Stamford Zoning Board Hires Consultant to Review Boatyard Plan

The Stamford Zoning Board has reportedly hired an independent consultant to conduct a third-party review of the contentious plan submitted by South End developer Building and Land Technology to construct a new 3.5 acre boatyard at 205 Magee Ave. in Shippan.

The boatyard, part of BLT's ambitious Harbor Point redevelopment project, is to replace the former Brewer's Yacht Haven boatyard and marina, located on a 14-acre site on Bateman Way which is planned for the new headquarters for investment firm Bridgewater Associates.

As per a report in the Stamford Advocate, the zoning board will use the consultant's report to determine if the boatyard and related facilities being planned by BLT will be sufficient to meet the city's needs.

According to the Advocate, the boatyard plan, which was filed on Sept. 7, calls for a 25,000-square-foot building on the property that can store up to 530 vessels during the winter. It would also serve as repair and maintenance facility during the boating season. The zoning board however has not yet reviewed the plan, saying that it is "incomplete" due to the lack of a city easement.

A zoning requirement for the mixed-use redevelopment project, the boatyard has been a source of tension between the zoning board and BLT since earlier this year when the city issued the developer a cease-and-desist for allegedly failing to submit specific plans for replacing the facility in a timely fashion.

Now that a plan has been submitted, it will be up to the zoning board to determine if it is a suitable replacement in terms of capacity. BLT's plans also call for the development of several small marinas along Stamford's South End as part of the mixed-used redevelopment project. In June city officials and representatives from developer Building and Land Technology held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new North Marina on Washington Boulevard.

For more, check out the Stamford Advocate report.