Speaker A
This, yes. Have to check in. There's an attendance. No, he hits. Oh, okay. There it is. Okay.
City of Bridgeport Inland Wetlands and Planning & Zoning meeting discussing property developments, approvals, and public hearings on June 29, 2026.
Ask about this video. Answers come from its transcript only — with the timestamp, so you can check them.
Generated from the transcript and can be wrong — check the timestamp.
Key Takeaways
- Multiple property development applications require detailed review and public hearings before approval.
- Power outages can impact municipal meetings, necessitating contingency procedures to ensure orderly conduct.
- Collaboration between city agencies like Inland Wetlands, Planning & Zoning, and Economic Development is critical for urban planning decisions.
- Approval processes include motions, seconds, and votes to ensure democratic decision-making.
- Public transparency and record-keeping, such as attendance and meeting minutes, are essential for municipal governance.
What the video covers
- The City of Bridgeport Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency convened on June 29, 2026, to review multiple property development applications.
- Several single-family dwelling projects were discussed, including those at 100 Vincellet Street, 150 Frenchtown Road, and Michael Street, with some applications accepted for public hearings and others continued for more information.
- A modification to a previously approved utility bridge installation by Southern Connecticut Gas Company was approved with prior conditions.
- The meeting included procedural notes about power outages at City Hall, with contingency plans for voting and meeting adjournment if power was lost.
- Minutes from the April 26 meeting were approved during the session.
- The Planning & Zoning Commission introduced members and moved into executive session to discuss the disposition of properties at 157 and 171 Golden Hill Street.
- An 8-24 referral petition from the Office of Planning and Economic Development was presented, requesting a favorable recommendation for the disposition of said properties.
- The meeting emphasized transparency and public participation, with motions and votes recorded for each agenda item.
- The session concluded with adjournment and transition to the Planning and Zoning meeting.
Chapters
- 00:00Meeting Opening and Attendance
- 01:00Review of Single-Family Dwelling Application at 100 Vincellet Street
- 07:00Approval of Utility Bridge Modification at Griffin Avenue
- 10:00Discussion and Continuation of 150 Frenchtown Road Application
- 13:00Continuation of Michael Street Single-Family Dwelling Application
- 15:00Approval of April Meeting Minutes and Meeting Adjournment
- 16:00Planning & Zoning Meeting Introduction and Executive Session
- 17:008-24 Referral Petition for 157 and 171 Golden Hill Street
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
No, I'm going to start. All right. I'm on the wrong agenda. Helps to have, helps to have the right agenda, right, Mom?
Speaker A
The City of Bridgeport Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency will come to order. It is Monday, June 29th at 6:05 p.m. The first order of business is to introduce the members seated tonight. To my far right
Speaker A
is Ali Akbar, Caesar Gado, um, Vice Chair Bob Morton, myself, Chairman Mel Riley. Um, to my left is, uh, Secretary um, Bob Felote and Johanna Doran.
Speaker A
All right, we can call the first item, please. Um, we’re using this agenda from the newspaper with just Michael Street on it.
Speaker A
We’re using this one. All right. Sorry. Um, first item on the agenda, IW26-06, 100 Vincellet Street of Mustafa Umar, the construction of a single-family dwelling.
Speaker A
Yes. Hi, good evening. Good evening. I’m Kate Throchmorton, Matt Pop’s partner at Environmental Land Solutions. Matt is away this week, so I’m here to fill in. Uh, this is a project of Vincellet 100 and Vincellet Street. It’s on for an acceptance. Uh,
Speaker A
we have some basic information, but we’re going to be looking for some more information. Uh, it is right adjacent to the Horse Tavern Brook. Um, we suggest uh that we get, we’ll write a staff report with some specifics on the
Speaker A
information that’s missing and we suggest that it go to a public hearing. Public hearing. Okay.
Speaker A
Sure. Anything you’d like to add this evening? Uh, no. No more. All right. Thank you.
Speaker A
Should we vote? Yeah, we’ll vote. Oh, let me read the disclaimer wherever I put it.
Speaker A
Yeah, this one. No, I have a disclaimer about the, we have lost power a couple of times today.
Speaker A
So, I have a disclaimer here that I have since buried. Due to multiple outages in this in City Hall today, there is a possibility that power could be interrupted during this evening’s meeting. If the power is lost and cannot be restored promptly, the
Speaker A
meeting will be adjourned and any remaining applications will be continued to a future meeting date. To minimize the impact of potential interruptions, the commission will vote on each application immediately after the public hearing for that application has concluded rather
Speaker A
than waiting until the end of the agenda. This will allow each matter to be completed before moving on to the next item whenever possible. We appreciate your understanding and apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused by the circumstances. Thank you.
Speaker A
And let the minute show that Soledad Nunes has joined the meeting. Okay.
Speaker A
Um, do I have a motion to ex to oppositions on this? No, it’s just for acceptance.
Speaker A
Okay. So, we just want to make a motion to accept for a public hearing.
Speaker A
Okay. I make a motion to accept for a public hearing. Do I have a second?
Speaker A
It was already seconded. Oh, who? Um, oh, I’m sorry. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed?
Speaker A
It’s accepted for a public hearing for our July meeting. Okay. Next item on the agenda, IW26-0470 Griffin Avenue and Southern Connecticut Gas Company for a modification of a previously approved utility bridge install.
Speaker A
Good evening again. Kon for the record. Uh, again, this is a gas utility crossing of Island Brook. Uh, this has previously been approved. Uh, they decided that it needed to be modified, but we would recommend that it be
Speaker A
approved with the same conditions as it was previously approved. Okay, that simple. Thank you.
Speaker A
Motion? No, no, no. This is to approve. Approve. I make a motion to—Ali makes a motion to approve. I second.
Speaker A
Okay, you second. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? No. Pardon me. Ali. Ali Akbar.
Speaker A
Next item. The motion carries. Okay. No, I’m sorry. Yeah. Next item on the agenda, IW26-05, 150 Frenchtown Road, uh, of Mustafa Umar to construct a new single-family dwelling.
Speaker A
Same one, different one. Yeah. Same builder, different house, same person. Uh, good evening. Uh, this is a similar house on Lake Forest. Uh, we are looking for some additional information that is missing on the application. I
Speaker A
think we spoke to staff. Um, we’d suggested this get postponed. Um, there’s a steep slope drop off of the off of the road and it’s not clear exactly where the shoreline is. So there we’re looking for more information on this.
Speaker A
Okay. Well, we will continue this until [clears throat] next month for a public hearing.
Speaker A
Um, do I have a motion? Motion to continue for a public hearing. Did you get that, Nick?
Speaker A
All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? Will be heard in July. Okay. Next item.
Speaker A
IW26-0320 Michael Street of VNL Properties LLC to construct a single-family dwelling. Uh, good evening. This is another single-family dwelling. Uh, similarly on a brook, uh, we are, uh, I think we’ve already—the applicant has already suggested a
Speaker A
postponement. We have given them some suggested information that we need. Uh, again, uh, wetlands line, top of bed of banks. Uh, this is a disturbed lot and we need some clarification on the, uh, the material that’s on here today.
Speaker A
Okay. Thank you. Do I have a motion to continue? Soledad makes a motion to continue.
Speaker A
Second. Bob Morton. All in favor? I. The motion will be—the item will be continued until our July meeting.
Speaker A
Uh, there’s no other, no other business. We do have, um, since we’ve already made the decisions, um, is there any other business that should rightly come before the commission? April minutes? Do we have, do we have enough for April
Speaker A
26? Let’s see. I’m looking at the Ali, Bob, Johanna, me. Yeah, we have enough.
Speaker A
One, two, three, four, five. We have, we have enough. Okay. Will someone make a motion to approve the minutes? If they—Ali, will do. I have a second?
Speaker A
Do I have a second to approve the minutes? I’ll second. Second. Really? You can’t.
Speaker A
The secretary, you can’t. Johanna, he can’t. He’s the secretary. He can’t approve the minutes.
Speaker A
All right. Thank you, Johanna. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? No. The minutes carry.
Speaker A
Do I have a motion for adjournment? So moved. Thank you, Bob. Second. I second.
Speaker A
All in favor? I. Meeting adjourned. We can now go right into planning and zoning since it is 6:15.
Speaker A
June 29th. The June 29th agenda. Yes. Um, yes. All right. What are you looking for?
Speaker A
Yes, he is. All right. Um, our first sort of inter business tonight is to introduce the members seated. To my far right is Soledad Nunes, Ali Akbar, Caesar Gado, Robert Wharton, vice chair, myself, Chairman Mel Riley. To my left
Speaker A
is Bob Feld, secretary and Johanna Dorgan. The first order of business this evening is we’re going into executive session to discuss, um, the City Council disposition of 157 and 171 Golden Hill Street. So we will go into executive session and be
Speaker A
back shortly. Thank you. Somebody help roll in this 8-24 referral. Um, the next thing I’d like to do is just read this brief statement, um, so everyone’s aware what’s going on.
Speaker A
Due to the multiple power outages at City Hall today, there is a possibility that power could be interrupted during this evening’s meeting. If the power is lost and cannot be restored promptly, the meeting will likely be adjourned and
Speaker A
any remaining applications will be continued to a future meeting date. To minimize the impact of potential interruption, the commission will vote on each application immediately after the public hearing for that application has concluded rather than waiting until the end of the agenda. This will allow
Speaker A
each matter to be completed before moving on to the next item whenever possible. We appreciate your understanding, apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused by the circumstances beyond our control. So, thank you. All right, first item, please. Next item on the agenda 8-24,
Speaker A
referral petition of the Office of Planning and Economic Development, OPED, requesting under section 8-24 of the Connecticut State Connecticut General Statute, a favorable recommendation to the City Council for the disposition of 157 and 171 Golden Hill Street.
Speaker A
Good afternoon, Commissioner. How are you? Good, good. So, I’m here. I’m asking for
Speaker A
uh probably try to put in 74 units. 20% of that will be affordable. So I'm asking you for uh the approval, positive vote. Uh so a developer would combine the lots make the developer would combine the lots combine the lots
Speaker A
and make one lot and the proposal is to build 74 residential units 24 of which you said 74 units he's hoping to get.
Speaker A
Okay. And how many um 20% 20% of that be will be affordable affordable housing. Okay. All right.
Speaker A
Thank you. That's pretty straightforward. Any questions? Any questions? Any Would anyone like to speak in favor of this referral?
Speaker A
Anyone opposed? Okay, step forward. How are you, commissioners? I'm Maria Pereira. uh repres I I represent the 138 district, but I'm concerned about this LDA and I'm assuming that all of you have read the proposed land development agreement for these parcels. And if I
Speaker A
can, I just like to paid for them over years ago. I should say Everybody should have 157 and 171 because they are two parts. You guys Thank you.
Speaker A
Let me, if I can, I'd like to explain to you why I'm concerned. These were purchased by the city of Bridgeport.
Speaker A
They were not acquired through a foreclosure. And 157 Golden Hill Street was purchased in 1999 for $82,000.
Speaker A
And I hope you would all agree that any parcel has gone through the roof its value over the last 20 to 22 years. By the way, if you look, it is only 0.05 acres. Okay? It's And if you've not went
Speaker A
gone to look at the lots, they're right across from the Golden Hill Courthouse. And they're very small and they're kind of slender. There's not a lot of depth to them. Okay. 171 Golden Hill Street.
Speaker A
Taxpayers paid $450,000 for it in 2000. Again, we just saw property values go up 60%. Just in the reval, you know, overwhelmingly the the land agreement wants to sell it both parcels for $250,000 and taxpayers paid $432,000 for these
Speaker A
parcels over 20 years ago. So that to me just makes absolutely no sense. And one parcel, as I said, is 05. The other one's.16 acres. I just am trying to understand how 74 units are being built on this.
Speaker A
I'm clearly guesstimating there would be zero parking, which is already crazy as you know, around Golden Hill uh uh courthouse. Um, and my issue is really, how did taxpayers pay [clears throat] $532,000 for these parcels between 20 and 22
Speaker A
years ago? Again, these were not foreclosures. Apparently, we have something called the Bridgeport Reevelopment Agency, which is like a city private entity where they're they spend money to buy parcels. And um I just think we always have to be
Speaker A
conscious of the very overburdened taxpayer in Pitchport. And if we pay 532,000 for it 20 and 22 years ago and we know no property and we're saying right now that if we sell it for the 250 that the properties have depreciated by
Speaker A
53%. In the last 2022 years give me any parcel in Bushport that's depreciated by 53% in the last 2022 years at minimum. Shouldn't we at least get what taxpayers have paid for it after 20 22 years of increased values? I
Speaker A
think it's a disservice to the people that we represent. And I also it's so these lots are 0.5 and 16 and we're building 74 units on it and a very highly traffic. You know, Golden Hill Street, you ever go by there in the
Speaker A
morning? It's crazy. I just It's for those reasons that I oppose it. I'm not.
Speaker A
And I also want to tell you 80% of AMI is not affordable. Unfortunately, they use Fairfield County's average medium income. If you don't know what that is, it's 101,000 a year. Do you know what Bridgeport's average median income is?
Speaker A
56,000. So when they're saying they're affordable, they're basing it on Fairfield County's AMI of 101 grand.
Speaker A
That is not the average income of Bridgeport. And so is it really affordable? No. But you're using Fairfield County's number and we should do everything in Bridgeport, I think, on Bridgeport's average median income, which is 56,000.
Speaker A
And then you would do a percentage of the 56,000. The HUD says no more than 30% of any human being's income should go to rent or a mortgage and utilities.
Speaker A
when you're using Fairfield County's AMI of 100, which includes Westport and Darianne and Eastston and Stanford, right? They're going to say, "Okay, 30% of 101,000 is considered affordable." And that is not affordable by Bridgeport Standards.
Speaker A
And we can do better in these agreements. I've never voted for a single tax break in the city of Bridgeport because we're not doing what's right by the people we represent.
Speaker A
We do a lot for developers who don't live here, who don't you know, they they're here to make money. I get it. But there should be a give and take. Um especially when we're giving city-owned property that Bridgeport taxpayer paid for. And by the
Speaker A
way, who's maintained that property for 22 years? Cutting it, taking care of it. Who's done that? Bridgeport taxpayers.
Speaker A
So, it's why I'm in opposed to it. I want affordable housing, but 30% selling somebody 30% of 101,000 is affordable. That means somebody's making 80 grand a year. The average median income in Bridgeport is 56,000.
Speaker A
So, thank you for those. Anyone else? Rebuttal. Pardon me. No, we already did in favor.
Speaker A
Rebuttal. Can I Can I guess please? Are you going to rebut instead of Mr.
Speaker A
Perez? Excuse me. We only got one rebuttal. So, are you going to rebut instead of Mr. Perez?
Speaker A
I am I am rebuttling what the council woman just spoke about in instead of Mr. Perez. You only got one rebuttal.
Speaker A
Not Mr. Perez. I'm the city councilman with this property is being You only got We're only on rebuttal. You get one rebuttal. Mr. Perez can rebut or you can rebut, but no, not both of you.
Speaker A
No rebuttal. Okay. Thank you. I'm we're we're not here to discuss sale price of real estate. We're here to discuss uh the zone whether or not this is something that you guys should be doing. I don't think the committee should be concerned
Speaker A
on sale price or not sale price. We're here only to talk about that is true.
Speaker A
The zoning has [clears throat] nothing to do with the price of cabbage. We are only concerned.
Speaker A
We never said that. So why even talk about it? Well, she because she's rebuting someone who said it.
Speaker A
Yeah. So, I you know, I heard a lot. We we do have an appraisal. We are going to sell for appraisal value. Will be in front of the city council um very soon uh in front of contracts and economic
Speaker A
committee. At that time, the city council will make their recommend whether [clears throat] they agree or disagree with our sale price. The councilman from this district, this is Mr. Cruz has met with the developer uh and has he has no problem with this
Speaker A
happening in his backyard in his and my colleague and Denise Taylor more. So both council people have met with the developer. They're happy with the transaction and they're happy with what's going to happen uh uh in the district.
Speaker A
All right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. The matter is see no other well the matter is closed. Um discussion a motion.
Speaker A
I think it fits into the master plan. Okay. So that's a motion to approve.
Speaker A
Yes. I'll second that. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? The A24 is approved. Next item on the agenda, uh C126-06 156164 DeForest Avenue. Petition of Dr.
Speaker A
Joan Miller seeking a special permit in a site plan approval to operate a smallcale educational urban farm on on a 0.23 acre property in an NX2 zone.
Speaker A
Good evening. Um, the last time I was here, this has been um postponed to today. I'm not sure what else I can say.
Speaker A
Name and address. Yes, please. Name and address. My name is Joan Miller. The address is 156-164 DeForest Avenue in Bridgeport.
Speaker A
Okay. As I remember last time there was some controversy over um not the farm so much as the um chickens and how many chickens you were allowed and how many chickens you had.
Speaker A
That's no longer an issue. Um all right, that's why we're that's why we're back. Please explain.
Speaker A
How is that no longer an issue? Ah, so the chickens have been donated. The everything has been taken down. the health department has been there and has signed off their case is closed, whatever they had open as well as the
Speaker A
um animal control. So there's no longer an issue there. Okay. So there's no chickens.
Speaker A
No chickens. Okay. And I guess as I recollect that was the issue that the neighbors had and we have anyone else have. So they won't be right no animal, no livestock.
Speaker A
Okay. Just a garden. All right. I think it's fine. All right. Anyone have any anything else?
Speaker A
Would anyone like to speak in favor of this project? Is anyone opposed? Step forward, please.
Speaker A
Good evening. Um, Councilwoman Anita Martinez. I represent the 139th district, which is the district that this um, permit is being seek for. I am not against it as long as it is going to be a garden. The application and under the
Speaker A
listing still states urban educational urban farm. So perhaps that is something that may need to be rectified through zoning and corrections to be made. If it is only a gardening portion on the acre of land, we're in total favor of it. Totally against an
Speaker A
urban farm. Well, we we can always put a condition on that there be no livestock.
Speaker A
Okay. Thank you so much. So, we are in favor of an educational garden. The applicant has agreed to. So, thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you so much. Yes.
Speaker A
That it against rebuttal if you need one. [laughter] Okay. Thank you. The matter is closed.
Speaker A
Do I have a motion? I make a motion. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead.
Speaker A
Motion to approve with condition. Thank you, Mr. Morton. Do I have a second? I second. With the conditions.
Speaker A
Okay. Johanna. Noto. No livestock. Just garden. Just garden. Okay. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed?
Speaker A
Motion carries. Thank you everyone. Next item on the agenda 26-08, 11018 Congress Street, petition of Jonathan Gonzalez seeking a site plan approval and coastal site plan approval for the construction of a mixeduse 22story building in the DX2 zone and
Speaker A
coastal area. [cough] H [laughter] good evening. Good evening. Good evening members of the commission.
Speaker A
Um my name is Luke Morrow. I'm a professional engineer with Soleie Engineering Office of 501 Main Street in Monroe, Connecticut. here tonight representing the applicant who's Jonathan Gonzalez for a coastal site plan application approval for a mixeduse development at 110 to 118 Congress
Speaker A
Street. And I do have uh a butters notices green cards to hand in tonight.
Speaker A
So, a brief presentation. I'll try to keep it brief. I know you guys have a lot of items on the agenda tonight. Um, and I do have a presentation if anybody wants to kind of follow on screen. Uh,
Speaker A
so very briefly, um, site's located in pink in the middle of the screen. It's the northwest corner of Congress Street and Husatonic A. It's in the DX2, which is the downtown support district. Um, it's bound by on the west side's a small
Speaker A
parking lot and a vacant building. North side, uh, it's a vacant grass lot. Uh, east side is Husatonic Avenue and your fire headquarters. And then the south side is Congress Street and another vacant lot.
