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Stamford Planning Board forwards capital budget, approves subdivisions and multiple zoning referrals
Summary
The board voted to send a revised draft capital budget to the mayor (aiming just under $50M in recommended tiers), approved two 2‑lot subdivisions with department conditions, and recommended several zoning and variance referrals including a 305‑unit affordable housing special‑permit request with a conditional approval.
The Stamford Planning Board on Feb. 3 forwarded a revised draft capital budget to the mayor and cleared a slate of subdivision and zoning referrals, voting to recommend approvals and attaching conditions where departments had requested them.
Capital budget: The board reviewed a revised capital request and discussed guidance to aim for a city safe debt limit (cited at $35 million). Chair Jennifer Gazzano said the board proposed tiered recommendations to signal priorities while acknowledging that further cuts would arrive in later stages of the process. “We’ve been given guidance to aim for a safe debt limit for the city for city bonding of $35,000,000,” she said, and the draft the board proposed transmits tiers that would bring the board’s recommendation to just under $50,000,000 so the mayor and other boards have a prioritized set of projects to consider.
Hatchfield Park and parks funding: Staff said the city received a $2,000,000 grant for Hatchfield Park (total project cost about $2.5 million) and recommended shifting the remaining ~$500,000 to an out year so construction can proceed on schedule. Board members discussed balancing urgent capital maintenance (roof replacements, elevators) against cultural and park projects.
Votes at a glance: - Capital budget draft: Motion to forward draft to the mayor (as amended in chat); planning board vote recorded unanimous (motion transmitted for mayoral review). - West Hill High School supplemental authorization: Board voted unanimously to forward authorization (see separate article). - Subdivision 4056 (6 Sanford Lane, Giuliano Donino): Applicant’s attorney Joseph Capalbo presented a 2‑lot subdivision; the board approved the subdivision and recorded the town transportation department’s recommendation that sidewalks be rebuilt to city standard (board discussed alternatives including fee‑in‑lieu). - Subdivision 4060 (34 Conantrias Drive, Lucas/Con Andres): Applicant described a 2‑lot subdivision; the board approved the subdivision with Environmental Protection/Engineering (EPB) conditions including stormwater plan approval prior to permits and erosion‑control surety. - Zoning referral ZP‑225‑46 (109 Trusser Blvd — Saint John Urban Development Corporation): The board recommended approval of a special permit allowing an alternate configuration of required public amenity space (through‑block connection narrower in places); vote carried with three in favor and one abstention. - ZBA referral 003‑26 (75 West Broad St — Matthews Bakery): The board recommended variances to reconfigure the existing nonconforming commercial/residential buildings and supported the application unanimously. - ZBA referral (Our Lady of Grace, 627 Glenbrook Rd): The board recommended approval of a special permit and variances to convert a neighboring house to two classrooms, adding a condition to accommodate indoor bicycle parking on site if needed; vote unanimous. - ZBA referral 006‑26 (88 Maltby Ave): The board recommended variance approval for front‑setback relief on a corner lot; vote unanimous.
Subdivisions and conditions: In two subdivision public hearings, the board accepted department referrals. On 6 Sanford Lane the traffic department asked for a rebuilt sidewalk to city standard; the applicant said he was willing to accept the board’s decision and the board recorded the department’s recommendation. On 34 Conantrias Drive, EPB and engineering required erosion‑control measures, a performance bond for controls and a drainage plan approval prior to building permits; the board included those conditions in its approval.
Zoning referrals and public amenity space: Ray Mazzeo, on behalf of the Trusser Boulevard project, said the through‑block connection would meet much of the public‑amenity requirement but could fall short of dimensional standards (20‑foot width, 12‑foot clear in some covered sections). The board weighed those tradeoffs against the project’s large affordable‑housing yield (305 units) and recommended approval with recorded abstentions and conditions as noted.
What’s next: The planning board will circulate a draft transmittal letter to members before sending the capital recommendation to the mayor. The board’s recommendations for zoning and ZBA matters will be included in zoning and appeals records for the next hearing stages.
