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Planning board clears LED streetlight grant reallocation, sidewalk/tree funds and several variances
Summary
The Stamford Planning Board unanimously reallocated a $2 million DOE grant and $2 million city match for an LED streetlight project, accepted fee‑in‑lieu sidewalk funds, moved street‑tree funds into the appropriate capital account, and approved several zoning referral variances for modest home additions.
At its April 22 meeting the Stamford Planning Board approved multiple administrative and capital items and reviewed Zoning Board of Appeals referrals for individual variances.
LED streetlight grant: The board approved closing out CP0114 and reassigning $4,000,000 (a $2,000,000 Department of Energy grant plus a $2,000,000 city match) to a newly numbered project (001434) so the grant may be tracked separately. Tony (engineering) told the board the funds are being reallocated for a citywide replacement of high‑pressure sodium fixtures with LED luminaires; staff clarified the funds have not yet been received but the project authorization is needed for grant tracking.
Fee‑in‑lieu for sidewalks and tree replants: The board accepted a $394,000 fee‑in‑lieu from a senior housing development at 210 Long Ridge Road to fund sidewalk and pedestrian improvements and voted to move previously collected street‑tree fees (checks from 2022–2024) into CP6816 for tree plantings.
ZBA referrals and variances: The planning board reviewed referrals for two residential variances. A request for frontage/setback relief at 70 Alban Road (adding dormers and a front porch) was found consistent with the master plan and the board recommended approval (approval recorded with four members present). Separately, the board supported a variance at 104 Gaymore Drive to add a second‑floor addition over the existing footprint; the applicant noted the lot is a corner lot and argued the addition preserves the single‑family use.
Why it matters: These votes are largely administrative and procedural but enable capital projects and allow homeowners to modernize within existing neighborhood context. The LED project in particular uses a federal grant that requires separate accounting.
Board action: All items passed by unanimous vote of the members present.