Speaker A
Um, existing conditions. Um, not much to show here. Pretty much the whole lot is developed uh with a building. There's a small loading area uh with access off of Congress Street on the south side of the property. And there's also doors to
Speaker A
enter the facility also located uh on the south uh south side along Congress Street. Uh it's a three-story building.
Speaker A
There are no wetlands located on the property. However, it is located within the FEMA 1% annual chance flood plane flood plane which is also the 100-year flood plane. And that's with a base flood elevation of 12 ft. The existing
Speaker A
building itself is at finished floor 11.6. So, under current FEMA um uh measurements, it's actually located below uh the flood plane elevation in its current state. Um we did submit a CAM application with a bunch of supporting materials. Um I believe you
Speaker A
all have site plans, reports, application forms, narratives, etc. Um the CAM application does indicate there's only one coastal resource located on the property. That's the coastal hazard area, which is the FEMA 1% annual chance flood plane. Um, just
Speaker A
to repeat so it's clear, the following coastal resources are not located on the property. Beaches, dunes, bluffs, escarments, coastal waters, developed shorefront, freshland waters, uh, wetlands and water courses, intertitle flats, islands, rocky shorefronts, um, uh, shorelands or tidal wetlands.
Speaker A
All of those coastal resources are not located on or immediately adjacent to the property. It is just the FEMA 1% annual coastal flood plane.
Speaker A
Um as such that's the only uh applicable item um that was kind of um addressed as part of our CAM report.
Speaker A
Well, he also states, "Therefore, we recommend that the commission condition any approval of the proposal to require the applicant to bribe this means of dry access egress as well as evacuation plan for building residents to follow the event of a flood.
Speaker A
Yeah, I'm going to get into site and grading and I'll and I'll address that as very just very briefly. Yep. So, the project itself uh site plans on the screen. It's 22tory mixeduse building.
Speaker A
Uh the bottom uh the footprint is just over 10,700 ft. Uh the total area is about 234,000 ft over 22 stories. Bottom two floors are going to be a mix of commercial tenants, uh little bodega, little supermarket, uh uh hair salon or barber
Speaker A
shop, stuff like that, and also some amenities for the tenants. The top floors from 3 to 22 will be a mix of 305 studio, one bed, and twobedroom units.
Speaker A
There is a one-way circulation drive uh shown on the site plan. um that would be off of Husatonic A counterclockwise um pattern to a loading area located on the west side of the building. Uh garbage uh refuge area in the form of a
Speaker A
compactor would also be located there away from the street um for aesthetic reasons and then also four parking spaces provided for um maintenance vehicles on site as needed. Um, access to the building will be provided. A little bit difficult to see, but you'll
Speaker A
see all these little triangles located along the building frontages. So, there's three uh sets of double doors down to a uh that'll lead to an outdoor staircase to Husatonic Avenue. Um, three sets of doors in the south facade
Speaker A
that'll have like a little terrace level above Congress Street with a retaining wall um for access via stairs and also ADA access to Congress Street. and then also two sets of doors um to the supermarket area and then um the utility
Speaker A
rooms in the back. So um as as part of our design, the building has been raised to a finished floor of 13, which is 1 ft above the FEMA flood plane elevation of 12. Uh it's good practice. It's also, I
Speaker A
believe, a requirement um in the city of Bridgeport. So, our our grading and our storm water management design uh was was specifically uh done to get this building outside of the flood plane um and and basically floodproof it um uh
Speaker A
for the future. Um the drainage itself has been designed in compliance with the city of Bridgeport storm water management manual in the 2024 Connecticut storm water quality manual.
Speaker A
Um I mentioned the finished floor. Uh I did it uh as you had mentioned chairman there was a condition of approval recommended by both uh town uh city staff and also deep um that the building provide a dry means of egress for
Speaker A
residents. I will note that all the doors on the south facade would be at finished floor 13. the doors on the west facade also at finished floor 13 that provide both uh an ADA ramp uh means of egress to the public right away and also
Speaker A
a stair as well. So all those doors do provide and they the current design does provide a dry means of egress for residents and any business patrons that would be in the building. and in the event of a flood um they could proceed
Speaker A
west along Congress Street to higher ground further outside of the flood plane. Um also one of the conditions was that the applicant provide a detailed evacuation plan for residents. Um something they would get when they move in so they know
Speaker A
which doors they should use in the event of a flood. Um we have no problem doing that and I believe it's going to be required as part of building permit review anyway and I'm sure FEMA and their review is going to require
Speaker A
something to that effect. we have no no problems providing that also as a condition uh of approval. Um just a few matters in terms of of drainage design and the storm water management um as it applies to the coastal uh uh area
Speaker A
resources regulations. Um the design itself brings an existing non-compliant building uh into a compliant building because we're raising the finished floor from 11.6 to 13. So we'll be instead of 5 in below flood plane will be a foot
Speaker A
above flood plane. Um the state reviewed it. I believe their only comment was for the dry means of egress. Um and then for the um for the emergency evacuation plan for the residents which I said we have no problem doing. Um the development
Speaker A
itself in terms of storm water management, it does result in a decrease in impervious area on the site. And we're also putting in underground detention chambers and uh other storm water quality mechanisms. So not only are we reducing the amount of storm
Speaker A
water runoff from the site, we're also improving the water quality. So while there are no um title resources directly adjacent to the property, they are in the vicinity and ultimately uh it should have a net uh positive impact on the
Speaker A
coastal area resources uh nearby the site itself. Um there's an underground detention system, 25 chambers. It's designed um in in in uh in accordance with the latest uh Connecticut storm water quality manual. So there's certain amount of volume we need to hold on site
Speaker A
and recharge the first 1.3 in of rain. The system has been sized accordingly to handle that and I believe it's been reviewed uh by engineering. So with that um that's um kind of what's before you tonight in front of as far as the CAM application
Speaker A
goes. Um I do [clears throat] have plans for site and landscaping. I'm not sure um we want to go through those. I certainly can if you will, but it's going to be serviced by public improve um public utility connections within
Speaker A
Husatonic Street. Um areas of the site that aren't paved, we're going to have a mix of native species uh drought resistant planting. So we don't need any um type of irrigation or anything like that. Um if there's any questions, I'm
Speaker A
happy to to answer. I didn't see it anywhere here. I'm just curious, how many parking places you going to have for so 305 apartments plus four parking spaces on site for maintenance vehicles. The regs themselves don't require I understand
Speaker A
parking spaces. Um there is agreements um kind of being made with our developer uh with neighboring property owners to try to secure some land to provide an off-site parking garage.
Speaker A
Uh there's no well there's no there's no parking. There's no as part of this. No, those those applications and I believe there's been conversations with city staff as well with the understanding that's something that needs to be ironed out
Speaker A
but not not part of the can review specifically. So there's no parking provided no parking provided but we're looking at what right now there's no parking provided on the four spots for utility vehicles.
Speaker A
Correct. That is correct. Okay. How many apartments are in the whole building? How many apartments? 305 are proposed.
Speaker A
305 and there's no parking. Six. How is people supposed to get their groceries upstairs without Jonathan? I might call you up to to uh [laughter] uh to help answer some of these questions. But the the question is where
Speaker A
where are the residents going to park? And I I know there's been conversations with I believe the city of Bridgeport owns land to the north. There's been conversations about a potential parking garage there. There's also an owner uh
Speaker A
down the street, I think a block away uh on Congress Street, trying to secure uh rights to build a parking structure there. But if you want to if you want to add anything to that, that's kind of where we stand right now.
Speaker A
Sure. Um we have identify yourself. Jonathan Gonzalez. Sorry. Uh Meridan, Connecticut. Um anything else? Sorry.
Speaker A
Street address. Oh, uh 140 Springland Drive, Meridan, Connecticut 06451. Thank you. Sorry. Um, so yeah, so we were in talks with the city to see if anything about the surrounding area since there's empty parking lot across the street and behind us. Um, but in the
Speaker A
meantime to address any parking even though we don't need it by right, but at the same token, we have been accommodating that. We have a property up the block that it's not so much just in talks where once we close this
Speaker A
building, we're going to acquire that one. Um, I'm sure you guys are familiar with the property. is the one that's across the street from the police station. It's currently being leased by the police station. So, that the lease
Speaker A
is going to be up soon and that's that would be phase two of what we're trying to do. So, our idea would be to do a multi-level parking garage there and obviously have these guys design that aspect and we'll be in front of you
Speaker A
guys. That was kind of be a phase two in a sense. We're hoping that the city works with us with the property behind us before we have to do that one because I rather not do a fourle with
Speaker A
residential on top, maybe two with residential on top. But if we aren't able to work anything out with the city to acquire land on either side, we have some parking up the block that we plan on working on as well.
Speaker A
First floor retail would be street parking only too, right? parking. Sorry, say that. Any handicap parking available?
Speaker A
Um, I'm not sure. Uh, we had it previously. We had to readjust um because we had to allow for emergency access around the building. Um, but I'm sure that's something we can put in the front. Um, opposed to I mean, is there
Speaker A
on-site on street parking? I'm not sure. Uh, there I don't I'm not sure. It's It's not ADA compliant if there is. So, Um, considering there's no public parking, there's I don't want to say there's not a need, but by code, if
Speaker A
there's no public parking, we need ADA. But if we do provide a garage with 200 spaces, then I believe you require at least six parking spaces for something like 200. Then we'd be under ADA code and we we'd be required to provide the
Speaker A
amount of the minimum amount of ADA required for public. How much retail space? how much office space and how much rental space.
Speaker A
So, it's in schematic design level, but um this is a breakdown and because I'm sure we can't read all these numbers, I can give you an idea.
Speaker A
Um so, orange at the top, uh identified as a likely a grocery tenant about 4,700 square ft. Um just to the right of that um the purple on the right hand side a pharmacy tenant of just under 700 square
Speaker A
feet. Uh a bank or a financial tenant in green. Another uh 700 or so square feet.
Speaker A
Uh excuse me. Quiet please. Uh cafe tenant in pink on the bottom right corner. Uh 785 square ft. Uh deli it's in the brown on the bottom left.
Speaker A
That's about 560 square ft. a barber shop in yellow about 780 square feet. So those would all be um leasable leased spaces to commercial and those are suggested use.
Speaker A
Those are Yes. We have to go through a complete building design in formal site plan review with the town for that.
Speaker A
And you don't have tenants for those? We no tenants identified quite yet. Yep. And then uh just quickly, so the second level shown on the lefth hand side um that's a gym and a theater. Yellow and orange. I believe those would be
Speaker A
reserved for likely people, you know, tenants within the building, not a public movie theater. Um those are about 2500 and about um 1,000 square feet respectively. You got a game room um at the top uh in pink about 1,200 square f
Speaker A
feet and then uh a chapel some shared office space uh so the chapel's in brown bottom left uh therapy room 600 square f feet on the bottom uh bottom left in green a community room about 1,200 square feet in purple and then some
Speaker A
shared office space about 1,750 square feet which might be leasable and also used by you know the uh the leasing company as So second level mostly amenities for people in the building.
Speaker A
[clears throat] Bottom level is more street level commercial retail type of stuff and then everything above that is residential.
Speaker A
Do you think this is too intense for that area? I was told we can go 35 stories. I just stopped at 22.
Speaker A
Well, you could go 100 stories. You do what you want to do. But I mean it's only a little piece of I mean if you wanted something smaller but yeah but I don't want anything. I'm just I hear that
Speaker A
trying to figure out how all this is going to happen. Yeah. I have a question. Did you guys did a traffic analysis based on this that you want to have 300 units and also plus all these commercial?
Speaker A
Turn. It's over here. He's she's on. Oh, you can hear me. Okay. So, did you guys have like a traffic analysis for this? How congested this possibly could be having commercial and all these units? when you have clients coming in, you also have the
Speaker A
employees, you have the residents, you have visitors. So, so in so in terms of cam review, uh traffic analysis isn't required and I'm not using that as a copout, but part of the answer is we have to figure out
Speaker A
where parking is going to be located before we can do a full traffic study.
Speaker A
So, that's part of administrative site plan review where engineering, planning, and zoning, police will do their detailed review. It's not part of CAM application.
Speaker A
So, so to answer your question is yes, we have to provide a traffic study. We have to identify where the parking facilities will be located. That'll be reviewed by the the planning and zoning and engineering staff as part of
Speaker A
administrative site plan review. But it hasn't been done currently. You haven't done that. It it hasn't been completed yet because it's not required for camp. This is just this is just for camp. This is just for coastal area.
Speaker A
All right. And the police department is is about like a block away from this location.
Speaker A
Right up the block, right? Okay. And you guys have the part the with the police department they park at.
Speaker A
You also have access to that property for parking. What you said about that? So they currently they're leasing the propert.
Speaker A
Oh, they're leasing to that I would say. build that's the same concept we're trying to do it we're still trying to do on it similar proposals to them if they want but this is just like a hypothesis like
Speaker A
you guessing a possibility app something that is concrete possibility with the city. So the city's a possibility parking lot but we have been working with them in the sense that they have noted that there was parking needed when
Speaker A
they passing that park. So we are responsible with that. something constraining like that then that's something they would have I offered you know ourselves uh so I have submitted something to show that okay thank you but just you know for what it's it is
Speaker A
compliant right in terms of density and parking it is compliant with the regulations right so I understand while there's uh a want or a need by regul ation. It's not required, but we are looking to provide the parking as
Speaker A
we I understand compliance, but let's say you're putting an office building there, you put a house building there, you need parking.
Speaker A
You still need parking. I mean, it's there's no argument about that. Just the traffic that comes off the connector there that goes by there just to try to get past all this other traffic. And that's another thing. You don't have a
Speaker A
traffic study. Yeah. There's a lot of stuff here missing that, you know, we should have more information.
Speaker A
Well, understood. But I This is a coastal area site plan application. This is a coastal area site plan.
Speaker A
Yeah. So, and it's a flood zone. It's it's it's hazardous. Yeah. But we're we're that's why we're raising the billing above the flood zone elevation. We we off we have a letter of that's all we're doing.
Speaker A
I mean, we we have a letter of approval essentially from the state saying as long as there's dry means of egress, they don't have concerns, which we do.
Speaker A
Right. All right. and and under understood and and documented your concerns, but I'm sure when we get through planning and zoning and engineering, we're going to have to address these items because we understand 300 residents need somewhere to park.
Speaker A
Okay. Understood. Anything else on coastal [snorts] is it? This is here for a coastal.
Speaker A
Yeah. And also for for what it's one step in the process, right? Jonathan's going through and he's got, you know, due diligence periods and stuff. We have to show progress so we can make sure this is still a viable project. So,
Speaker A
we need, you know, we're moving forward with approvals. It's going to be iterative. We're not digging a hole tomorrow. It's going to take some time to get funding in place and we need a lot more permits from the city to get
Speaker A
through. This is the first step. We understand that. So, okay. Would anyone like to speak in favor of this?
Speaker A
Is anyone opposed? Step forward, please. This is going to make downtown try to restrain yourself from mentioning parking because we parking is not our issue.
Speaker A
You can talk about it but as we could talk about safety though. Yeah, let's stop talking about 305 units that can potentially have over 600 residents, right? If each unit has just two people.
Speaker A
Okay. How about people with physical disabilities? How about veterans? We're talking about you're gonna have a massive issue. You have all this groundf flooror retail. We just heard about a big supermarket. I don't know how many of you shop in the supermarket and uh
Speaker A
you don't have any way to get your groceries home, but you're going to have double parking. It's going to be crazy because it's not just 305 units. We can just look at two per unit that you are creating a safety issue. You have and
Speaker A
then I just heard people can walk up a hill a block away where they might get some parking. And we got the police station here. We got the fire station here. We have the Geds uh development right there on the corner that didn't
Speaker A
have adequate parking. What are we doing? Because And I also want to know, we know the tallest building in Bridgeport is the MIT Bank, right? MT Bank. Mnt Mnt at 18 floors. I have two buildings in my district that are 10
Speaker A
floors, seniors, disabled one, whatever. I'd like to know what has been done to coordinate with the emergency services in the city. Do we have fire apparatus that if there was an emergency in this 22 floor building that people would be
Speaker A
able to be rescued? I think these are important questions. Uh we don't have anything that's ever been 22 floors that I know of in this city. So I I think these things need to be vetted. Uh excellent. I mean you have the root the
Speaker A
connectors right there and I think this could be a real safety issue on a number of fronts. Now I did want to tell you that when I was looking at the application I noticed it was submitted by Jonathan Gonzalez
Speaker A
and he's not the property owner. Okay. So then I looked lower down. And if you look at the first page, it was endorsed by the property owner. Just so you know, I pulled, you know me, I'm always looking up stuff. Here's the property
Speaker A
card. This is who owned the property. It's owned by Northeast Film Storage LLC. And so I looked it up on the secretary website. And there's only two principles.
Speaker A
Oh, so yeah, because the first is the pro the the vision appraisal of the property.
Speaker A
And then you have to look up who's that LLC. Okay. and the LLC. There are two principles, but it's not his applicant. It's he's endor he's endorsed it. My understanding is that this gentleman here, this is who owns
Speaker A
that parcel, um, is look looking to get financing. And so the property has not been sold to him until So I'm trying to understand how somebody could have one of the biggest projects in my 17 years since I've been a public
Speaker A
servant and they're not the owner of the parcel. Although you can see on the very bottom of your application, Apparently, one of the principal has endorsed the application, but I thought only the property owner could could submit an application. Am I that's where my I
Speaker A
thought that was the the statute and I thought I don't I thought that that would not only not somebody looking to purchase the property. That would never be tolerated and let's say Strapper if you don't own the parcel,
Speaker A
you know. So, um, and you can see right at the bottom, I just caught this when I was here. The owner has endorsed it, but it's not his application.
Speaker A
So, I just think there's a lot of concerns. I loved, um, M. Caesars, Commissioner Caesar's remarks. We You need a traffic study for sure. You're going to do all retail on the first floor. So, those people need parking,
Speaker A
right? You're not all going to be downtown shoppers. Remember the grocery store we had downtown that went out of business quickly? So I just need I think you guys need a lot more information and I am concerned about the safety aspect
Speaker A
especially having now what would be the tallest structure in the city and not with bank workers with people who will cook there who will sleep there who will light candles. I mean these these things need to be considered and that's I I ask
Speaker A
you to do your due diligence around that. Thank you. Anyone else? Councilwoman Anita Martinez, represent the 139th district. Um, as a committee member to contract and as a member of economic and community development, this here has not come before us. I have to
Speaker A
say whether or not the contract for the police department parking lot is up for renewal or not, it doesn't give anyone the right or the opportunity to look forward to take um in in thought that that property can be theirs for
Speaker A
development. I think this is a a very busy area. Um we have um Straville apartments there with the senior housing and if you all drive through there during the daytime the traffic is horrendous over there there's actually no parking. We also have Golden Hill
Speaker A
Courthouse where people go to court there's no parking. We have um Connecticut Renaissance in the same strip no parking. I mean there's a lot of areas a lot of buildings in that area where parking is actually needed. Um and
Speaker A
I'm going to sentiment the same thing as my council colleague. I also looked to see who the owner was and it doesn't look like the actual owner of this property was the submitter of the application which I myself believe that
Speaker A
the actual owner has to submit the application because this property hasn't been sold yet and the city of Bridgeport hasn't even received anything to vote on for demolishing approval of this property. Thank you.
