Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting began on September 28, 2026, but the official date provided is September 29, 2026. This summary uses the official date.
Chair David Stein called the Stamford Zoning Board meeting to order at 6:33 PM via Zoom. Roll call confirmed members Bill Morris (present) and staff Ralph Blessing and Vanita Monter. The public attended by video and teleconference. The public hearing portion was scheduled to end at 9:30 PM.
Transportation Planner Luke Buttonweaser presented a comprehensive update to Section 12 of the zoning regulations, driven by state Public Act 25‑01 (passed November 2025) and aligned with the city’s comprehensive plan. Key proposed changes include:
Board members raised concerns about the one‑acre exemption leading to zero‑parking developments, potential spillover into residential streets, and the feasibility of shared parking. They requested additional materials before voting: overlays of proposed parking categories with zoning districts, existing vs. proposed category maps, location and occupancy of public/private parking garages, comparison of residential parking requirements (proposed vs. existing), a detailed map of Springdale, the acreage of each mitigation area, and a legal review of the criteria for fee‑in‑lieu reductions.
Ralph Blessing presented a technical clean‑up package including: reinstating ZBA approval for gas stations/repair shops (per state law), clarifying notice requirements for ZBA applications, expanding staff‑approved minor modifications to ZBA approvals, defining temporary structures, adding city facilities as eligible for transfer of development rights, updating R6 two‑family district references, enhancing Publicly Accessible Amenity Space (PAS) requirements (including a double‑count for community rooms, allowance of public restrooms), increasing fee‑in‑lieu rates from $150 to $200/sq ft in several residential districts to encourage on‑site affordable units, and correcting footnotes in Appendix B. The planning board unanimously recommended approval.
Ralph Blessing introduced a text change to add comprehensive site and urban design requirements to the CN district, currently governed only by use and bulk tables. No new uses or density changes were proposed. The planning board unanimously recommended approval.
I think we can get started. Yeah, I'm sorry, you said get started. Yeah, if you can get started. Okay. 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 6 33 on September 28, 2026. Members of the board and the staff are holding this meeting by Zoom video conference. The public is in attendance both on the video conference and by teleconference. First like to do a roll call of the board and the staff. Bill Morris. Here. Present. And for the staff, Ralph Blessing. And Vanita Monter. Here. During tonight's meetings meeting, the board's microphones will be open throughout. The applicants' mics will be open during the hearing for their application. However, I would ask applicants 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 if you would like to speak. If you came in through Zoom, 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 numbers for the conference call uh feature, then press star nine, and this will raise your hand, and then press 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. 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 the meeting applications and other materials by going to our website, WWW dot Stanford CT dot gov slash zoning. Also, I'd like to announce that uh we will end the public hearing portion of the meeting at 9.30 tonight so that we'll have time to vote at our regular meeting which follows it on the applications that we had closed at our last meeting. Um if there's anything we haven't gotten to by 9 30, we will uh open and continue it till the next meeting. Uh the first application we have for the public hearing is application 226-27, City of Stanford Transportation Department. Uh care of Luke Buttonweeser, zoning text change. The purpose of this text amendment is to implement the changes required by public act 25-01 with regard to residential parking requirements and to update and streamline the mobility section in alignment with the city's comprehensive plan. Um Roseanne, could you please read the uh planning board letter? Certainly. August 27th, 2026 to Mr. David Stein, Chair City of Stanford Zoning Board regarding ZB application 226-27, City of Stanford Transportation Department Text Change. Dear Mr. Stein and members of the zoning board. During its meeting, Helen, Tuesday, August 25th, 2026. Pardon me. Oh. The above captioned application referred in accordance with the requirements of the Stanford Charter. Purpose of this text change is to implement the changes required by PA 25-01 with regard to residential parking requirements and to update and streamline the mobility section in alignment with the city's comprehensive plan.