Jon Allen Smith
Oct 19, 1933 - Feb 7, 2021
A Stamford native, Jon was born in 1933, the son of Florence & Fernley Smith. He attended the Bangall Elementary School, (Stamford's last one room schoolhouse), Willard School, and Stamford High School, graduating with the Class of 1951.
In December of 1950 while a high school senior, he was sought out as the top draftsman in his class for part-time employment by the Planning Department of the City of Stamford and stayed full time in that capacity after graduation. As such, he was part of a team formulating Stamford's first Master Plan of development. In 1954, he volunteered for the US Army during the Korean War. Following basic training at Ft. Dix, NJ, he was assigned to the School of Engineering at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia and was trained in soils mechanics. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion at ltazuke Air Base in Fukuoka, Japan. He was responsible for soils exploration and testing, and concrete batching control for a major airfield runway and hardstand expansion facility for the Japan Self Defense Force. He served in this capacity for 18 months, receiving his Honorary Discharge in January of 1956, and returned to the staff of the Stamford Planning Dept.
During the next 17 years, as a Civil Servant, he was elevated through the ranks eventually to the position of Assistant Planning & Zoning Director in 1970. In August of 1973, following an open competitive examination, he was appointed Planning & Zoning Director by then Mayor Julius Wilensky. At that time, under the Stamford Charter, this position was also assigned to membership of the Stamford Traffic Commission and ex officio member of the Parks & Recreation Commission, the Environmental Protection Board and Economic Development Commission. From 1973 until his retirement in 1993, he was at the forefront of comprehensive planning for the city's growth and development, and particularly its Urban Renewal project in the Central Business District. He was recognized as the author of the first conceptual redevelopment plan for a revitalized Stamford central business district.
Of significance were many studies and regulations which Jon spearheaded. He developed "cluster zoning" regulations to encourage the preservation of open space and to prevent infringement on environmentally sensitive lands. He was responsible for the first updating of Stamford's Master Plan. In 1977, Mayor Louis Clapes appointed him as coordinator for development of a new $50 million Stamford Transportation Center. In 1979, he led the Staff in structuring the first comprehensive city-wide re-zoning since 1951. He was responsible for the development of a "Coastal Management Program" for Stamford, meeting National Clean Water Act Guidelines, and a comprehensive plan for public access to the Stamford Waterfront. By 1990 "Public Access" logo signs were installed at key locations on the waterfront. Working with Downtown property owners and businessmen, he was a facilitator for the creation of a 'Downtown Special Services District " (DSSD). In 1992, Mayor Stanley Esposito named him "Transportation Planner" for the City of Stamford with the result that his proposals for a Comprehensive Traffic Improvement Plans and downtown Parking Plan were adopted by the Stamford Traffic Commission in 1993. Direct early results were the installation of new overhead orientation signs at all major traffic approaches to the downtown, and the construction of the extension of Hoyt Street from Summer Street to Washington Boulevard providing the missing link in a critical downtown by-pass route.
During his career, Jon lectured at UCONN and Fairfield University on Planning and Urban Development issues. He was sought out as a panelist at American Institute of Planning conferences in New York City, Chicago, Toledo, and San Francisco. He also served as "expert witness", testifying in State and Federal court proceedings.
Jon retired from Civil Service in October of 1993 completing a 42-year career as a civil servant. He had been a Charter Member of the American Institute of Planners since 1958, and a Member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1978.
Following retirement, Jon founded the "Planning & Urban Design Studio". His first PUDS client was Warburg, Dillon, Swiss Bank, and Skidmore, Owings. Merrill (SOM) architects for the Swiss Bank move into downtown Stamford. Jon developed a conceptual site plan encouraging pedestrian flow through the Swiss Bank site, from the RR Station to the downtown business district. Also, working with a Westport Appraiser he produced several development feasibility analyses for large suburban Fairfield County estates. He also served as a board member of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (USC) a national Ford Foundation sponsored non-profit housing consortium giving financial support for the development of "affordable housing" in lower Fairfield County (1995- 1999). In 2009 he was invited to participate in the '"Reinventing Stamford" Civic Conversation among 150 business and civic leaders evaluating Stamford's opportunities and challenges for the next 25 years.