Speaker A
Thank you. just the coastal. Yes. Ernie Newton, 139th district, president promp of the city council.
Speaker A
I've seen a lot of things in my day, but this one takes the cake. [laughter] How could you come here and give a proposal not on the property?
Speaker A
Whole lot of answers have to be answered by the city council. I don't understand how it even how you all are even listening to it because the city hasn't made no agreements to sell no property for parking nothing like that to even be involved in
Speaker A
it. So I would have thought the first place I would have bought the property if I'm so serious.
Speaker A
Second thing, I would have came to the city council with economic development to lay out their plan.
Speaker A
That's the process. They put the horse before the cart before the horse to come here to get you all to approve something that they haven't done their due diligence and doing it the right way. and I will be in touch with our economic
Speaker A
development team tomorrow to read them the right act because this shouldn't even be before you. Thank you.
Speaker A
Thank you. Uh again, my name is uh George Cruz uh city council member the 131st district with this property is being proposed. I just want to say that uh address please.
Speaker A
Excuse me. Address please. Oh, 249 Black Rock Avenue in Bridgeport. Um, I stood up here earlier in in support of this and I still support it. I'm just very very uh all the things that I've here the extras. That's not anything
Speaker A
that I had heard of and my colleague I'm sure she did not hear of. Uh, this needs to be further discussed. I would ask to table this and leave it for another day. We need some more serious information before we
Speaker A
proceed with this, before this come to the council. We don't want this to look like a Barnum and Bailey circus. Uh we want to make sure that whatever we we discuss and vote on is going to benefit the community. But all these other extra
Speaker A
across the street and all around area, it caught me off guard. So I would ask that uh this be table for today. Thank you.
Speaker A
Thank you. Good evening. Janette Herren, City Council President, 133rd District, 202 Arlington Street. I know Jonathan, I've talked to him. We've had a lot of good conversations. So has the council. This project is not feasible. When you start
Speaker A
to hear that, oh, it's compliant. If you want to build a property that's going to hold 350 people, 22 stories, you have to think about parking. I had Testo's restaurant in my district. We stopped it from being built. The owner lost the the
Speaker A
funding and two years later he didn't have the funding. Now it's starting to be built cuz he had to get a partner. We don't want to continue to have parking lots in our city. We want these lots built, but we can't have it done like
Speaker A
this. And I think we can have those conversations to move forward right now. I don't think is feasible anyway. I don't agree with my colleague to table and I think to stop it and then let them come back with
Speaker A
the right information. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Robboto. Someone else. Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, hello. Good evening, Councilwoman Kayla Medina, 64 Core A, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Um, I echo all of my colleagues um words. One of the biggest
Speaker A
things that I was thinking about as as well was if we're going to have a parking lot a block away, that excludes the elderly. That excludes people in wheelchairs. They can't they can't pull themselves up that hill. Um but then
Speaker A
also there'll be no handicap um parking for them in the front, in the back, on the side, wherever it may be. Um so I just wanted to say that as uh president said, um I don't think we should table
Speaker A
this. I just think this should be a done deal. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Anybody miss again?
Speaker A
Okay. Now, rebuttal again. Luke Mororrow for the record. Uh just a few few comments uh in rebuttal.
Speaker A
So, uh there was a question about uh police and fire should have reviewed. We did have a staff coordination meeting.
Speaker A
We were given dimensions of a ladder truck. they were submit submitted as part of your packets. So the truck turning templates uh are included in there and there has been at least high level review uh completed with uh other
Speaker A
community services department. Um in terms of the owner uh needing to sign as the applicant um the owner doesn't have an interest in this to develop the property as Jonathan does. Um, if he did, then he would be the applicant for this project.
Speaker A
I think if you think about it, nobody would purchase a property for potentially millions of dollars without doing their doing their due diligence and getting their permits first before they have the option to buy the property. We do hundreds of applications
Speaker A
throughout the state every year. the applicant is almost never the owner because they have an interest in developing it and they're not going to outright buy a property until they know they have the rights to build it and
Speaker A
address it. So, that is actually very common practice in the state of Connecticut and I would assume very common practice in the city of Bridgeport as well. Um, I think we've heard from both the commission um and from council members and the public
Speaker A
there's a concern with parking. Uh it's been noted uh it's documented um we you know reiterate that the city's own zoning regulations do not require a single parking space right we didn't write the regulations um it is code compliant the height 22
Speaker A
stories it's code compliant up to 35 stories as Jonathan had mentioned so you know understanding that it's there's perceived issues with the height of the building, the number of units, the parking spaces, it's compliant with the zoning regulations
Speaker A
that were drafted and adopted, right, by the commission here. So, um that's a matter for, you know, for someone else to determine whether it's they should be revised or not, but I just I think needs to be stated for the record. Um the
Speaker A
parking itself and a traffic study, we've been told at our uh development team meeting, we're going to be required to have to do a traffic study. We're going to have to do that when we, you know, when we're figuring out where the
Speaker A
parking lot is going to be located. In terms of a coastal area management application, I don't believe there's any perview to review parking for this specific application. I think the commission can be rest assured we don't have any ability to do any type of
Speaker A
building, construction, demolition until we get through an administrative review, which has to address emergency management. It has to address building code issues. It has to address parking.
Speaker A
It has to address ADA. It has to address lease issues with other parts properties that need to be all in, you know, all-encompassing. This is the first step of the process and there's funding that has to also be stayed in place. So this
Speaker A
is just the first step in the process where we're just saying or do we have the approval to raise you know construct a new building that's above the flood plane elevation. There's no other coastal resources uh located on the site
Speaker A
and deep agrees with that. Um, so I think I think with that I think um that addresses all the the comments that I wanted to but again for what it's worth as far as a CAM application goes I
Speaker A
believe parking is outside the purview and it will need to be addressed or I know we are not going to get any permits to move this forward from the city of Bridgeport.
Speaker A
Thank you. Thank you for your time. All right. Matters matters closed discussion. Doesn't he does he speak?
Speaker A
Pardon? Um, you don't go. You don't have nothing to say about this. I'm sorry.
Speaker A
I forgot his name. I'm sorry. What is your name? David. David. Doesn't David got to say something about this?
Speaker A
Oh, okay. Oh, I'm sorry. We'll reopen it. [laughter] I got you, baby. I didn't see it.
Speaker A
honestly can't back again anyway. Oh yeah. Good evening, commission. My name is David Codingham. I'm with OPED. Um I understand there's a lot of concerns addressed with this property. I just wanted to make sure that I addressed the
Speaker A
uh decision-m criteria for coastal site plan review. Um per section 11.80.7 80.7 in reviewing and making decisions on coastal site plans and decision-making bodies must evaluate the proposal compliance with all applicable regulations and determine whether the following criteria established in
Speaker A
section 22A-106 of the general statutes have been met. A consistency of the proposed activity with the applicable goals and policies set forth in the in section 22A-92 of the general statutes.
Speaker A
B. Acceptability of the proposed activities potential adverse impacts on coastal resources as defined in section 22A-93 of the general statutes.
Speaker A
C. Acceptability of the proposed activities potential adverse impacts on future water dependent development opportunities as defined in section 22A-93 of the general statutes. And lastly, the uh adequacy of any measures taken to mitigate the adverse impacts of the
Speaker A
proposed activity on coastal resources resources and future water dependent development opportunities. Thank you. Thank you. I think you um cleared that up a bit. This is here for a coastal site plan review, not for a site plan review, simply coastal. So,
Speaker A
does it impact the coastal area? Okay. Discussion. Huh? I'm sorry. Discussion. All discussion. It's only coastal.
Speaker A
It's not a site plan. I make a motion to approve. I'll second that. All in favor?
Speaker A
I. Anyone opposed? Okay. Motion. Two. I'll oppose. You oppose. Your oppos. So, three oppos.
Speaker A
Are you There's two. So, so one two three four. Are you opposed or favor?
Speaker A
Three opposed. He's opposed. I'm in favor. All right. So, three opposed. And how many in favor?
Speaker A
Four. Four. Four. So, the motion does not carry. It doesn't. Pardon me. Is eight. So, it's three.
Speaker A
Oh, it's is it are there already a I think there. Yeah. Oh, okay. Five. So, it motion carries. Motion carries.
Speaker A
Yeah. Next item on the agenda 26-10. Sorry. Next item on the agenda 26-09 2064 Main Street. Petition of Jean Sanjud. Uh, seeking a certificate of location approval for a cafe and lounge liquor permit in an MX1 zone.
Speaker A
Hello. Um, good evening. Good evening. Uh, my name is Adwine. I'm here on behalf of 2064 Main Street. We are seeking a certificate of location approval for cafe and bar liquor permit.
Speaker A
What? What are we doing? So nice. Yes. Edwin Sist. Is she speaking? Go ahead.
Speaker A
Yes. Hi. Oh, I was saying we here to seek a certificate of location approval for cafe and liquor permit for Randville Bar Lounge.
Speaker A
Um, you got location. Are you going to have entertainment in there of any kind? music like live entertainment.
Speaker A
Yeah. No, we're not looking to do that. Just a place for people to come and have a drink. I call it a rendevous bar.
Speaker A
Yeah. Um we're looking to create like a professional setting. Um we're looking to do a lot of networking event as we see that the entrepreneurship crowd is getting bigger and bigger in Bridgeport.
Speaker A
Um, so it's really just a spot for people to come and bond with the community as well as for young entrepreneur to come and network with one another and you know definitely um learn from each other. Uh, but it's
Speaker A
definitely going to be a very cozy and um, you know, professional setting for sure.
Speaker A
You're going to have food? Yes, we're looking to offer a finger food. Um nothing major, just really um something for people to nibble on during let's say an event or um just hanging out.
Speaker A
Was that a bar before the location? What was in there before? Before that, I don't believe. No. No, it was not a bar.
Speaker A
Maybe next door was might have been. It was a hair base. A hair store, right?
Speaker A
I think so. Before Before it was a hair salon. A hair store. Yeah, probably.
Speaker A
Okay. What's the closest cross street? What's across the street? No. AC the closest cross street here.
Speaker A
What? What street? North Avenue. Sorry, I'm having a hard time hearing you. North Avenue. What's What?
Speaker A
You got You got to hit the mic. I'm sorry. Um, what's the closest street that crosses North Avenue?
Speaker A
Right across from us. I know. Um, the cross street is Maine and North and that's where the old Walgreens used to be and there's a couple of other business right across from us. right next to us.
Speaker A
Okay. All right. This is the parking lot next to this um property. Is that also with your is this is where um guests going to be? I mean, not guest.
Speaker A
This is a smoke shop. Is it a smoke shop? No, the smoke shop is is further down. Yeah.
Speaker A
But on this property, there's a parking lot right next to it on the side of the building.
Speaker A
On the side. That's where um your customers could come and park. Yeah. And also that part of your property.
Speaker A
Yeah. And street parking. um you know that that area have quite a few streets parking especially.
Speaker A
The reason why I'm asking is because it it has um you're asking for a lounge liquor permit. So what are the hours and are you going to be hosting events like that's my question?
Speaker A
Yes. So you also answer the parking. Yes. So we're looking to open 12 to 12.
Speaker A
Um so most of the time that we'll have like a bigger crowd will be when other offices are closed. um which create a little bit more space for parking for our customers and the space is not a space that's going to hold hundreds of
Speaker A
people. So we're not looking to have super big crowd really. Um and you know when we do networking event we can you know we're going to look at okay the amount of people we're looking to invite tickets um and just you know be able to
Speaker A
make sure um parkings are taken care of and there's it's not creating traffic on the cross streets.
Speaker A
Okay. Is this seven days a week open? Yes. So, seven days a week from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Speaker A
Yes. And how many seats do you plan on having? I I know I have the plans, but the occupancy is 44.
Speaker A
Just can't open them up. How many How many seats? How many What's the occup?
Speaker A
It says 44 on the on the Oh, sorry. Sorry. I have the paper with Are there residential apartments above you?
Speaker A
Um, are the residents above us? So, I see. Yes. So, we do have residents above us.
Speaker A
How would you control the noise [music] if you're staying open till 12:00 on a weekday?
Speaker A
I see them six. Yeah. If you're staying at 12 on a weekday for people that are working the next day.
Speaker A
Yeah. So that's one of the reason why we want to create that professional environment and focus on networking event to get a crowd in. And typically with networking event you're you have to control the noise so people can
Speaker A
communicate and talk and mingle. Um, so this is our way of ensuring we get clients and also control the noise, but we're not looking to have another nightclub, especially in that area. I wouldn't be able to support the traffic
Speaker A
and the parking issues. This is So, what sort of events are you having until midnight?
Speaker A
Mostly networking event. Um, it's something that I've been doing my whole life going attending networking event and um seeing how Bridgeport's entrepreneurship is growing. Um, we definitely want to kind of target the young professional crowds just to invite
Speaker A
over and allow them the opportunity to mingle amongst themselves and meet other entrepreneur. But we're not looking to have large crowd event. Just want to become a spot where people can have business meetings. Um, you know, just want to be known for that really. So
Speaker A
that so we're not looking to have really loud music, just you know, fun music, but where people can also hear each other talking. So, that'll definitely help with the tenants and um nearby businesses.
Speaker A
I mean, with 44 people below you, I would assume it's not going to be super quiet, though, right? If somebody's trying to go to sleep at 9, 10:00 on a Tuesday, I'm saying like, what kind of measures are you going to put in place
Speaker A
to control that noise? Aside from telling people, please be quiet. So, during the week days, we're not looking to have a DJ or anything. So, it's just regular music just like any um restaurant or if you went were to go to
Speaker A
CVS type music and during our networking events, which is not going to be pretty late either. So, we'll just have regular music, but like I said, we're not looking to have Okay. Did you contact the residents above?
Speaker A
Did you speak with them? Are they okay? Yes. You have anything that you got mailed them?
Speaker A
Oh, you gave it to the mailing. Gab. Yeah. Also, they're aware, the residents are aware about your proposal of what type of um should be.
Speaker A
Yes. What do you need? Who lives in Texas? I do. You live in Texas?
Speaker A
Yes, sir. So, you're going to run it? Yes. Managers from Texas or from here?
Speaker A
Um, so he's our on-site contact. Um, but we work together and I travel back and forth here as well.
Speaker A
Yeah. Got to do a lot of business. Say that again. You have to do a lot of business.
Speaker A
Yeah, I'm an entrepreneur at heart. So, I do own business in Texas. So, I do go back and forth.
Speaker A
And uh might I ask you have a listing of businesses and there's no city, no state or I'm sorry. Say that again.
Speaker A
Turn the mic on. Yeah. Hit your mic button. What she said? I can't hear anything.
Speaker A
Oh, it's not on. It's no neighbor. Country Club Road. That's no neighbor. Okay, this one lives in a PO box.
Speaker A
Okay, ready. Anyone any other questions? Would anyone like to speak in favor of this application?
Speaker A
David. David on the screen. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He keeps skipping. Would anyone like to speak in favor of this application?
Speaker A
Is anyone opposed to this application? Is somebody Yes. Thank you. Good afternoon, commissioners. Um I'm Alfredo Castillo and I'm the district um in my that's my district.
Speaker A
I just that that street is a problem. A lot of business come and go. There's no parking there.
Speaker A
There's there's no parking. So I don't know. I don't even know how many people.
Speaker A
She said 43. 44. Where you going to put people like that around there? There's no parking. You're going to [snorts] There's Walgreens across the street. There's a gas station right next door. I I I just don't see it.
Speaker A
I don't It's the parking issue. It's going to have a pro problem, Ger. I'll, you know, I'll just state what we stated before. We don't deal with parking. There's no parking regulations for in the city.
Speaker A
Not not to knock her. I know she wants to do her business, but I think it's you're going to have to find somewhere else because 43 people on that street.
Speaker A
That's a main street and there's a there's a a parking a light there and you have to you got to stay on the right on that side where the parking's at to get to keep going straight because uh
Speaker A
the other one is takes a left to to go on North Avenue. So, I don't I can't see 45 people parking or whatever comes in there. Where you going to park?
Speaker A
And that's the reason. All right, sir. Thank you. Anyone else rebuttal? None. What's the score?
Speaker A
I'm out of here. for the name and address. Your name and address, sir, if you're going to speak.
Speaker A
Jean Sanjust. I'm the on point contact. I know city council is woring about the parking. It's a place that's only going to take a couple dozen people and the whole street is business. Especially all opening hours going to be more so when
Speaker A
the other businesses are closing. I don't think it's going to cause an issue for a few people.
Speaker A
All right. Thank you, sir. That matter is closed. Discussion. I make a motion to approve.
Speaker A
Second. I'm not. All in favor? Anyone opposed? I oppose. Opposed. We have three opposed.
Speaker A
My concern is the hours. My concern is the hours in the weekday. Hours operations.
Speaker A
Okay. So, it's 5 to three. The the motion carries. Next item on the agenda of 155 number 2610 1552 and 1554 Noble Avenue petition of Humberto Costa seeking a subi subdivision approval to create three lots out of two existing lots in
Speaker A
an NX1 zone. Chair members of commission Raymond Rizzio for the record office at 10 Saxville Road um in Fairfield Connecticut representing Roberto Costa.
Speaker A
This is a this is a sub a straight subdivision application. There's no variances. There's nothing required. So, you're more or less acting in your administrative capacity. Basically, your regulations read if you match the regulations [laughter] you're all approved. But let me explain
Speaker A
to you. I'll I know you got a big agenda tonight and I'm also going to shorten your agenda after this. So, this propertyy's on Noble Avenue. It's been the Costa family ownership since about 2004. There's two houses that sit on
Speaker A
Noble Avenue. Both these houses One's a 7,000 foot lot. The new these lots together are about 20 almost 20,000 square feet. What they have is they've designed these two they've designed it so that they can have a house that comes out onto Rose
Speaker A
Street in complete compliance with the regulations. No variances. The dotted lines as you see here in this new lot is what will allow is the building envelope. Okay? So they have adequate frontage. They have add they can show
Speaker A
that they can put a building within this site. They have access to Rose Street.
Speaker A
And what they plan on doing is taking the rear yards from these two properties. Now, keep in mind this lot is over 7,7300 ft. This lot's 6,000 ft. This lot's over 5,000 square ft. What I did is I went
Speaker A
and took some pictures today so that you know if you've been down Noble Avenue, you know the two homes. We're basically going to Sorry.
Speaker A
Better than my old Walgreens pictures. I fig I'd blow them up for you. Um, so basically what they're going to do is take the yard back the rear yards and turn that into a home.
Speaker A
Now, one of the things that's important when you look at this, if you look across the street, even though this is beyond what you need to know for your decision, your decision is based on do we match the regs? if we match the regs,
Speaker A
you approve it. But I just want to show you what we have here. So this is this these are these are the two homes.
Speaker A
What'll happen is this lot will be carved out. This lot which is over all the lots on the side of Rose Street are 5,000 ft. 50 by 100T lots. This is over 500. It's about 5300 ft. There'll be
Speaker A
enough room as you can see come right in here. This all gets cleaned up. There's a tenant that had a bunch of stuff there that's that's been moved already and they'll room for for house open car parking and these two houses will both
Speaker A
have their parking and be confronting on Noble Avenue. So the lots conform in every way since your subdivision there's a zoning grid which is in the in the application in the in the map that was submitted that shows that each one
Speaker A
of the lots fully conform to your regulation. And when you cut this away, there's no there's no there's no variances that are required from these houses. Meaning the front setbacks are fine, the side step setbacks are fine, and they know need no rear yard
Speaker A
waiverss. For all those reasons, I would respectfully request the commission grant this subdivision because it's in complete compliance with your regulations and in your administrative capacity. This is not a special permit.
