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Committee forwards two zoning board appointees to full council
Summary
The Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee voted Nov. 5 to forward Mayor Aralampalam’s nominations of Leon Stapleton and Leah Reyes to the City Council with favorable recommendations; both nominees described community ties and interest in zoning work.
The Hartford City Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee on Nov. 5 voted to forward two mayoral appointments to the full City Council with favorable recommendations.
Leon Stapleton, who said he moved to Hartford from Brooklyn in 2016 and works in analysis and information technology, told the committee he wants to get more involved in city affairs. Stapleton said he had not previously attended Zoning Board of Appeals meetings but welcomed the new challenge.
Leah Reyes, who moved to Hartford from Florida in 2021 and has worked with nonprofits serving people experiencing homelessness, said she has attended ZBA meetings and wants to participate in decisions that affect neighborhoods.
Councilman Gail, who spoke at length about the board’s responsibilities, described the Zoning Board of Appeals as a quasi-judicial body that hears requests for variances and appeals of enforcement actions. Gail urged new appointees to weigh both statutory requirements and residents’ concerns and said the board should consider whether regulations serve the community or hinder reasonable development. He gave an example of a homeowner cited for patching historic front steps to illustrate how ZBA decisions can affect everyday residents.
Majority Leader Marlene Rossetti and Councilor Rosado thanked both nominees for volunteering and noted the time commitment zoning service can require. The committee chair seconded both motions to forward the appointments.
Motions to forward Stapleton and Reyes were moved and seconded and received unanimous “Aye” votes from the members present. The chair said both nominations will appear on the full council agenda next Monday for the council’s final vote.
No formal objections or abstentions were recorded during the committee meeting.
