning.

I think that's uh that's it.

Um for board members, um the um law department um in reviewing uh the resolutions that we will be voting on, um, has requested that we include that the board has independently um reviewed the materials that Ralph sent out.

That would be the memo and the petition and whatever else went out.

Um primarily the the memorandum is the the important one.

Um I just want to make sure everyone has had a chance to read it, um, since it will be um the the intro to the resolutions will say that we've read it.

Um is there anyone who needs time now to take a look at it?

I'm sure I'm good.

No, good.

Then um, I will read um to the board the resolution, um, denying the petition to appeal the zoning board's approval of application 226-07.

Um, whereas on June 22nd, 2026, the zoning board received a petition to appeal the zoning board's approval of application number 226-07 to the Stanford Board of Representatives, pursuant to Stanford Charter Section C640-5.

And whereas the land use bureau reviewed the petition in accordance with the provisions of the charter case law and the zoning board's policies, and land use bureau's analysis and conclusions are set forth in a certain memorandum by Ralph Blessing, Land Use Bureau Chief for the City of Stanford to the zoning board dated June 29, 2026, the memoranda.

And whereas the memorandum concludes that the petition did not receive the required number of signatures under Charter Section C6-40-5, and is therefore not valid, and therefore, and whereas prior to the special meeting held on June 2nd, 2026, duly noticed in accordance with the law, the zoning board independently reviewed the memorandum and the supporting information, including the petition itself, and additional documentation.

Now, therefore, it is hereby resolved by the City of Stanford Zoning Board that based on its independent review of the petition, the signature submitted, and the memorandum dated June 29th, 2026, prepared by the land use bureau.

The zoning board finds that the petition did not contain the required number of signatures for a referral to the Board of Representatives pursuant to Charter Section C6-40-5.

The referral of the petition to the Board of Representatives is hereby denied.

Can we get a motion to um approve the resolution that I just read?

So moved.

Was that Peter?

Yes.

Peter, you're unfortunately you're not seated today because we have everyone here.

I will make the motion to uh approve it.

Okay.

Is there a second?

Second.

Okay.

Is there any discussion on this?

Uh yes.

I'd like for the record to ask how many signatures were required and how many were received.

Perfect.

Um so uh there is uh the charter says that uh in order for referral to happen uh at least 20% of the owners within the rezoning area have to sign, or that the owners of 20% of the land within 500 feet of the uh rezoning area uh have to sign.

So no one for uh within the rezoning area signed the petition, and uh with regard to uh the area, uh it depends on uh how much land they own.

So in theory, you could have had one owner who owns 20% of the land could have signed the petition and it would have met the the requirements.

Um we only received valid signatures for uh a little bit over 4% of the land uh within the 500 uh foot area.

Thank you, Ralph.

So it's 20% of the land is the second option.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.