Speaker A
Your regulations say you need to approve a subdivision. And that's basically my presentation. I'd be happy to go on if you need to.
Speaker A
Nope. Does anyone have any questions? Anyone on commission have any questions? Fairly straightforward. Subdivision.
Speaker A
Straightforward. Would anyone like to speak speak in favor of this? In favor? Is she?
Speaker A
She's in favor. No. Um, anyone opposed? No. See no opposition. Chairman, can I ask you for a quick favor? I just I have a matter later in the evening. I was brought to me to my attention by some of the council members
Speaker A
that there was concern that I had not known about or heard about or had not been presented to uh the zoning office as far as I knew. No. Uh there's a pro there's an application at 67 and 73
Speaker A
Hollister Avenue section 26-16. I would like you would like to do that now. All right. Well, but hold on. We have to vote on the previous issue.
Speaker A
I'm sorry. All right. I'll make a motion to approval. Second. All in favor? Motion to approve.
Speaker A
All right. Chairman, uh item number 26- I'd like to respectfully request that be Hold on. Ray, next item on the agenda.
Speaker A
All we're jumping to uh a little further down agenda here. 26-167 and 73 Hollister Street Avenue petition of 73 Hollister LLC seeking its own change approval and and two parcels from an NX2 zone to an I zone.
Speaker A
That's it. Right. My name is Raymond. Yes. Raymond Rizzio for the record. I represent the applicant. I respectful requested continuence. has been brought to my attention by some of the council members that there is concern over the application which I did not know about.
Speaker A
Um probably and what I would like to do is meet with the NRZ, meet with the council people and then come back before you. But there's no sense in arguing this all out tonight.
Speaker A
[clears throat] I think they'd like to straighten out and address any concerns that they may have before we come back in front of you.
Speaker A
Motion to continue. Second. All in favor? Anyone opposed? Matter will continue. [clears throat] of 16.
Speaker A
Next item on the agenda, 26-11 412 Jennings Avenue. Petition of Fi Fletchi. How do you say it? Descent.
Speaker A
Desent. seeking a special permit in a site plan review site plan review approval to convert a one family residential dwelling into a two family residential dwelling in an N2 zone.
Speaker A
Good evening, Commissioner. Uh, can everyone hear me? Okay. Yes. Good. So, my name is Rob Bledo. I'm an attorney with Whitinger Willinger and Buccl.
Speaker A
Our office is located at 1000 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton. and I'm here representing my client uh Fachete Delis who is here tonight. He is the owner and the applicant for 412 Jennings Avenue. I do have some mailings to turn into uh to
Speaker A
Nick. Also, I would inquire if the commission received the staff report that was sent by Miss Blackwell uh by email today uh from the OPED and uh Mr. Codingham.
Speaker A
Was that received? I got Did you get it? I got it. You want a copy?
Speaker A
Oh, I have a copy. I just want to make sure you have it in the back. Thank you.
Speaker A
Appreciate it. All right. So uh open the applicant respectfully requests the approval of a special permitted site plan review to convert an existing one family residence into a two family residence with the construction of a rear addition. Now uh Mr. Delis is a
Speaker A
Bridgeport resident. He has resided at 412 Jennings Avenue for almost 10 years. That's his permanent residence. Uh he's a local businessman who owns a constru uh construction and mechanical consulting business. Uh he's someone who has ties in the community and was a
Speaker A
resident for 10 years. The reason he's doing this second principal unit is to accommodate his family. He has two daughters and he has grandchildren who are going to be living there. This is not a situation where a developer is
Speaker A
coming in to flip a house and rent it all out. This is a family affair by someone who's lived in this neighborhood for almost 10 years.
Speaker A
Now, the applicable zoning regulations to consider here. The subject property is located within an N2 zoning district.
Speaker A
The proposed development is regulated as a HouseB building type pursuant to section 3.10 of the Bridgeport zoning regulations.
Speaker A
The proposal seeks authorization for a second principal unit, which is a permitted use with a special permit approval pursuant to section 3-100.9.
Speaker A
You will see on the site plan there is a zoning compliance table which demonstrates the property complies with the dimensional requirements applicable to the N2 district. For example, the lot area required in an N2 district is 11,010 square ft. The lot area provided
Speaker A
here is 11,016 square ft. The minimum lot width required is 45 ft. The lot width provided is 87.9 ft. The primary street setback required is 20 ft minimum. The setback provided is 25.8 ft.
Speaker A
The rear yard required is 20 ft minimum. The year rear yard provided here is 21 ft. Site coverage permitted is 65% maximum. The site coverage proposed is 41.9%.
Speaker A
The building height is two stories. It's an existing two twotory structure as the addition will be that is consistent with zoning requirements.
Speaker A
Accordingly, the proposed addition and the conversion comply with the development standards applicable to the property.
Speaker A
Also, this proposal is consistent with section 3.10. The proposed development maintains the residential character contemplated by the house B type regulations. It remains residential in nature, preserves the existing home where our my client lives and will continue to live and expands
Speaker A
housing opportunities within an established residential neighborhood. The addition is located primarily to the rear of the structure, minimizing the visual impacts from Jennings Avenue and maintaining compatibility with the surrounding development. You will see that it is essentially a Cape Cod style
Speaker A
house and it's raised up from the street. The addition will be in the rear of the lot, so you're basically not really going to see it from Jennings Avenue. It's not some monstrosity that's going to dwarf the other houses in the
Speaker A
neighborhood. Now, as far as the staff review, we went before uh the design review uh committee and uh they reviewed the plans and as I said, the staff review has uh given a generally positive review. In fact, they
Speaker A
said uh in terms of their findings of the review and approval criteria that the proposed special permit complies and the site plan complies with all building setbacks, height and form requirements.
Speaker A
Uh it will not impair future development of the surrounding area because it's a residential use. Uh it will not be detrimental to the existing development of the surrounding area because of its heights scale designer method of operation. Uh it does meet building
Speaker A
setbacks height and form requirements. It includes adequate safeguards to protect adjacent property and the neighborhood in general from any potential adverse impacts. The proposal meets the requirements for this zone. it is not going to have any adverse impact
Speaker A
on the neighborhood. It's going to fit in. Also, it's not likely to cause a depreciation in the value of nearby properties. Again, it's a residential use. Okay.
Speaker A
So, in conclusion, the proposed conversion and addition represent a code compliant residential improvement project on a conforming lot that exceeds the key dimensional requirements of the N2 district. The application satisfies the requirements for special permit review under sections 3.100.9
Speaker A
and 11.50 and promotes the city's goals of housing preservation and neighborhood investment. For these reasons, the applicant respectfully requests approval of the special permanent site plan review application for 412 Jennings Avenue. And at this time, I'm uh happy to answer any
Speaker A
questions. Um, do we have a picture of the neighborhood? Is there an adjacent lot to this house where the cars are parked in front?
Speaker A
There is a driveway to the as you're looking at the house to the right of the entrance that can accommodate four cars.
Speaker A
It's basically like a uh it's a cutout. Yeah, exactly. Yes. But that's not another lot, right?
Speaker A
No, it's not another lot. Same lot. David, do you know of those houses? How many are two families?
Speaker A
They are all They're all single families. Okay. They all single family. Okay. Houses. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker A
To the commission. I would I'm sorry. Would you um you give us your report?
Speaker A
So this property is like on a hill. Is it? Yes, it is. So on a hill and you in fact I can pull up the street view so you can see it.
Speaker A
I I I drove by. So it's on a hill. It's the house in the middle.
Speaker A
Right. So it's already on a on a on a high like a little hill like I said. That's correct.
Speaker A
So you guys are going up not going to the back. Extended to the back. It's just going up. It's going up. Yeah, the elevation. Obviously, there's a rise to the lot, but it's not like it's like way like a cliff or something like that. You
Speaker A
could see the way the two houses are right there. The way that the slope rises from the street.
Speaker A
Yeah. I mean, driving by it looks high compared to the other houses nearby. Okay.
Speaker A
Any other questions? David, please. is on for single family. [laughter] Good evening, commissioners. Um the pet petitioner is seeking a special permit to expand the existing single family residence located at 412 Jennings AB into a two family residence. Uh the
Speaker A
property is located within the N2 neighborhood zone and is subject to HouseB building type regulations. Um, prior to submitting the formal application, the proposal was reviewed by the city's concept design review process. Uh, that occurred on April 9th
Speaker A
of this year. During that review, staff discussed parking accommodations, building design, storm water management, and advised that the applicant uh of the special permit process that required an additional principal dwelling unit in accordance with section 3.100.9.
Speaker A
Uh the application is now before the planning and zoning commission for consideration of the requested special permit pursuant to section 1150 of the Bridgeport zoning regulations. Uh just for site context, I know we had it up on the screen a little bit earlier. Uh the
Speaker A
subject property is located along Jennings Avenue in an area characterized by single family development. Uh located on a single block. Um it is one of six parcels with frontage on Jennings A. Uh all four parcels located south of the
Speaker A
subject site are approximately 75 feet wide at the street. Uh the subject site however is roughly about 88 ft wide at the street. So it is a little bit wider wider than the rest of the parcels um to
Speaker A
the south. U it is also the deepest lot at 131 ft roughly. Um and here you can see um just kind of the zoning map. Um pretty much the whole area is N2 primarily single family residential.
Speaker A
Um and then as far as the review and approval criteria per section 1150.6 uh in order to approve the special permit application, the planning and zoning commission must make the following findings on the record. Uh the proposed special permit use and
Speaker A
accompanying site plan are consistent with and implement the objectives and policies of the master plan of conservation and development. The proposed special permit use and accompanying site plan complies with all applicable zoning code regulations. The proposed special permit use and
Speaker A
accompanying site plan will not uh impair future development of the surrounding area. The proposed special permit use will not be detrimental to the existing development in the surrounding area because of height, scale, design, or method of operation.
Speaker A
Uh the proposal includes adequate safeguards to protect adjacent property in the neighborhood in general from any potent potential adverse impacts. The proposed use is not likely to cause a depreciation in the value of nearby properties. And lastly, uh environmental
Speaker A
impacts to the Long Island Sound will be appropriately mitigated. Okay. Thank you, David. Thank you.
Speaker A
So, would anyone like to speak in favor of this application? Anyone opposed? Good evening, commissioners. I gave you a detailed folder when I first arrived, and you have a lot of photos there as well. This does not comply with the
Speaker A
regulations and um Oops. Excuse me. Please excuse me. I'm Councilwoman Maria Praer living at 80 Granfield Avenue and I have been studying this for about 60 hours consecutive. We did um just so you're aware um we did host a community meeting
Speaker A
um at the Beardsley Library and we put out flyers on every single house on Jennings and you know adjacent streets um and that was on Tuesday May May 19th.
Speaker A
It also we placed a flyer on 412 Jennings Avenue because certainly wanted an opportunity to hear from the applicant um and no one was able to attend. I did go visit his home after the meeting ended, hoping to chat with
Speaker A
him and I spoke with him by cell phone. At the time, I thought he told me he worked for a delivery company in New York and he worked very long hours and he couldn't attend, but we wanted this
Speaker A
individual to come and and they weren't able to make it. Um, so 412 Jennings Avenue uh was at one time in the most desirable zone in Bridgeport in RA, which was strictly one family. And uh during a worldwide pandemic, we did a
Speaker A
300page rewrite of our zoning regulations. And all just about every house in the RA zone in the Thomas Hooker precinct was converted into what is now an N2. And the N2 is one family, but you can get a two family with a
Speaker A
special permit. Okay? There is not a single house on Jennings on the street that it borders Tully. Nowhere above Ever Street all the way up to Straford and Trumble is there anything other than single one family homes.
Speaker A
Um and people make decisions on what where they're living and buying based on and I will tell you I've had a huge influx of New Yorkers because they don't want to live on top of each other anymore. They want a private backyard
Speaker A
for their children and families. So, you know, a home is people's usually largest investment and they make decisions based on what they believe the neighborhood they're going to live on live in. So, um, the N2 zone, and this is strictly
Speaker A
from the rags, is intended to preserve the physical form of the existing neighborhoods with lower height houses typical of mid 20th century on midsize lots.
Speaker A
and two neighborhood mid mid-century zones expressly only allow house B building types as illustrated in section three of the rags which I believe I gave you a copy. What's the description and intent of a house B? It incorporates
Speaker A
characteristics typical of mid-century's house built after World War II. This house was house World War II, excuse me. Oh no, you never [laughter] with our current president that could happen. I'm sorry.
Speaker A
World War II, including and this house was built in 1943. Just so, you know, a traditional lovely Cape Cape house.
Speaker A
Okay. It's located in a rear yard. Uh the footprint is located in the rear yard and accessed off a narrow side driveway. The houses are one, 1.5, or two stories in height with half stories located within a pitch roof, which is
Speaker A
the situation here, and having a ridge parallel to the street. So the half story is not always visible on the front foot cage which is this house here. You can't see the half story from Jennings Avenue. Now um
Speaker A
I I gave you a whole stack of photos which I numbered and photo one which is the house and you can see a lot of rock formation in the front yard. Okay, this house and the house next to it are the
Speaker A
strangest things I have in my entire neighborhood because they're built at very high elevations and they're literally rock. You can see boulders and rock there. Okay. Um and so it has a very um a very significant decline down
Speaker A
to the grade. I mean, it's significant on the front and it's significant in the back. Okay. Um and so that's what you're seeing and that's the vision appraisal photo. Photo number one is from vision apprais the vision appraisal site number
Speaker A
two shows you it's significantly aided uh elevated above the grade due to being built on rock formations which I guess in the 1940s they couldn't get rid of them maybe like they could today but they couldn't then. Okay, photo three
Speaker A
shows a driveway which is sloping downward into the backyard and you'll see large boulders clearly visible at the end of the the driveway area. Okay, photo four shows the adjacent house which is worse than this house 145 officially Tully Circle. Um it's right
Speaker A
next door to 412 Jennings Avenue is even at a higher elevation and you can see how how steep the decline is down to the to the street in the sidewalk.
Speaker A
Photo five shows the rear of 412 Jennings Avenue which I finally had residents on Tully Circle allow me to go into their barky yard to take this image in particular is concerning. Okay, this is your only view of the 0.5 level
Speaker A
that's within the pitched roof which they built a dormer and they got a permit for it in 1981 to build two bedrooms and a bathroom there. And so all of that's lawful. Okay. And um and it was huge. It was 12x 32 ft. So it but
Speaker A
that was lawful. In 1969, the previous owner added a 12x17 rear frame porch enclosure which was approved, but you'll see it's no longer there. They've enclosed it as if it's an addition onto the house. Okay. There's no permit for
Speaker A
that. I have every record of every permit in your folder. And so it was enclosed and when they enclosed it they enroached on the side setback for the house on Tully Circle. So it's unlawful.
Speaker A
It's within five feet when it's required to be six. And now even the addition they want to build cannot legally attach to this illegal addition because it's not in conformity with this and you'll see it here on the map. I'm going to
Speaker A
show you. Um in addition, zoning in the building tomorrow were unable to provide a single permit. Do you see the upper deck over the enclosed? There's no permit for that. Okay. In September 2017, an existing permit was granted to
Speaker A
renovate an existing basement for an accessory apartment, which you know would not be allowed in 2017. That wouldn't even been allowed. But then they made a point of saying there's no kitchen. Neighbors are reporting it's being used as an apartment. Okay. Uh
Speaker A
uh let's see. the above ground basement, which you can clearly see in that picture with the deck. Look all the way to the right and you're going to see that because it's such a steep drop in the backyard. You can see the up the
Speaker A
basement now is above level. And you'll see a little window all the way to your right that shows that this re approved enclosed porch has been converted into like some type of addition which was not lawful.
Speaker A
Um so the current owner purchased the home in March 2017 and by October 2017 had the interior alter alteration and other permits. They did HVAC wiring. That's all fine. Okay. 412 Jennings Avenue is at a significant elevation from grade on
Speaker A
Jennings with significant incline into the rear of the property which already contributes to basement flooding on the abuing homes on Tully Circle. that water rests into their rear of their properties. Okay. And even some of them have some pumps. The proposed addition
Speaker A
appears to be connected to the primary structure utilizing the former 1969 legally approved enclosed porch which appears to have been illegally converted to an addition onto the above ground basement illegally built without a permit. The proposed addition is adding
Speaker A
a living room and it's coming straight out. A living room and you have diagrams there. These these are first floor, second floor, um, and ground level. The proposed addition is adding a living room, dining room, kitchen, mud room,
Speaker A
mechanical mechanical room, bathroom, and stairwell leading to the second floor with an adjacent covered patio.
Speaker A
So, they're going to have a covered patio, then they're going to have a big uncovered patio. You go up the stairs, and now there's a patio on the second floor, and they have a patio on the roof. Okay. This looks like an LA home
Speaker A
for a party. Okay. Not conforming with 1943 World War II era cape. Okay. Um Oh, and the and the same is being done for the required six foot setback with a minimum 15 in total. The setback side and rear is not valid. And I'd like to
Speaker A
show you why. You don't have it in front of you. I had to make this So, you see how it says 21 ft to water?
Speaker A
They're not counting. They're trying to get a bigger distance. So, instead of measuring to the patio, right, they're measuring to the water to claim it's 21 ft away and you have to have 20 foot set back. So, they're they should be
Speaker A
measuring from the property line to the patio. They're saying we're measuring from the P to where the water starts.
Speaker A
No, that's not where we measure. The structure starts at the paddle. They did the same same thing here. See that? They're not measuring to where the paddle starts. They're measuring to the water, the interior of the pool, because
Speaker A
they need more width. And so, they're trying to get it by not measuring to the actual the structure in the panel, which will require concrete, you know, whether you're going to put papers on or whatever. So they're purposely measuring
Speaker A
to the water to give them the set back they need and the outside of the home and the back. No, you measure to the structure, not to where the water starts. Okay? I don't know if you can see that to water the purposes. Okay?
Speaker A
Because they know that they're not meeting the rear setback and the side setback. Here, this is very important.
Speaker A
This is the illegally enclosed picture of you know it was it was an enclosed porch that they've now built as a building. When they built it there within 5 ft of the neighboring property which is not so when they attach the uh
Speaker A
the attachment [clears throat] door they're going to move it in 1.3 ft more than where the illegal structure is. In other words, it's not even going to connect evenly. They're going to move this in 1.3 further because this is
Speaker A
illegal and it's it doesn't have the right set size set back. So that's crazy. Okay. So now your addition is not even flush with the illegal structure.
Speaker A
Okay. I hope I hope I explain that. Now um and ing we're concerned about ground pool clearly. You know you have to drain a pool at least in in the cold weather months. And this is seems like a
Speaker A
pretty significant size pull. Um it's going to and all of this. So the site coverage currently is 24.3%.
Speaker A
They're moving to 41.9%. That's a 72% increase. These people on Tully Circle are already having flooding. Okay. Once you put in all the concrete for the patios and the concrete for the addition, what you're going to create is even exasperated further.
Speaker A
There's going to be even more substantial runoff because remember we're at a pitch here. And where does all that water settle? In the Tully residents backyards and into their basements, quite frankly. Okay. The second plan shows two bedrooms and a
Speaker A
bathroom with a walkway on the with an exterior access and another porch at the second floor and a patio. I I don't know what's I feel like this is a house for Los Angeles. Patios por I mean I want
Speaker A
you to think about all these people's backyards. People believe their home is their place of peace and respit and they have a right to enjoy it. So if you want to be in your backyard with your grandchildren and children and you're
Speaker A
now going to have a ground floor patio and a pool, you're going to have a second floor patio and a porch.
