Resident tells planning board it improperly ‘rubber‑stamped’ upzoning and flagship project approvals

During the Planning Board’s public-comment period on June 12, a resident on Zoom sharply criticized the board’s recent rezoning and a large nearby project, saying the board acted with insufficient deliberation and that the public was left with limited options to appeal.

Daniel Brindell, who identified himself as a resident, said the board approved what he called “one of the biggest buildings in the city” on a lot he described as historically residential and noted concerns about a rezoning the city adopted in 2022. Brindell alleged that the rezoning was “pretty ambiguous” and that the project’s supporting studies were conducted during the pandemic and may not reflect current traffic or neighborhood conditions.

Brindell urged the board to “deliberate more” and to ask more questions of property owners, saying he believed the board relied too heavily on planning staff and on the form‑based code adopted in 2022. He also said appealing such decisions is difficult for residents because appeals typically require posting a large bond and retaining counsel; he added that large developers “used every lawyer in town,” creating a practical barrier to legal challenges.

Brindell also accused a board member he named in his remarks of providing an untruthful disclosure during a prior proceeding. The board did not take formal action on the comments; the remarks were taken under the public‑comment item that precedes the evening’s agenda.