Speaker A
You're going to have a they put a patio on the roof, which I don't even understand because house B must have a pitch roof. And you have that in these diagrams.
Speaker A
So, okay, right. So, here's the illegal debt. They don't they built that. There's no permit for that. And then they can't connect this properly to this illegal enclosed porch because it enroaches.
Speaker A
It's 5 ft from the side and not the six required. So this will not even flush with the illegal structure.
Speaker A
Okay. And then now you're you see the P this is all patio. This is a covered patio. This is open patio. Now here's the second floor. We got another patio.
Speaker A
Okay. You you are literally feet from all the circle back. Six home arms. Now, you see there's going to be an exterior stairwell here to a walkway on the exterior that connects to the patio.
Speaker A
Okay, here's the roof. I'd like to know how there's a patio on the roof on a cottage traditional Cape Cod house.
Speaker A
And this house B must have a pitch roof. What are we doing with What is this?
Speaker A
This conforms with a World War II era tape. So, um, and then they put in your sheep, but you have to get this one. It says size setback six feet minimum, right?
Speaker A
But a total of 15. They can't get to the 15 because you see that's why they're measuring from the the property line to the water in the pool. They need more.
Speaker A
Okay? Because they weren't getting to the right setback. No, you me you you measure from the property line to where the patio starts, not where the water goes. And then they did it for the rear set back. They're claiming we need 20.
Speaker A
We're at 21. They measure from the rear property line to where the water goes in the pool since the powder concrete or or pavers count as a structure. Uh and the site coverage is a big problem. And I
Speaker A
understand they have the right to to increase their but do understand by adding they're increasing their sight coverage by 72%.
Speaker A
In the rear at a severe pitch, right? You can't see the basement from the front of the house at all. But you can see the basement is completely because that's how severe the drop is. And all that water with all this additional, you
Speaker A
know, we need water, dirt, trees, shrubs to absorb water. And then I I do I I am interested if you have a massive pool and you have to drain it. Okay, there's no drainage plan submitted for any of
Speaker A
this. Okay, for the runoff. Um but these people are already suffering and this is only going to contribute to it. And every single house on Jennings and Jennings is one of the longest streets in my district minus state roads like
Speaker A
Huntington Turnp's not a single two family house, not one. There's not a single two family on Tully. There's not a single two family on that side of Evers. And and this is concerning. Now, I do want you to know
Speaker A
at one point he he applied for an accessory structure. You know, a cottage in the back, but you know what's the maximum height he can get on that? If it's a twofloor home, he can only get a one floor cottage. So, he abandoned
Speaker A
that, did not pay the fees, and here we are. Really what this is is an entire new house that they're going to try to attach attach to an illegal enclosed porch that they can't even attach flush because when they enclose that porch
Speaker A
they they ruin the se the minimum um size setback. And you can see it on the diagram that it's not even flush.
Speaker A
They're going to attach it 1.3 ft farther in than the illegal structure. This is like a big mishmash. We're opposed to it. Um and and um we urge you to vote no on this. We have two things in here that were done that don't even
Speaker A
have a permit. And I don't think we should ever award reward that. Okay. There's nothing for the upper deck. I don't know when they closed up the porch there or they did it wrong. Okay. And um I'm sure what some of the people on
Speaker A
probably want to speak too. Anybody have any questions for me about this issue here about how they measure to the water, not the patio?
Speaker A
No. All your see the elevation of the property. You know what? I I did I put in the address into a website that does elevation.
Speaker A
Uhhuh. But um I think it's more like for like mountains and ranges. I couldn't find it. I I did see on the report that report that they approved it today came out at, you know, 10:30 this morning. I
Speaker A
was in in um zoning this morning. They didn't even have it ready. And I know that it's very steep as you they mentioned. It's 131 feet, but much of it is not buildable because of all these rocks and boulders. It's kind of
Speaker A
bizarre. That's my question. Because of the elevation, you know, it's like this crazy mountainous looking and I don't know what it was. Maybe in 1943 they couldn't blast it. But I mean, nothing else like that in my whole
Speaker A
neighborhood. But there's boulders. It's built on rock. They sure had a lot of D. So, um I'm not sure of the elevation, but I think you know how steep it was cuz you saw it.
Speaker A
Okay. Is there any other questions I can answer for you? But we have people who want to speak.
Speaker A
Okay. Um please keep it brief. Um Ms. Perez did a very saborate presentation. So, please add something new to the conversation.
Speaker A
Hi, my name is Sia Vasquez. I'm uh I'm I live in 57 Toilet Circle and uh I've been living in Bridgeport for the past 17 years. For 14 years, my husband and I lived in a multifamily house in a busy
Speaker A
central area near North Avenue, Park Avenue. So in October 2023 almost three years ago uh we bought our single family house on Tuli Circle. We worked so hard to accomplish this dream and uh and to move to a single family
Speaker A
residential area. So as a concerned resident and as a owner of the house into the circle which is located behind the 40 412 Jennings Avenue property I strongly oppose this application they're submitting.
Speaker A
It's like like like Miss Pereira was saying the elevation is really really you know like inclined directly to my property and uh the additions the the owner is requesting the plan first floor second floor rooftop inground pool is
Speaker A
irrational. I mean this development fails the the N2 zone ruling rules. I mean we the intends to preserve the the character of the neighborhood of the low labor houses.
Speaker A
My our really deep concern is the ingground pool too. We already have a some pump in our basement. We have water issues, floating issues and uh and is they didn't submit any draining plans to the application. So the risk my my
Speaker A
concerns are like where of the water the drain when they drain the water where the the water goes to my property. So my sump pump is going to be non-stop for so it's like it's directly it's excess you
Speaker A
know it's going to ruin everything besides my basement my landscaping is uh it's going to my salt it's like it's really concerning for me. So, um, I really, you know, this will also affect my family quality of life. The house is
Speaker A
going to be right on top of us. It's like it's a it's a drastic change for my family. So, thank you for listening and to my concerns and and please I urge to deny this application. [clears throat] Thank you.
Speaker A
I got to go to bathroom. All right. Um, we need to a commissioner needs to take a break. So we'll take a five minute Um, 103 Tully. Um, I don't know what it goes for, but I noticed they were leaning
Speaker A
really heavy on that 10-year thing. Uh, for what it's worth, propertyy's been in my family for 70 years. That's seven and zero. It sheltered four generations of my family currently, myself and my daughters. Um, I'm not a law man. I'm
Speaker A
not a learned man. Not an architect. What I am is a maintenance man, right?
Speaker A
Working on my 25 years in maintenance, working on a 100 years in the neighborhood.
Speaker A
My concern comes to the draining issue. I already get flooding and we're talking about a severe increase in water.
Speaker A
Who is going to subsidize the maintenance, the increased maintenance on my home? who is going to subsidize the compounding maintenance year over year, decade over decade, century over century. We're working on one. We are not planning on leaving. I'm not here to
Speaker A
argue semantics over aesthetics. Though, if we want to go down that street, I believe we should keep the park in Park City. I will always lobby to keep the green, to keep the trees, which since that tree was removed, I've been getting
Speaker A
some more flooding. I will kind of lean on that a little bit. Um, and it really put the pieces together until I had utility guy out there helping me recently and they kind of pointed it out. But yeah, so my concern is I've been here
Speaker A
for decades. Who's going to flip the bill for me? You do whatever you want on your property. Don't don't raise the cost on me. Don't damage my home. That that's going to that's running right into my foundation. Foundation is what
Speaker A
supports the home. I have always said as a maintenance man, you could build a home with inferior. You could build a foundation with crappy materials and build with marble on top and it's only a matter of time before that thing comes
Speaker A
crumbling down. But if you build a foundation properly, you could build with virtually garbage on top and it will stand strong. This project isn't going to erode my foundation and then what do I got? Ugots an empty lot after a hundred years.
Speaker A
I don't got the money to flip that bill. I don't know who does. If they're willing to subsidize and sign a contract that they're going to subsidize that compounding maintenance fee, I'll be willing to reconsider. But until that
Speaker A
time, I'm saying hard no. Hard pass. All right. Thank you. Anyone else have something to add or um would you take a count of how many are opposed?
Speaker A
Yes, I have. Oh, you do? Okay. Anyone else have anything to add? Rebuttal. rebuttal.
Speaker A
Yes, please. First, uh, if I could ask the council woman if she could please give me the map that you guys were holding up in front of the, uh, commission, please.
Speaker A
Well, it's because it wasn't the map that's before you. No, it's not the map that's before.
Speaker A
We're not going to have a debate, so proceed. First of all, while I appreciate people's concerns, I want to point out again that we have met the requirements of a special permit.
Speaker A
A special permit allows for a two family dwelling to be built in this zone.
Speaker A
If the regulations wanted to say there's no two families, it would say so. It does not. It allows for a two family with special permanent site plan approval. I also want to point out for your edification and I'm sure attorney
Speaker A
Regat would be happy to inform you about it, the Mclofflin case. Mclofflin case which is black letter Connecticut law and it states very clearly that zoning commissions cannot deny special permits based upon generalized fears or unsubstantiated resident complaints.
Speaker A
Denials must be backed by substantial evidence in the record which requires project specific factbased data rather than mere speculation.
Speaker A
Sir, you're out of order. The fact of the matter is you have before you a site plan prepared by a surveyor with a zoning compliance table.
Speaker A
That compliance table states that this is fully compliant with the regulations relating to an N2 zone. So, whatever has been said, it's not expert testimony. To my knowledge, the council woman is not a surveyor. We have evidence from a
Speaker A
surveyor with a zoning compliance table stating that this isn't compliance. As far as the drainage issue, it's a fair question. However, this is the first step in the process. There still has to be building permits and engineering approval for this to be built. And the
Speaker A
fact of the matter is drainage will have to be a consideration for those departments to consider. And as far as the allegations I'll say about permits, that's not before you. That's an issue with the building department. And I
Speaker A
would also point out that state statute says that building permits are deemed to be closed after 9 years. I'm not sure when these permits were issued, but I'm hearing 2017. It very well mel very well may be that those permits are closed out
Speaker A
by operation of law. And even if they're not, that's not what's before you. and it's not has no bearing upon your consideration of a special permit and site plan approval. So again, for the record, we have gone through the special
Speaker A
permit requirements step by step, line by line, and we have met those requirements based upon substantial evidence and the site plan that is before you. So that's my rebuttal and I request that you please approve this special permit and site plan approval on
Speaker A
behalf of my client. Thank you. Thank you. All right, the matter is closed. We have two letters, too.
Speaker A
Um, all right. We have two letters in opposition. Okay. We have uh three letters here. One letter in favor u from a um Adriana Palez and two letter two letters against one from a um um Zena Vasquez 412 Jennings Avenue and
Speaker A
another one from um Evelyn Mansfield 308 Jennings Avenue against. Okay, thank you. All right. Discussion.
Speaker A
Motion. I make a motion. I'd like to deny this. Okay. Um she want she's making a motion to deny.
Speaker A
On what grounds? On what grounds? Yes. Just doesn't fit in with the rest of the neighborhood.
Speaker A
That's not a zoning grounds. Well, it's a I think it's excessive. [laughter] It's a single family zone neighborhood.
Speaker A
It's an excessive use of that that uh it's single family. I have your house over there. I was over there in single family.
Speaker A
But it's two families allowed by special permit. So, we have to do better than just saying we don't like it.
Speaker A
Well, maybe someone else can feed in off of that. It just doesn't comply with the rest of the neighborhood.
Speaker A
It doesn't conform with the rest of the neighborhood. Oh. You said Johan. Johan. Okay.
Speaker A
Uh so what's what is your zoning argument against it that would hold up? I it doesn't it doesn't go with the community the um the the appearance of the the master plan of the whole community. It's single family houses around it.
Speaker A
But that's but it's allowed. You got to do better. He's seeking a special permate. He's seeking a special I mean I'm I'm not going to tell you how to how to vote or what to but I am [snorts] going to tell you you got to
Speaker A
you know it's got to be consistent with it's got to you know it does it go against the the the um special permit.
Speaker A
It's two family houses two houses from scratch or making no you no it specifically says you can convert a pre pre or or a World War II house into a two family house in the zones. The regulations say yes here.
Speaker A
So, well, I think No, I think it's going to it'll affect property values in the neighborhood.
Speaker A
Okay. And um I think it'll be detrimental to to to future sales in the neighborhood. There may be a lot more of these things coming before us precedent setting. And there isn't a neighborhood in the city you can't do this in. You just don't change
Speaker A
the the topography of a neighborhood because you think it's a good idea and you have a hardship, you know, it doesn't work that way.
Speaker A
Well, that Well, first of all, there's hardship is not an issue for us. It's the ZBA. They want to claim hardship. So, what you're you're saying that it'll success and it it'll damage the property values in the neighborhood.
Speaker A
What evidence do you have? The neighbors. They're very concerned and if it's going to cause flooding, they're not going to approve it.
Speaker A
Anyone else want to add anything? Anyone want to make a motion? She made a motion.
Speaker A
Did he make a motion? Oh, I'm sorry. All right. I'm sorry. I didn't hear the second. All in favor?
Speaker A
I to deny. To deny. To deny. All right. To deny. All All wanting deny, raise. Sure. RA ends.
Speaker A
Wait, what is it? You're deny. To deny. Okay. Deny. One, two, three, four, five. It's five.
Speaker A
I deny. One, two, three. Three in favor. Where's the Oh, it's five. Okay. Okay. So the So the So it's denied.
Speaker A
Next item. [applause] Oh my. You got Okay, we're going to take another break. Thank you.
Speaker A
Another 10-minute break. Thank you. I mean, as much as I wanted, you can't legally.
Speaker A
No. the moratorum. Which one? The moratorum. Oh, wait. No. Call the Call Boston Avenue.
Speaker A
I'm going to do Boston. Yeah. We're going to go a little bit out of order to accommodate one of the attorneys who has Next item on the agenda.
Speaker A
Issue. We're moving to Boston Avenue, 26-17 56 Boston Avenue. Petition of 56 Boston Avenue LLC, seeking a certificate of location approval for a package store in a portion of an existing retail building in an MX2 zone.
Speaker A
Good evening. 6 Boston Avenue LLC. Uh the soul manager, Billy Alcadi. Uh first I want to hand in the mailings to So we're here tonight for a certificate of location approval to operate a package store at 56 Boston Avenue.
Speaker A
56 Boston Avenue is located in the center of the city in the MX2 zone and was previously used for office and retail space. It has been vacant for a number of years. The property contains a non-conforming building that was
Speaker A
constructed in 1949. Now, [clears throat] because we're operate seeking approval for a package store, as you know, we have to get a certificate of location approval. And there are certain criteria pursuant to section 11120.2.
Speaker A
First, the use is compatible with and implements the objectives and policies of the master plan of conservation and development. The use will not impair the future development of the surrounding area. The proposal includes adequate safeguards to protect adjacent property
Speaker A
and the neighborhood in general from any detrimental impacts the proposed use might otherwise have. Uh in this case, it's not located in or directly to adjacent to an N or NX zone. So that subsection is not relevant here. The
Speaker A
proposed use will not impact property values and it will not be disruptive or cause conflicts with existing uses in the immediate vicinity.
Speaker A
Now also there has to be a 750 foot radius between the essentially the front door of the establishment and any protected uses. Protected uses are defined as a church, a school, daycare, etc. You'll see on the map that was provided uh
Speaker A
there are no protected uses within the 750t radius. So that obstacle has been met. Now, pursuant to chapter 545 of the general statutes, uh if we had any protected uses within the radius, we couldn't get the certificate of location
Speaker A
approval because there's no protected uses for clear. Now, the commission has to make the findings as I mentioned subject to the review and approval criteria. Um, also as far as the master plan of conservation and development, it talks about economic development. It
Speaker A
talks about businesses. It talks about strengthening commercial neighborhoods. This is a primarily commercial neighborhood. There are stores. There are commercial uses in this neighborhood. It's not a primarily residential area. So, this is compliant with the POC in terms of economic
Speaker A
opportunity and commercial development. Also, bear with me one second. The use will not impair the future development of the surrounding area. As this neighborhood is primarily commercial, the fact is it's not going to impair any future development because it's already a
Speaker A
commercial area. So, it's a store, it's a package store, it's a liquor store. It goes in with the commercial nature of this neighborhood.
Speaker A
Also, it will not adversely impact property values. As I pointed out, the property is now currently vacant. By having a business go into this building and begin to generate revenue and taxes, it'll take what's formerly a vacant building and turn it into a productive
Speaker A
piece of commercial property in the city. I see you're looking at the maps. I just want to if something you need to look at that's okay.
Speaker A
So we respectfully request you grant the application for certificate of location approval to operate a package store on the premises. The uses compatible with the objectives of the POCD, will not impair future development, property values, or existing uses within the
Speaker A
vicinity, and will not impose a detriment to the neighborhood. Again, there's no protected uses in the vicinity. It's a commercial area. So, at this point, I'm happy to answer any questions.
Speaker A
Yes, please. Cuz I I see two. There are two liquor stores in the neighborhood. Yes.
Speaker A
They just walking distance from each other. My understanding is that they are maybe 10 minutes walking distance if even that.
Speaker A
I think we're just a little confused at how this is laid out. Yes, cuz it's basically there's two separate locations on this.
Speaker A
Right. But again, the fact that there's other liquor stores in their neighborhood is not grounds for denying a certificate of location approval. That's business competition.
Speaker A
Yeah. here. When we when we wrote we wrote the regulations, we realized that um sensitive uses were important but not competitive uses.
Speaker A
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, there's two two proposed liquor stores here. I think we're just confused as to why there's two listed here. So, the way it's set up is that there is a the main entrance, which is where your
Speaker A
uh your hand is right there, right? And then there is a uh the continuation of that space. And then in the front, you'll see it's a proposed convenience store that that's not before you. This is just for the liquor store.
Speaker A
So, this is the same thing. It's the same store. It's not two separate stores. Okay.
Speaker A
Anything else? Any any other questions? Pretty straightforward. Anyone like to speak in favor of this application?
Speaker A
Does anyone opposed to this application? Oh, step forward. Can we see this on the screen by David? Can we see this?
Speaker A
Yes. Hi, my name is Alfredo Castillo in the 136 district. That is one of my that's my district. Um I I'm opposed it cuz it's a bad bad area to for trafficking. There's only one way in and one way out. I don't
Speaker A
know how your truck's going to get there. There's hardly no parking. There was an eminent sneaker store there and they couldn't even make in there cuz there was no parking. There's a right next to it there's a paper street and if
Speaker A
you're going to bring a truck in there or I don't know how they're going to get in there because you're going to have to use the other piece of property owners to get in there in reverse but it's I I
Speaker A
use the bank over there and I have a small car and it's hard for me to get out of there with a small car. These guys are going to bring in trucks, you know, but there's only one way to get in
Speaker A
there. There's no other driveway to get in there. So, I don't know how to, you know, right now there's a there somebody just put the a box trailer right in front of the the building. Somebody just came in and left it there. But at home,
Speaker A
yeah, they do that all over the city. [laughter] But I just went to the wrong place.
Speaker A
There's already a liquor store down the street. There's a one around the corner. It's like, what are we doing here? Like, you know, and most of these people that come here, they don't even live here.
Speaker A
They just put these places and you know um they had the marijuana cross street.
Speaker A
They've been raided like four times already with marijuana. So now you you're going to mix it right there in the corner that's right next to a BMW that's renovating his place and now you want to put a liquor store. It's a
Speaker A
commercial building, not a liquor store or it was a sneaker store but they couldn't even make it. So they left because it was not it was not in the they're in the strip mall on on North Avenue. But I just
Speaker A
it's it's going to be craziness over there because everybody's trying to get out of from North Avenue into Boston Avenue. Okay.
Speaker A
And that crazy that that that zone is just but for me I will I I will oppose it and it's not right. All right. Thank you. Make your point. Thank you.
Speaker A
Next. Uh, good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the commission. For the record, my name is Kevin Crusaden. I'm an attorney.
Speaker A
My office is at 243 Broad Street in Milford. I'm here tonight on behalf of uh, Mr. Mystery who's here in the audience and uh he is a business owner of another package store at an adjacent parcel uh Price Brace Price Break
Speaker A
Liquor. I'd like to pass out a uh a package that I have for this evening and then I'll just highlight my comments and try to keep it under three to four minutes.
Speaker A
All right. Thank you. Thank you, sir. I went to the right place. Just somebody in the mall there, too.
Speaker A
There's a liquor store. Yeah, he's this is the building outside. Yeah, I know the building it's going but I thought the 750 ft and maybe not for No, it's not for package. It's for sensitive uses.
Speaker A
It's not for others. It's for sensitive uses churches schools nursing homes, that kind of thing. It's not for you. You can have them right next door to each other because we decided there's so much.
Speaker A
Thank you. We decided, you know, we don't want it's not necessary to give somebody a competitive advantage, right?
Speaker A
Yeah. All [cough] right. So, the uh Yes, sir. So, the gentleman uh had put up a a I think the uh photo off of Boston Avenue view, right? Um, so I've been listening tonight and I I know that the commission
Speaker A
is focused on the uh the regulations and the standards and the requirements and so I'm not going to go over this uh I'm not going to read this memo into the record but I am just going to highlight
Speaker A
a few things. So respectfully to uh attorney BO as well is is the information I I disagree with what has been presented as far as the uh survey.
Speaker A
Um, I did provide a survey that I've passed out that is marked up by myself or my office. It's the same map that was submitted or at least online with the application and it calls out everything on here that's incomplete or defective
Speaker A
about the survey. One of the main points and I don't I think this is, you know, it can begin and end at this point. The 750 foot radius references property owners, doesn't reference uses. And so one of your very first initial main
Speaker A
criteria is you have to have the uses. So I looked at this and this looks like in a list of the assessor's records which only tells you who the property owner is. It doesn't tell you a six 750
Speaker A
ft radius use. So that's there's several other things. It doesn't have um again the So you're maintaining there are sensitive uses within the 750T radius.
Speaker A
Well, so what I'm saying is is that what was presented to you and was part of the application and part of the attorney's um presentation is that there you don't have sufficient information to make the determination because you're here
Speaker A
tonight for a certificate of approval of location as you have heard a few tonight and we'll hear many in the p have heard many in the past and in the future and what you're required to do is you're
Speaker A
supposed to have sub substantial or sufficient information in the record in order to make the determination. My understanding is over the years the uh regulations have changed about the locations of liquor stores or package stores in Bridgeport as many other
Speaker A
communities. Um but and so if it's been lessened the distance from one liquor store to another, maybe that distance doesn't exist anymore. But I would imagine that during those uh conversations at this commission about how would you handle a liquor store
Speaker A
application in the future, it would be based on this very hearing and this approval of of location. And that approval of location requires substantial information in the record in order for you to make the determination.
Speaker A
So number one, these uses are not there's no uses on here. This is this is a assessor's map.
Speaker A
Secondly, um the applicant bears the burden of providing you that information. They have not met that burden this evening with this presentation or the applications that are in the record. The commission cannot fill gaps in the record through
Speaker A
assumptions, speculation or personal familiarity with the neighborhood. And this principle governs every issue I'm going to discuss. I have three or four more issues. Um the applicant has not shown that the use is even authorized. It seems to be an assumption
Speaker A
um because this use is only authorized in two different types of building types within under the Bridgeport Code and the MX2 zone. And um there's no evidence in the record that this building type meets any one of those criteria. There's also
Speaker A
by the applicant's own admission that this property is non-conforming. It's not clear in what way, shape, or form it's non-conforming. No evidence has been presented to the commission in that in that, you know, I don't know if it's
Speaker A
the building. I don't know if it's the location. I don't know if it's the parking. There's no information about parking presented. you're the applicant's required to give you the information so you can feel comfortable that this use would fit in this
Speaker A
neighborhood without any traffic issues or parking issues. So, um, so we don't know what type of building type this is.
Speaker A
There's no administrative determination of the building type. There's no prior approvals. I looked at the zoning file.
Speaker A
There's nothing in there that says what type of building type this is. The the history of the zoning file, the application's incomplete. It does not provide the information necessary for the commission to make the findings required under your section 11.120.2.
Speaker A
That's the survey issue. Um there's no planning evidence. There's no evidence that this is in compliance with the plan of conservation and development. There's no planning report testimony analysis.
Speaker A
There's no expert opinion. and respectfully to the attorney them saying that there's no economic uh uh you know uh I guess dimmunition in property values or the other comments were made.
Speaker A
There's no evidence in the record to support those comments. So I'm not saying that you know I would just leave it at that. You need that information in order to make the determination or for the public to be able to comment on it
Speaker A
and say that's not true or I agree with that or I disagree with that. So the the application's defective, it's not ripe.
Speaker A
Um the required findings that you need to make as a commission in order to approve this application or even act on it, um you cannot make those because you don't have the information required by section 11 and other parts of your code.
Speaker A
There's no uh there's no evidence that the location is appropriate. Um there's no evidence regarding neighborhood compatibility. Um regarding surrounding land uses, I don't know. I looked at the Google maps. I tried to figure out what uses were through 750 ft. I couldn't
Speaker A
figure it out. Um, no competent planning evidence demonstrating consistency with the POCD. No evidence addressing the concentration of other liquor establishments or services in the area.
Speaker A
No operational analysis demonstrating why this location satisfies the purposes of the regulation. Um, and these are not matters that we have to prove or disprove or the commission has to prove.
Speaker A
You need that information in order to make your determination. You don't have it. I talked about the building types.
Speaker A
So, in conclusion, the question before the commission is, has the applicant produced substantial evidence supporting every finding the commission must make in order to approve the application? And respectfully, again, the answer is no.
Speaker A
The applicant has a failed to establish the applicable regulatory framework. We don't even know what type of building it's supposed to be. It's not allowed in certain building types in the zone. the applicant has failed to submit a
Speaker A
complete evidentiary record consistency with the POCD, the mandatory findings under section 11.120. And for these reasons, we respectfully request that the commission deny the application. With my 10-page memo, there is other exhibits in there that also highlight um specifically what's missing
Speaker A
from the application as far as those sections. And I'm available to answer any questions if you have any.
Speaker A
All right. Thank you, sir. Anyone else? Anyone else against? Come on. Please move along.
Speaker A
Ernie Newton, 190 Reed Street, city councilman. You know, when I sit here and listen to what I just heard, I hope this committee votes no because you could shoot bullets through what he just said. And that's uncalled of. And you all are zoning people who
Speaker A
one must uphold the law. But the rags when they bring stuff like this halfbaked, I hope that the commission would do due diligence, reject it.
Speaker A
And I like I said to my colleagues over here, why is it that the only place we could put liquor stores?
Speaker A
I won't say it. We can do better. You got three liquor stores probably within walking distance.
Speaker A
When you look at this building, you heard the the good attorney that just spoke to you doesn't comply with anything.
Speaker A
And they this is what I say about folk. They think people in Bridgeport are stupid.
Speaker A
They think our commissioners will just say yes to anything. It's our job to number one protect Bridgewater, protect the residents, and not just throw something up because it's definitely not an economic development project that's going to create jobs.
Speaker A
It's not going to do that. And take under consideration the distance between the other liquor stores.
Speaker A
We got enough liquor stores and churches in this city that we don't need anymore.
Speaker A
Thank you. Thank you. Please add something new to this, please. Good evening. Janette Harren, city council president. I did say my address before. I'm trying to understand you are the checks and balances like we are as a council and coming here hearing about
Speaker A
another liquor store being built or assuming to be built in Bridgeport is it it it saddens me there. Everybody wants to come to Bridgeport to do this. They come from outside. They come from everywhere. And they know Bridgeport
Speaker A
just lets it happen. Not saying you're going to pass it. I'm asking you to say no. We don't need liquor stores 800 ft from each other. This is a bad look for our city. We're trying to rebuild our
Speaker A
city and make it look better and this is not helping us. You know, I understand the economic impact for people, but we need to stop council is stopping a lot of this stuff and we we're asking you guys to stop it as well. Thank you.
Speaker A
Thank you. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. city councilman George Cruz also deputy majority leader I am a man in long-term recovery and um I just want to say that you know if if we want to attract we want to attract businesses here in the
Speaker A
city of Bushford of all kinds but one thing that I would not do is allow a business right next to the same kind of business that's selling the same product it creates a problem it's very unfair for the person or the business that's
Speaker A
already situated there. So I don't see how this liquor store proposal being just only 750 800 ft away from a current one I think is very unfair to the current business and I would ask is to please kill this bill. Thank you.
Speaker A
Okay, anyone else? Well, good evening. Um, your name and address, sir? My name is Okay. My name is Suricat Mystery. Uh, I'm the owner of the of Pricebreak Liquor at 174 Boston Avenue, Bruceport, Connecticut. Uh, my store is located in
Speaker A
the adjacent plaza and you had your attorney speak already, so please away. Yes. Um, I want I would like to oppose this application for several reasons. Um, parking I think has been already mentioned number of times. Uh I
Speaker A
note that there's a maximum of 17 parking spots identified for this location. Uh seven of those are already taken up by by the office above building that's upstairs. That leaves 10 spots for newly proposed businesses, a convenience store and a liquor store. If
Speaker A
two of those are handicap spots, at least what? Eight spots. And I don't believe that's adequate for two types of businesses that are being proposed.
Speaker A
convenience store and the uh liquor store at least four for each access into this proposed location.
Speaker A
If I may, can I give you some photographs? All right, sure. Okay. So, if you could just look at photographs uh one and two, uh when I'm talking about access into this proposed location, it's very difficult to get in
Speaker A
and out of this location from Boston Avenue, which is very heavily trafficked road. In reality, there's only one point of entry and exit into this area. The second exit is located on the premises is approximately a six to 8 foot wide
Speaker A
exit point facing up to Chase Street as shown on photograph number two next to the telegraph pole. It's not really a proper design exit.
Speaker A
Uh it's not designed for this purpose, I don't believe, because you can see the curbstone still there on the road.
Speaker A
During busy times, this is going to become a potential traffic concern with vehicles trying to enter and exit this location having been there been any traffic studies being completed to alleviate these concerns. I I don't think so. Um deliveries. Now, look at
Speaker A
photographs one and three. You'll see this is not a good location for large beer trucks to do their deliveries.
Speaker A
There's no way to park because they will occupy the parking spot immediately for customers. Once they get into this location, accessing from Boston, there's no way to turn around.
Speaker A
It will be extremely difficult for them to turn around and go back out. If they were to park on the adjacent dead end street, Chase Street, as shown on on number three, um same problem. They won't be able to get they'll be able to
Speaker A
get in, but they won't be able to get out because you have to turn around.
Speaker A
This the width of the road is too small. Therefore, the trucks would end up backing up onto Boston Avenue, which is a very heavily trafficked road and would create traffic concerns.
Speaker A
Therefore, that just leaves the truck drivers wanting to park in the adjacent plaza, which is a private property and probably won't be permitted. Therefore, large beer trucks would potentially face delivery problems every time they come to do their deliveries.
Speaker A
Chase Street, which is the dead end street. Uh if you look at uh photograph number three, you'll see this is a dead end street which is adjacent to this building. The dead end street does not have proper street
Speaker A
lighting. It's a regular spot for homeless people. I go there all the time and see this. In addition, if the proposed liquor store is approved for this street, this street could potentially become a hangout for people to, you know, drugs and alcohol as
Speaker A
there's no security to move them along. Mnt Bank, New Town Savings Bank, and the Jewelry Store all have their exit door located adjacent to this dead end street as you can see on it on number three.
Speaker A
Um, and on number five, I am sure from a common sense perspective, nobody wants to see this area become uh something like St Street.
Speaker A
I mean, where homeless people and drug addicts roam the streets. This is a really nice area. I'm sure that you're aware that right across the street, has been already mentioned several times, that there's a smoke shop. It's been
Speaker A
raided three times already for selling illegal drugs, and there have been several arrests. Potentially the same type of people who shop at the smoke shop will have access to alcohol now from across the street at the new cap liquor store and they will
Speaker A
have a perfect place to hang out right on that dead end street uh on Chase Street with nobody watching over them.
Speaker A
You probably know this already, but youth in cars and bikers regularly gather on Friday and Saturday nights on our plaza and practice doing wheelies and generally making a lot of noise and a public nuisance and are chased away by
Speaker A
police because our security, our plaza security called them and make this a nice neighborhood.
Speaker A
Who's going to chase them away if they decide to gather on dead end street at night when nobody's there?
Speaker A
As mentioned, BMW dealership is located on the adjacent building. If the proposed liquor store customers are allowed to hang out in front of the building or in the adjacent deaden street with nobody watching over them, this could potentially have an impact on
Speaker A
damages to BMW's property which have expensive cars which again nobody wants. Accidents, you look at number four, um Boston Avenue is a very, as mentioned before is a very heavily trafficked road. And as you approach the lights from Boston Avenue and onto North
Speaker A
Avenue, I have witnessed on several occasions accidents at this location as people come out of the Wingstop area backing onto Boston Avenue as shown on number four. In my opinion, traffic coming out of this proposed location would create similar hazardous
Speaker A
conditions for existing traffic on Boston Avenue. In conclusion, [clears throat] this is a very nice neighborhood. I don't believe that this particular building is a good location for a liquor store and I hope I hope that common sense prevails and respectively request
Speaker A
that you deny this application. Again, I just would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak to you today. Uh and I hope to get a favor.
Speaker A
All right. Thank you, sir. Anyone else? Rebuttal. Thank you. Pardon me. I'm just going through our notes here to make sure I cover everything.
Speaker A
Okay. So, first of all, as to the first speaker who mentioned it was bad for traffic, there's only one way in and out. Um, I have rebuttal on that and to give that rebuttal is uh Maria Caro, who's a real estate agent uh who is
Speaker A
familiar with the area and uh can address that directly. Maria Caru um address the address.
Speaker A
Yes. 120 Bloomingale Road, White Plains. Um I this area here since this building is at the end it is now full of lording.
Speaker A
It is you know we're talking about the liquor store but we're forgetting there's a convenience store that will be there and that it would make it safer and it's not just the liquor store. I know the liquor store needs a permit but
Speaker A
a liquor store um the convenience store would be open. Right now it's very unsafe. There is plenty of parking there. The other gentleman had spoken about the bank. That's a completely different lot. It has nothing to do with
Speaker A
this. There's even today I went back by there to get the mail. Um there's a tractor trailer there. There's a there's a lot of space. It's it's a very ve very very big space. Um I think this would
Speaker A
add and it would be something that could be open and make the neighborhood uh safer because I did not feel safe now because it's been vacant for three years. This is not just a liquor store.
Speaker A
It's a convenience store which would be helping the community and would be serving the community. It is a very big space. It's it's 7,800 square feet. As you can see by the um design by the architect, it's been split so that you
Speaker A
can't have a convenience store that big. So, it's it's it's not because it's a liquor store, it's a convenience store, but because of the size of the property, um I think this would be very beneficial. I don't see I had no problem
Speaker A
with getting in and out. I'm no expert. You guys are the experts, but I I see no problem with getting in and out. And I think this would be very very beneficial um to the area because right now it is
Speaker A
not and it's not not safe. Thank you. Went on screen saver. All right, there we go.
Speaker A
You need a 20y old Computers and me have a lovehate relationship. [laughter] Okay. Now, um, as to attorney, I always mispronounce your name.
Speaker A
Thank you. I'm sorry. So, I want to point out for the record that I just received that memorandum as he was handing it out to you. Uh he did give me a courtesy call or email this morning to
Speaker A
say he had been hired to represent an individual, but this is the first I'm seeing of this. I I you know, again, I'm going to respond to what he said as opposed to what's in the memorandum because I did not have an opportunity to
Speaker A
review it prior to the hearing. Now, first of all, as far as the 750 foot radius map, I want to point out at the bottom, the very bottom, it says uh there's a signature from Neil Jane, who's a
Speaker A
surveyor, it says radius map. To the best of my knowledge and belief, this map is substantially correct as noted here on and contains no protective use cases. So, he has certified that to the best of his knowledge and belief, he's
Speaker A
checked these things out. He's not going to put his name to it if he's just guessing. So he's certified that as far as he's concerned, to the best of his knowledge and belief, there are no protected uses within that 750 foot
Speaker A
radius. Certified by the surveyor. Okay. So that's number one. Secondly, I want to point out that this is not a special permit. It's not a variance. It's a certificate of location approval. So the fact is if the if you're allowed to have
Speaker A
a liquor store in the zone which is a MX2 zone which does permit it then you have to get the certificate of location approval and meet the criteria. So you've heard that we meet the criteria that it is a consistent with a
Speaker A
neighborhood that has commercial and uh retail uses in the neighborhood. Also, you've heard from uh Maria Caru Caru about uh you know, being a realtor, being someone who's familiar with the area, that is something that would benefit the neighborhood rather than be
Speaker A
a detriment to it. It would not have an adverse impact on property values. You're taking a vacant piece of property that has been vacant for three years and you're turning it into a productive and useful commercial establishment that
Speaker A
will serve the community. So, that's on that. Let's make sure I covered everything. And I appreciate you letting me go out of order. I I really do greatly appreciate that. Um, again, as far as the the kind of uh hatred about liquor
Speaker A
stores, I get it. But the fact is they are permitted use in this zone. The fact is it is a business that generates revenue, that generates customers, that genate generates foot traffic. Obviously, if there was some other type of business
Speaker A
that would have been successful there, they would have been in there by now. After 3 years of being vacant, it has not been occupied. So, the highest and best use of this property is a liquor store. That's what will work
Speaker A
here. And the fact that there are other liquor stores around is not a consideration for this commission because it's competition and the market will determine whether or not another liquor store can go.
Speaker A
So with that um I believe that covers everything. So thank you for your time. I appreciate it very much.
Speaker A
All right. Thank you. That matter is closed. Discussion. Is it a safety issue to the public? I mean this I'm I'm sorry. I'm Could you speak up?
Speaker A
I said I think this will this matter should be denied because I feel like this a safety issue here. We don't have a traffic analysis. There's one way in according to what even the the representative for the property said
Speaker A
as so before we approve anything we need to look into like how is this going to be safe for the public.
Speaker A
Okay. I don't necessarily want to deny it, but and I and I don't even know, excuse me, how [clears throat] the first liquor store got there because right behind him there is a Greater Bridgeport Christian Fellowship right behind him.
Speaker A
And I think that there's a possibility that this church may be within the 750T range of uh of that liquor of that liquor store as well.
Speaker A
So without additional information to confirm or deny that it is within that uh radius, you know, I don't know exactly how to handle the the way to do it is continue to have that verified by the applicant.
Speaker A
Can we have the way to the way to confirm that you heard that? Yes, we believe that there is a church within a 750t radius.
Speaker A
Okay. Um, we need you to either confirm or deny that. Uh, Mr. Morton, would would you repeat the name of it?
Speaker A
Uh, Greater Bridgeport Christian Fellowship. And based on this map that I'm showing here, it it appears as though it's within that 750 foot range.
Speaker A
It would be helpful. And most most times when we see a map like this, it they they point out the sensitive uses outside the radius as well. Now, I know there's a school not far away. Um there's a couple of churches in the
Speaker A
neighborhood. Those aren't shown. So, it' be very helpful um to continue this so you can show show us the sensitive uses that that aren't in the area.
Speaker A
Understood. So, we'll continue to the next meeting, Mr. chairman and I'll get the surveyor to update the information to verify uh what you've been saying about the uh Greater Christian I'm sorry Greater Christian F Greater Bridgeport Christian Fellowship
Speaker A
Bridgeport Christian Fellowship and then I'll also have him point out some of the protected uses that are outside the radius for reference.
Speaker A
All right, fair enough. Thank you. All right. U we So we have a motion to continue motion point of order. You closed the hearing.
Speaker A
You closed the hearing already. You can't submit additional evidence after that. You You closed the hearing and you started discussing.
Speaker A
Okay. He's right. Right. He's right. He's right. He stated that he we closed the hearing hearing so we can't we can't take allow him to come in to speak. Do I have to deny it?
Speaker A
Yeah. Okay. My mistake. Close the hearing. We did it to the public. It's true.
Speaker A
Are we doing this with everyone? [laughter] Yeah. Somebody make a motion to reopen so we can get additional information.
Speaker A
Yes. Okay. I'll make a motion we open the hearing for additional information. Do I have a second?
Speaker A
Second. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? I'll post two. All right. The motion carries. So we will motion to continue. We should do this for everyone for more information about sensitive uses till the our next meeting.
Speaker A
All so do we mean a motion and a second for that? I move that we uh re that that we continue to get additional information for the next meeting.
Speaker A
Is do I have a second information? What additional information we're requesting? sensitive uses within a 700 50 foot radius.
Speaker A
I second the Can we all in favor? I All opposed. I wanted to add something.
Speaker A
Okay, go ahead. Can we have also a traffic analysis for the area or it's not necessary?
Speaker A
I mean, it's the public. It's public safety. Traffic. Uh, well, you can make a motion. You can you can make a motion.
Speaker A
Okay. I make a motion to in addition to include the traffic. Okay. I make a motion to addition add the traffic.
Speaker A
Any seconds? All in favor? But wait a minute. They can do that with their denial. They can do that.
Speaker A
Pardon me. They can do that with their denial, right? Make that motion. Yeah. Okay.
Speaker A
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Thank you, Caesar. All right. All in favor of a of requiring a traffic analysis. Yeah.
Speaker A
I We have two. Yeah. Gotcha. Thank you. Motion to give me one. What? You only got two positives.
Speaker A
No, there two. I'm in line with the traffic line. Four. Okay. Oh, she didn't hear us. You agree of of the motion to have a traffic analysis for the area?
Speaker A
Thank you. Are you That's five. Are you voting yes? Okay. So, it's five to three.
Speaker A
Five to three. Motion carries. They need a traffic analysis. Yes. Yes. A traffic study.
Speaker A
So, traffic analysis and sensitive uses information. All right. All right. All right. Thank item. Uh 26-12 citywide moratorum position of city council woman Adena Martinez a resolution imposing a 12-month moratorium on the approval and opening of new smoke shops as defined in
Speaker A
section 4-40-11 of the city of Bridgeport zoning regulations. Good evening commissioners. I I just want to actually state for the record that we bypassed and that's your right to do so. But we also have two lieutenants that been here since 6:00 on
Speaker A
this item. Attorneys are being paid to represent their client. They they should be out in the community for public safety.
Speaker A
So, I just wanted to state that for the record. So, thank you for um hearing us out here today. Dear honorable members of Planning and Zoning Commission, as the council woman for the 139th district of the city of Bridgeport, I submit this
Speaker A
moratorum on the approval and opening of new smoke shops in the city of Bridgeport. This is a matter of public safety, public health, and quality of life issues. Compliance checks made last month by the Bridgeford Police Department narcotics and vice division
Speaker A
together with local and state partners found multiple establishments operating as smoke shops without the proper without the proper credentials.
Speaker A
During the last few months, the Bridgeport Police Department has seized over 30 pounds of illegal cannabis and TAC products. In addition to police enforcement action, the Bridgeport Health and Building Department along with the State of Connecticut Department of Labor issued stop work orders for
Speaker A
on-site violations of these smoke shops. This joint effort exemplifies the com commitment of local and state agencies working together to combat narcotics trafficking within our communities. This is also not about isolated bad actors within this industry. It suggests failure in
Speaker A
oversight and regulating these establishments. This issue also extends beyond zoning. It is about consumer safety for Bridgeport residents who frequent and support these businesses. Bridgeport police recently reported products seized from a Bridgeport smoke shop tested positive for fentanyl. That is deeply
Speaker A
alarming. Consumers purchasing products from unregulated sources may no way to verify ingredients potentials of contamination risk. A moratorum helps prevent additional stores from opening before stronger safeguards are in place.
Speaker A
Although this commission recently adopted zoning amendments establishing spacing requirements between smoke shop, it is clear that additional action is needed to address this growing issue and ensure our regulations reflect today's realities. One suggestion I may offer could be an annual license that must be
Speaker A
renewed in addition to state compliance. Such a license should include include compliance inspections, disclosure of the owner's background, training on age verification. Failure to comply should give the city authority to suspend or revoke a business license, ensuring that
Speaker A
operating a smoke shop in Bridgeport remains a privilege and not an entitlement to operate in the city. This moratorum should be used to build smarter and stricter regulations for smoke shop. Without any such reform, a moratorum would be used to delay the
Speaker A
problem. I urge the planning and zoning commission to support this moratorum and begin working on reforming the zoning code to create a safer, prosperous Bridgeport. The city council is here to work in partnership to get this done.
Speaker A
Thank you sincerely myself and the entire city council of the city of Bridgeport. Um and I would like Lieutenant um Duharte and um Lieutenant Pascal to come up and Good evening, uh, members of the council. I'm Lieutenant Jonathan Darde.
Speaker A
I currently oversee the narcotics advice division for the city of Bridgeport. Uh, currently I have a unit that you can use the I'm sorry your address.
Speaker A
My address 300 Street. Okay. Is my address, sir. Uh, I currently see oversee a unit that has uh two officers, two detectives, a sergeant, and myself. Uh the issues that we've seen over the last year and a half
Speaker A
in relation to the smoke shops is honestly atrocious. Um in a minute I'll pass it over to Detective Pasone and he's going to go over some of the numbers for some of our arrest, our seizures, and some of the compliance
Speaker A
checks that we've done. Um just to give you an idea of some of the things that I've done when I took over the unit about a year and a half ago was immediately we started a partnership with most of our local, state, and
Speaker A
federal partners. These smoke shop issues are issues that uh the city of Bridgeport has been facing now for several years. Um I have a list here. I didn't bring copies. I'm sorry for everyone. But currently the city of
Speaker A
Bridgeport has roughly 47 smoke shops throughout the city of Bridgeport. There are 47 smoke shops throughout the city of Bridgeport. Most of these locations most of these locations do not follow both local or state regulations in regards to their licensing or permits.
Speaker A
All right. a recent uh operation that we conducted uh with uh our state partners both and our local partners both the uh department of revenue, department of consumer and protections drug control division, department of addiction services as well as our health
Speaker A
department, our fire department and our um and our building department in addition to um zoning as well resulted in the seizure of over 20 pounds of marijuana. All right, this is a serious issue. The residents of Bridgeport deserve an opportunity to be safe in
Speaker A
their homes and on the streets of the city of Bridgeport. Um, this issue has, as I've seen it, is continued to grow.
Speaker A
Most of these establishment owners do not reside here in the city of Bridgeport. Most of them reside outside of the city of Bridgeport. These businesses are own and operated through LLC's. And a lot of these places are dealing marijuana. They are commercial
Speaker A
storefronts for drug dealing. All right. A lot of these things that we're dealing with now take away from our legitimate effort to operate on legitimate and real problems that we're facing in the community because now we have to take
Speaker A
resources in a small division like mine and allocate them toward these uh towards these smoke shops. Just to give you an idea, and I know he'll touch on it more elaborately, but uh we've made over 15 arrests over the last year and a
Speaker A
half. We've seized hundreds of pounds of marijuana, both cannabis plant-based products and THC based products. In relation to what the council woman said in regards to the uh cannabis that tested positive for fentanyl, we did get a positive uh test for fentanyl, we
Speaker A
since have sent it up to our state laboratory which determined that it was not positive for fentanyl. All right, so we did we did our initial testing on our end, tested positive, we got a false positive, we sent it up to the state lab
Speaker A
for confirmation that determined that it was not uh that was not positive for fentanyl. But what I ask of you today is that we that we approve this moratorum.
Speaker A
I believe this gives us an opportunity to come to the table and put forth some legitimate regulations and stipulations on for these businesses to operate legitimately here in the city of Bridgeport. We want business, we want revenue, but we don't want the product
Speaker A
that's coming from these locations. Why are these places selling illegal marijuana when there's enough legal marijuana places?
Speaker A
They sell it at an extreme discount price to our dispensaries. Correct. And then the licensing requirements are a lot more expensive than uh for these establishments to get and there's only a certain number. So they and it's easy. A
Speaker A
lot of these establishments are supplied through out of state selling other substances as well.
Speaker A
I'm sorry it listed with fentinel. You said I could no it it it has we proved that it was not laced with fentanyl. Ma'am, we sent it up to the state lab and they determined that it was not laced with fentanyl. But since
Speaker A
we don't know the source, it's not controlled by any agency. We get God knows what could be in it.
Speaker A
Absolutely. Absolutely. They are they come here from out of state and they open up a store here. I don't understand.
Speaker A
Just to give you an idea. So just to give you guys an idea, one owner who resides who's originally out of New York has an address out of Milford owns three different establishments. One is Star uh Convenience, which is u located on
Speaker A
Barnum Avenue. All right. right at 1640 Barnum Avenue. The other is Dubai High, which is located at 51 Boston Avenue, which is directly across the street from Evelyn. This place probably gets more traffic than your uh your grocery store,
Speaker A
which is located directly across the street. And the other is uh Dice Convenience, which is located at 416 Main Street. We've since conducted compliance checks as well as executed search warrants at all of these establishments. We've made a number of
Speaker A
arrests and this individual is still in operation here in the city of Bridgeport. We need this moratorium so that we can come to the table and we can put forth some serious regulations and some policies in place that would ensure
Speaker A
that this is not a problem. Are there criminal penalties for um selling marijuana now or are they just civil and um you know is there tax violations?
Speaker A
We've made we've made over 15 arrests in this. We've also in our last operation because this owner has been operating here in the city of Bridgeport, we had the attorney general's office send down one of their investigators and they're
Speaker A
also working on it as well. I'll turn it over to Detective Pasone who will go over our uh over the stats of a recent year and a half.
Speaker A
Thank you. I'll take the lieutenant any day. Just give me to pay as well.
Speaker A
Detective Robert Pascone, Bridgeport Police Department, 25 years address 300 Congress Street. So, as Lieutenant said, since July 30th of 2025, we've conducted 20 joint agency enforcement operations with all the state agencies. Lieutenant had stated 15 arrests, six search warrants were
Speaker A
executed totaling 300, excuse me, three three 436 pounds of marijuana. That includes flour, the cannabis, concentrates, vapes, and edible products as well, including $13,000 in US currency that was seized on those warrants. So for this mortorium to go
Speaker A
through it's highly imperative that this does only because it makes our jobs easier in a long run. The city is safer.
Speaker A
So we want those we want this action to pass. That's basically the bottom line of it.
Speaker A
What do we do about the ones we can certainly pass this moratorium that's probably a given but what do we do about the ones that exist?
Speaker A
The ones that exist you could change the legislation in it. You put your change your regulations, you now apply certain if we change the regulations there be grandfathered grandfather if we do it.
Speaker A
Well, that's that's the problem from a yes state level. Okay. So, here's up on a state level, ma'am.
Speaker A
Yeah, that's my question. Like we could change our regulations, but for the ones that are already in operation, the 47 that are already out there, thank God this time wasn't fentanyl, but maybe next time it will be, right? So, like,
Speaker A
how do we figure something out as a community? I don't know if it has to be at the state level because the ones that are already there, I don't know if we have the right to revoke that license if
Speaker A
the state gave it to them. Right. So, most of these most of these establishments to answer that question, and that's a legitimate question, most of these establishments are operating without the proper licensing anyway.
Speaker A
Right. Oh, all right. Wow. So then a lot of these establishments are so this list that we comprise I share this with both our fire marshall's office. I share it with the health department. I share it with zoning. So that way everybody can
Speaker A
go through their records and determine what's actually legitimate and what's not. Um so I think um what we have to do is the opportunity to come to the table gives us an opportunity to not only put forth regulations but also gives us an
Speaker A
opportunity to start going after these landlords of these properties. Right? If they're if they're understanding that these type of illegal activities are occurring on their property then they're just as responsible as the individuals that are committing these crimes.
Speaker A
All right. So, that's extremely important to understand. Um, if you look at New Haven, New Haven has has adopted a new ordinance and anything in regards to one of those protected areas that we discussed before, like a school, like a
Speaker A
daycare, like a a place of worship. It's 3,000 It's 3,000 ft between these. It's uh I'm sorry, it's 1,000 ft between those locations. It's 3,000 ft between other smoke shop establishments. Right.
Speaker A
Currently, our ordinance states that it's only 750 ft. Wow. Right. So we have we have to start at the ordinance level and then we need to uh then we need to begin to uh put forth regulations that are going to dictate how these uh
Speaker A
establish operate caught us all by surprise with the legalization plasmic legalization of marijuana and all of a sudden these things cropped up and um we weren't quite ready for it. Yes, please go to the microphone. Identify yourself name and address. Mr. Newton
Speaker A
Ernie Newton 190 Reed Street city councilman and I do think it's in your prevy and the city attorney one of our attorneys are here that this commission could pass what we're asking you to do put the moratorum oh we can do that
Speaker A
we can do that for sure so if you could just do that part for us with the moratorum so that people know there's a moratorum on it until we hear from the people that be that wants to make it
Speaker A
stronger. Y'all won't accept no more um smoke shops and we could do an ordinance to help out. That's fine. I don't think to my recollection we have not had a smoke shop come before not one has been legalized by us. But
Speaker A
I'm hoping that at least you could do something just for your information. Yeah, we have not approved one.
Speaker A
That's good. Thank God. So I have a question. I have a question for for the officers.
Speaker A
Since these guys are not licensed, how are they stay how they stay open? How they reopen?
Speaker A
So what we do is um when they are not licensed, we pass it over to uh obviously our health department, our fire department, building department, zoning. We also go out a lot of times they're able to shut these places down
Speaker A
for the violations they find on uh on site but once they come in compliance these places are able to stay open. What we do with our f with our state partnerships is we bring out the department of labor we bring out revenue
Speaker A
we bring out addiction services. Now they're able to site them for obviously various vi violations on scene but currently um I believe health department if they're found in violation through the health department I believe the max that they could actually find them is
Speaker A
$150. Whereas uh whereas the labor department can find these people for not having workers comp insurance. $500 $5,000 a day that they open and 50% of that comes back to the to the city to the police department.
Speaker A
All right. So your fines for the health department that puts a damper as well.
Speaker A
You have to look back at the fines for the health department or if or if they if they break the law more than you know you should close them down.
Speaker A
Close them down and then make sure that that owner does not get rec. So we should um and as I talked with the council woman before um there should be a certain it's almost like liquor license, right? So, you have a certain
Speaker A
number of liquor licenses that are allowed within the city of Bridgeport. Should be no difference with the smoke shops, right? Let's say you have 50 licenses that are allowed and there's a 25 or $5,000 determined. We don't determine that
Speaker A
though. The state determines that whatever the number is and the state does with the licensed liquor uh with the licensed um the cannabis cannabis locations. But yeah, but this is not that. This is this is illegal.
Speaker A
These are illegal establishments establishments. So, I think there's probably maybe If it's not if they're not licensed to have this type of shop then not only so a lot of these places don't have the necessary permit how they get permits getting a
Speaker A
license everyone to make sure that these permits do not get and again that's what happens as well with that one smoke shop one person once they go in and get shut down cousin comes along opens up another one under that
Speaker A
that's true and so on and so forth so on and so forth so they're paying the fees accordingly these need to be raised put damper in their pocket that's where they have to hurry but don't they have to come to us for
Speaker A
the location approval. And so if they're not coming to us for the location approval, how are they getting a permit?
Speaker A
I can't. They're not getting a They're operating illegally. But but if they find that they don't have a permit, how are they reopening?
Speaker A
I'm so concerned. So if they're doing it illegally, it's a easy shutdown. It's an easy shutdown.
Speaker A
But it sounds like you don't have to go You have to go to not as easy as you think it is.
Speaker A
No. Okay. So then we have to put an ordinance. Well, we let me let me explain a few processes.
Speaker A
The police have their own protocol and policy. The city has their own. Just like in buildings department, we this council changed the fines. So where it hurt that they would do the right thing, but our enforcement through health and
Speaker A
all the other agencies, we have to do a better job. And I'm going to say we because if we don't work collaboratively together, we're asking you to put a moratorum in, a few of us have spoken to the mayor. He's pulling housing, he's
Speaker A
pulling uh uh buildings, he's going to be pulling zoning, and he's going to be pulling the PD. And so, it's going to be a task force so we can figure out how we're going to correct the problem.
Speaker A
Remember one thing, you'll never stop guns from being around. You're never going to stop drugs from being around.
Speaker A
If we can enforce and we know these locations are open, we have to hit them when they're open. We don't do a good job on that. We don't. [clears throat] And it's not that easy to say, you know,
Speaker A
shut them down because even if you're in a housing code violation, they go through this whole big long process. It could take six months. It could take three years. I lived in an apartment building until I moved. They were still
Speaker A
not vi the violations weren't corrected. And then if they do go through our process, it's a $100 a day, I you waste $100 a day, most people it nowadays, and it's unfortunate. So that's not hitting them in the pocket.
Speaker A
We have to hit these landlords. We have to hit these these property owners where it hurts. And it's an unfortunate thing to say, but we want our city to be good. We don't want our city to continue to fall apart. And that's why we're
Speaker A
here. That's why we have our police here and we have the council. We usually don't all stand up together like this and this is impressive and I just really we're asking put the moratorum in. Let us do our job.
Speaker A
Okay. Okay. All right. Do I have a motion? Can I just add to that?
Speaker A
One unanimous motion on the entire board. All right. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed?
Speaker A
motion carries. We have a one-year motive for Mr. Morton. Mr. Morton. That's my point.
Speaker A
I don't um That's my point. That's why I'm just like, you don't mind. But how what is the process for them to get the permit?
Speaker A
All right. Well, thank you. They're supposed to come to us of approval. Building doesn't They're supposed to come to us. So, the building We still have a meeting. We're not done.
Speaker A
So, we're not processing. So, the process get out of here. All right. Have a good evening.
Speaker A
Next item on the agenda, 26-14 1060 Railroad Avenue, petition of Marcio. Andre and Marcia Nana seeking a coastal site plan review and a site plan review approval for construction of a two family residential building in an X NX2 zone and coastal area.
Speaker A
Wait, did didn't we skip didn't 253 254? Oh 146 264. Wait, we skipped 13. We'll do it next.
Speaker A
13. It's 13. 13. We'll do it next. We just went out of order. Oh, we did 14.
Speaker A
We called it wrong. Oh, he called it wrong. Oh, she Okay, so she's doing both of them.
Speaker A
All right. Oh, great. That that worked out. Good evening. My name is Marcia. We still have a meeting.
Speaker A
Take your conversations out to the hallway please. Yeah. My name is Marcia Medo. I'm here.
Speaker A
Uh, looking for a municipal coastal site plan review. Your address, please. I'm sorry. You gave us your name. You need We need your address.
Speaker A
My name is Marcia. Your address? The address is 1060 Ray Road Avenue. Your address?
Speaker A
My address? Uh, 2989 Broadbridge Avenue in Bridge in Stratford. Okay. Thank you. Yes. All right. Continue. So, I'm looking for a review on Munis Coast for 1060 Railroad Avenue and um the letter from the Connecticut Department. I think you guys have
Speaker A
where they say everything is fine. Also, we have the the survey and uh all the requirements are met for those for this construction. I'm looking to build a two family house there.
Speaker A
So, you're see you just you're it's a coastal site plan review. Yes. for a two family house in an N anx2 zone, which is an allowed use in an NX2 zone.
Speaker A
Yeah. NX2. Okay. And and you have the letter from the postal review letter that says you're in compliance, right? We have we have that. Thank you.
Speaker A
Okay. Two family, right? Yes, it's a two family. If so, if if if this weren't in a coastal, you wouldn't be here.
Speaker A
I know. So, and since All right. Pretty simple and straightforward. Yep. Yeah. Any questions?
Speaker A
No. Would anyone like to speak in favor of this application? Is anyone opposed to this application?
Speaker A
I'm sorry. 1060. Nobody opposed. All right. See no opposition. The matter is closed. Thank you.
Speaker A
Thank you. Okay. We'll vote this one. Do I have a motion? Ali favor approve it.
Speaker A
I mean sorry second. All in favor? I I Anyone opposed? The matter is approved. Next item, please.
Speaker A
Okay. No, we have to we have to call it. All right. Next item on the agenda. 26-13 125 Sound View Avenue. a petition of a new Eminem Renovations LLC seeking the approval of the three lot subdivision in accordance with section 11-100
Speaker A
of the city of Bridgeport zoning regulations in an N2 zone. Good evening again. My name is Marcia Medu. I'm representing my company a new MM renovation.
Speaker A
My address is 2989 Broadbridge Avenue in Stratford. I'm looking uh for approval to subdivide my property on 125 Sound View Avenue. We have uh the survey and it all complies with all the Siri requirement and zoning. So currently
Speaker A
this is one forming. Currently this is one lot. Yeah, it's one lot. sub subdivided into three lots and three lots three potential homes and uh the lots I don't have the plan but we when I build I'm going to build according to the
Speaker A
zoning and now the regulations and needs lots are all compliant size complies and according to the engineer and the survey it complies on the size on the frontage each lot one is going to have about 50 ft front page. The main
Speaker A
lot with the house 60 ft and the third lot is going to have for almost 49 ft.
Speaker A
Great. All right. Again, a subdivision is pretty straightforward. Um, any questions? No. No. They're compliant.
Speaker A
Yes, they are. They all lines are compliant. 3,75 square ft. Seems like a lot for three lines.
Speaker A
Oh, no. On the left on here. Yeah. 36 + 1350. The total is about 5048 the frontage or the the one in the corner.
Speaker A
It's too long. It's this one she's making into three. I'm sorry. 50 by 40. Is it?
Speaker A
Oh, no. No. The front page. I mean, uh, he It's like a part of 36 it says 36 but we have to count here 13.
Speaker A
So the total is about 50 by 71 almost the main is 60.41. Yeah, the other two are quite obvious, but it's okay. That's why I was like, where is she doing all these houses?
Speaker A
I already have to fix it up the house. Okay. Would anyone like to speak in favor of this application?
Speaker A
Is anyone opposed to this application? Step forward. That's going to mess up that neighborhood.
Speaker A
Good evening everyone. Good evening. Your name and address, please? My name is Rhonda Underh Hill and the address is 120 Sound View Avenue.
Speaker A
Okay. Directly across the street from the property. Underh Hill like under the hill. So before we begin, I just again want to say thank you for the opportunity to share our concerns and we are here to formally present a letter of protest
Speaker A
that includes a signed petition of signatures from surrounding residents within 500 ft of 125 Sound View Avenue.
Speaker A
This opposition is on behalf of our community in response to the June 2nd postmark notice we received from a new Eminem Renovations LLC on June 4th, ultimately giving us approximately 25 days or so to respond. So, if I can, I
Speaker A
can present the formal letter and the petition with signatures. Okay, you give it to him.
Speaker A
Before we take a deep dive into this opposition request, it is important to note that a new Eminem Renovations LLC was formerly recognized as a domestic LLC formed on January 20th, 2022. and the entity is classified as carpenters
Speaker A
carpenters, excuse me, or under the NAKES code uh for new housing for cell builders.
Speaker A
Thus, a new Eminem renovations LLC is very familiar with this process as they have applied to expand other neighborhoods such as 694 Chopsy Hill in January of 2024.
Speaker A
Per the June 2nd notification, there is an application to sub subdivide the existing parcel of land into three separate lots and we oppose of this separation.
Speaker A
In this case, the parcel is approximately.33 acres of land, and we understand that a new Eminem Renovations LLC is seeking to redevelop or expand the neighborhood by adding two new properties.
Speaker A
Per the city of Bridgeport zoning website, our neighborhood is zoned as a residential A which consists of single family district preserve for low density detached single family housing ensuring a quiet residential environment by primarily prohibiting multifamily homes, manufacturing or heavy commercial uses.
Speaker A
Please note, we understand that a new M andM LLC or renovations LLC, their objective is to add two additional single family homes around the current structure. However, we do understand that this redevelopment could not only become an eyesore as the lot will become
Speaker A
overcrowded and the homes will be tightly positioned causing severe parking along with safety concerns.
Speaker A
Being that this application has been presented by an entity or a for-profit business versus a sole home buyer, it is believed that this request is for commercial uses as the group of investors are seeking permission to expand the property for financial gains
Speaker A
and flip the home. Let's also face the elephant in the room which most properties are now being purchased by outofstate residents or excuse me out of state persons such as New Yorkers who have high dollar mortgage approval letters ultimately
Speaker A
outbidding Connecticut residents. Hence it is our goal to preserve and protect the neighborhood. The residents believe that this redevelopment is not in the best interest of our community for four primary reasons that include but are not limited to one incompat incompatibility
Speaker A
with the neighborhood character. Two, increased demand on public infrastructure and services. Three, traffic, parking and public safety concerns, four environmental and quality of life impacts.
Speaker A
In closing, we respectfully oppose this request as this redevelopment initiative is too intense for our neighborhood and would negatively impact our quality of life as well as cause unnecessary congestion in an existing vibrant and well-maintained community. Furthermore, a new and Eminem Renovations LLC, also
Speaker A
known as investors or developers, is seeking to expand the existing lot for commercial purposes and would not reside in the redeveloped neighborhood nor have to live with the aftermath of increased activity, which starts at the construction phase. We respectfully
Speaker A
request that this application be denied or ask the ZBA for additional time be granted for research. Thank you.
Speaker A
Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? That's it. No, I'm just trying to make sure.
Speaker A
Anyone? Okay. Rebuttal. Yeah, that's that's what rebuttal is. I understand the neighbor's concern, but I can assure everything that I'm doing is according to what is allowed with the city. the this property is on a N2 uh location and uh what I need for the
Speaker A
lot is a 45 ft frontage. So I'm not and I'm not looking to do anything commercial even that I am a builder, you know, I'm going to build a residential property. A family is going to live there. I'm not looking to build
Speaker A
multifamily there. And the house is going to have the same uh layout, let's say, uh follow the characteristic of the the neighborhood.
Speaker A
That's what I'm planning. And one thing that I have here, I took the time to look on the neighborhood. Even though sound view, the lots are are a little bigger. the frontage right after on Silven Street. How the lots out are
Speaker A
448 or 49. Mhm. you know, and I I I look one by one to make sure that what I'm asking for is something legal, is something uh available, and it's going to be good for the neighborhood because your house is
Speaker A
going to increase the value. When you put new properties close, as long these are residential, this is going to include value to your property because you don't see anymore that you're not going to see anymore the little house
Speaker A
that is there because it's going to be a nice house. The next door both is going to be beautiful house and that is going to make your value go up. Both houses going to have driveways and garage. So,
Speaker A
it's not going to impact the parking lot on the street. So, well, we're not here for that. We're just here for a subdivision, which you pretty much get by right as long as they're conforming.
Speaker A
Yeah. I I just want everybody to be happy and you to understand that is not something that is going to decrease the amount of your property or is going to cause a a problem for the neighborhood.
Speaker A
All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Do I have a motion? Make a motion to approve.
Speaker A
You got a second. Okay. The item is closed. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve? and Molly the second. All in favor?
Speaker A
I. Anyone opposed? I'm sorry. No. No. No. The matter is closed. Thank you. Last last item. I don't know what to do with this.
Speaker A
Next item on the agenda. 22 298 North Avenue petition of Rafit Girish I'm sorry I didn't say it correctly seeking a certificate of location approval and small for a small scale cigar store in an existing retail plaza in an MX2 zone
Speaker A
this is just a subdivision is approve a moratorum on smoke it's approved Yeah, they want a cigar store, but we just approved the moratorium on smoke shop.
Speaker A
If I have a 3 acre property and I want to fight it, right? Yeah, we just approved the moratorum on smoke shops.
Speaker A
What are we Is it I mean that's what I'm asking. Sorry. What happened? Well, we haven't.
Speaker A
Okay, thank you. Thank you. Good. Okay. Good evening. My name is Ella Ali and this is my husband, Rafa. Um, I'm just Your address, please.
Speaker A
Oh, uh, 298 North Avenue. Um, so the 298 North is the address. Sorry. What's your home address?
Speaker A
Oh, 47 Mansion Avenue in Yoners. Okay. Oh, Yoners, New York. Yes. Okay. Um so we are seeking a certificate of location approval for a smallcale retail cigar store. Um there is already existing parking. The place has been existing for since 2022 now. Um we have
Speaker A
an existing lease that is a 5-year lease. Um basically it's been operating with no issues for the past few years.
Speaker A
Um, and we're just seeking to get this approved so that we have all the proper uh avenues in place to continue operation.
Speaker A
Do you have any other cigar stores? No. Okay. This is your It will be your sole business.
Speaker A
This is a sle business. That was it smoke a smoke shop, right? Cigar shop.
Speaker A
It was Are you going to have a a lounge or something inside? No, there's no smoking car.
Speaker A
As per the lease, this is a smoke shop. as per the lease, there's no smoking allowed in the premises or around the premises. Um, and he takes care of it. He ensures that, you know, that's never happened and we
Speaker A
haven't had any issues so far. Um, so we just would like the approval to continue the business.
Speaker A
So, what do you sell there? We sell babe and premium cigar, hookah, and tobacco for the hook and some accessories like watch. We sell watches on it. We sell handbag stuff like this.
Speaker A
Okay. No marijuana. We used to have legal marijuana. The one CBD is called CBD.
Speaker A
Oh. Or delta A. But when they we take it off. Okay. So this is like combination cigars and hookah lounge and tobacco. It's not a hookah lounge.
Speaker A
No, there's no hookas by no lounge. Yes. Okay. Okay, I get it. No, um, is it possible for David to put it up on the screen the location, please?
Speaker A
[clears throat] Thank you. Isn't this a smoke shop? It's a smoke shop, right? Oh, it's a smoke shop.
Speaker A
There's a cigar shop. There is a difference. What? What's the difference? At least somebody what they sell.
Speaker A
They're not. That's why I asked him what he sells. Did he What did he say? Cuz they didn't hear you. We got enough.
Speaker A
No. A few more minutes. This is Okay. It says smoke shop. Oh, no. Our problem is I'm going to change the sign for you.
Speaker A
Oh, so you currently have it as a smoke shop? Yes, we visit these sites. But when we did originally when we got to visit the sites, it shouldn't be a surprise. It's a smoke shop. [laughter] Wait, is that a liquor store next to you
Speaker A
guys? There's a liquor store next door. Okay. This is where AutoZone is. Autozone, right? So, we didn't buy this from anyone. We leased it directly from the landlord um who's a reput reputable landlord here in Bridgeport. Um and you
Speaker A
know we built the business for about 3 years. We came to Bridgeport. Um I helped my husband come here to get the proper approvals. So we just wanted to continue operations cuz um we want to do everything in the right avenues.
Speaker A
All right. How long you've been doing it? I mean how long this been? Four years now. Four years.
Speaker A
Right. And you license? You currently license? Yes. What type of licensing is this? Well, he has a tobacco license. And when we originally came to Bridgeport, they didn't require any special zoning application for this. They just needed us to put in a regular application,
Speaker A
which we did, and a tobacco [clears throat] license. Yes. Yeah. That was well these all you know all these tobacco all these smoke shops came out of legalized marijuana.
Speaker A
So and a lot of places did an end run around that. All right. Any other questions?
Speaker A
Have you got any um violations or have you got any violations? There was a building violation for like a step or something which we are currently in the process of um also getting permitted correctly.
Speaker A
That's the only nothing um no issues with the law enforcement. That's Oh, the health department or labor?
Speaker A
No, no issues with health department because you guys are the one that operate it. You Well, yeah, he does.
Speaker A
Or you have employees? I'm sorry. Are you guys are the one operating it or you have employees in place that are the Okay. Anything else?
Speaker A
Anyone like to speak in favor of I got to ask it. Anyone in favor of this application?
Speaker A
Oh, wait. David got something to say. He said look. Oh, David. I'm sorry, David.
Speaker A
You have the clear view of [clears throat] [laughter] Hello commissioners. Uh David Cotting on the gohead. Um I did prefer uh prepare a staff report for this one. I just wanted to read it to you really quickly. Um so
Speaker A
the proposed business um is an existing commercial tenant space. Um it was it's been a smoke shop located right next to the auto zone price uh beer wine.
Speaker A
Um I did go out to the site. I took some pictures. Um one condition that the uh commissioners may consider is the smoking paraphernalia that's visible from parking lot. Um you kind of see it here.
Speaker A
So you don't want that visible from the parking lot. Yeah. Nope. Okay. And that's um per uh section 9.20.5.
Speaker A
S um signs that advertise products that contain cannabis or smoking parapamiliar are prohibited. I didn't see any signage, but the actual product in the window display.
Speaker A
Well, yeah. Um um hookah specifically is what you're referring to. So you can't display the hookas in your window because it's it can be used for some, you know, in in some cultures it's for tobacco.
Speaker A
Unfortunately, most people here think it's for marijuana. So um so aside from that, uh I just want to uh list the certificate of location approval standards. Um the So the approval criteria for section 11.120.2.8 2 uh no application for a certificate of
Speaker A
location approval may be granted until the planning and zoning commission on the findings. Uh the use is compatible with and implements the objectives and policies of the master plan constitution development. The use will not impair the future development of the surrounding
Speaker A
area. The proposal includes adequate safeguards to protect adjacent property and the neighborhood in general from any detrimental impacts and the proposed use might otherwise have. Uh in case of any proposed use located in or directly adjacent to an N or NX zone, the
Speaker A
location of the size of such use, the nature and intensity of the operations involved in or conducted in connection with the use, site layout, its relation to access streets is such that pedestrian and vehicular traffic to and from the use and assembly of persons in
Speaker A
connection with the use will not be in Krugus with residential uses and will not an undue hazard or imp residents. Uh the proposed use will not adversely impact property values. And lastly, uh the use will not be disruptive to or
Speaker A
cause conflicts with existing immediate vicinity. Um and just to touch on the fourth bullet, um is not located near an N or NX. It's all MX2 that immediately surrounds the property.
Speaker A
And then you have a mix of CX and industrial uses. Thank you. Thank you, David. All right. Any Would anyone like to speak in favor of this?
Speaker A
Nobody here. Anyone opposed? Got to ask. Okay. See no opposition to matter. Close. Thank you.
Speaker A
Do I have a motion? I have a motion to approve. You want to have a second?
Speaker A
You want to put some conditions? Yeah, we have to put the conditions to the No, no, no, no. that no uh no that I no CBD no marijuana well that's never that hasn't been an issue but we well we have to put it we have to
Speaker A
we have to put it in there no no marijuana no CB CBD CBD no THC no Yeah.
Speaker A
Um, no synthetic marijuana. What else? Are we able to just do like a run with all of the different like departments and make sure that this isn't one of the smoke shops that we were just discussing?
Speaker A
Could we table this until we somehow get that information? You guys, we can, but like can they come back in with like a statement from each of the different departments saying that they are free and clear?
Speaker A
Otherwise, it's a safety hazard if we're giving a permit to somebody who has possibly already been cited.
Speaker A
47 cuz then we're going to have all the smoke shop coming up here. Yeah. decision or we could or we could take your test or we could take your testimony that it's not I mean he said no based on what I asked
Speaker A
we can't ask for it to be continued to have more information now is is it your testimony that you have no have no violations with the Bridgeport Police Department with the Bridgeport what police department.
Speaker A
You've never been cited from selling marijuana or anything like that? That's Oh, yes. Two years ago, we was have a THC TCA and that was legal to sell it.
Speaker A
But you guys, but yeah, they told me this is not legal and we have a violation, but they take it off and I got a dismissal from it because I didn't know about it. So I decide to not put any THC or THC or THCB
Speaker A
or nothing because I'm so confused with the law and the laws, you know, keep progressively changing. So we have to Do you have something like this in New York?
Speaker A
No, I don't. But you have it in Bridge. Okay. Bridgeport is the place to be for a smoke shop.
Speaker A
Well, not not after not [clears throat] after tonight. Okay. Yeah. Did you by any chance ever own another smoke shop in another state or another city?
Speaker A
Do we own another one? Did you ever? No. No. Okay. All right. Do I have a motion?
Speaker A
I make a motion to approve with conditions. With the conditions conditions not displaying [singing] the THC at all, right?
Speaker A
No marijuana related products. And I'll I'll second. I had no problem. Or cannabis related products.
Speaker A
Okay. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? I'm opposed. Do we Do we have opposition?
Speaker A
Opposition. Just me. You're opposed? Yes. Okay. The matter is closed. Thank you. It passes.
Speaker A
We keep some of these. Do I have a motion? Make a motion to have any approve the minutes.
Speaker A
Oh, we have No, no. We have minutes. motion to approve the minutes. Oh, not yet.
Speaker A
I wasn't here. So, here. [laughter] Yeah, you were here. I was here. Ollie was here.
Speaker A
Bob was here, but he can't. Jackie Jackie was here. Johanna was here. The solid was She made a motion to approve.
Speaker A
Solid. So, do we have a second? Should I end it here? All in favor?
Speaker A
The minutes are approved. Okay. No, there's just one thing and then we make a motion to join the meeting.
Speaker A
Yes, we need a motion to see. All in favor? Meeting adjourned. Thank you very much.
Speaker A
You know, I think when you get on the desk, they pick it up. They leave it in.
Topics:City of BridgeportInland WetlandsPlanning and Zoningpublic hearingproperty developmentsingle-family dwellingutility bridgepower outageurban planningmunicipal meeting