He is survived by his son Dean Smith and daughters Cris Saunders (son-in-law Joseph Saunders) and Lauren Smith (son-in-law Eric Schnetzinger), grandchildren Jolie Smith, Zachary Smith, Andrew Saunders, Daniel Saunders, and Geoffrey Saunders and great-grandchild Jacob Saunders. His wife Ann Smith succumbed to cancer in 2006. Three brothers, Richard, Edward, and Fernley have all passed away.
There will be no services at this time, but we will have a celebration of his life later this year.
Joel Freedman
Jon Allen Smith
Oct 19, 1933 - Feb 7, 2021
A Stamford native, Jon was born in 1933, the son of Florence & Fernley Smith. He attended the Bangall Elementary School, (Stamford's last one room schoolhouse), Willard School, and Stamford High School, graduating with the Class of 1951.
In December of 1950 while a high school senior, he was sought out as the top draftsman in his class for part-time employment by the Planning Department of the City of Stamford and stayed full time in that capacity after graduation. As such, he was part of a team formulating Stamford's first Master Plan of development. In 1954, he volunteered for the US Army during the Korean War. Following basic training at Ft. Dix, NJ, he was assigned to the School of Engineering at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia and was trained in soils mechanics. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion at ltazuke Air Base in Fukuoka, Japan. He was responsible for soils exploration and testing, and concrete batching control for a major airfield runway and hardstand expansion facility for the Japan Self Defense Force. He served in this capacity for 18 months, receiving his Honorary Discharge in January of 1956, and returned to the staff of the Stamford Planning Dept.
During the next 17 years, as a Civil Servant, he was elevated through the ranks eventually to the position of Assistant Planning & Zoning Director in 1970. In August of 1973, following an open competitive examination, he was appointed Planning & Zoning Director by then Mayor Julius Wilensky. At that time, under the Stamford Charter, this position was also assigned to membership of the Stamford Traffic Commission and ex officio member of the Parks & Recreation Commission, the Environmental Protection Board and Economic Development Commission. From 1973 until his retirement in 1993, he was at the forefront of comprehensive planning for the city's growth and development, and particularly its Urban Renewal project in the Central Business District. He was recognized as the author of the first conceptual redevelopment plan for a revitalized Stamford central business district.
Of significance were many studies and regulations which Jon spearheaded. He developed "cluster zoning" regulations to encourage the preservation of open space and to prevent infringement on environmentally sensitive lands. He was responsible for the first updating of Stamford's Master Plan. In 1977, Mayor Louis Clapes appointed him as coordinator for development of a new $50 million Stamford Transportation Center. In 1979, he led the Staff in structuring the first comprehensive city-wide re-zoning since 1951. He was responsible for the development of a "Coastal Management Program" for Stamford, meeting National Clean Water Act Guidelines, and a comprehensive plan for public access to the Stamford Waterfront. By 1990 "Public Access" logo signs were installed at key locations on the waterfront. Working with Downtown property owners and businessmen, he was a facilitator for the creation of a 'Downtown Special Services District " (DSSD). In 1992, Mayor Stanley Esposito named him "Transportation Planner" for the City of Stamford with the result that his proposals for a Comprehensive Traffic Improvement Plans and downtown Parking Plan were adopted by the Stamford Traffic Commission in 1993. Direct early results were the installation of new overhead orientation signs at all major traffic approaches to the downtown, and the construction of the extension of Hoyt Street from Summer Street to Washington Boulevard providing the missing link in a critical downtown by-pass route.
During his career, Jon lectured at UCONN and Fairfield University on Planning and Urban Development issues. He was sought out as a panelist at American Institute of Planning conferences in New York City, Chicago, Toledo, and San Francisco. He also served as "expert witness", testifying in State and Federal court proceedings.
Jon retired from Civil Service in October of 1993 completing a 42-year career as a civil servant. He had been a Charter Member of the American Institute of Planners since 1958, and a Member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1978.
Following retirement, Jon founded the "Planning & Urban Design Studio". His first PUDS client was Warburg, Dillon, Swiss Bank, and Skidmore, Owings. Merrill (SOM) architects for the Swiss Bank move into downtown Stamford. Jon developed a conceptual site plan encouraging pedestrian flow through the Swiss Bank site, from the RR Station to the downtown business district. Also, working with a Westport Appraiser he produced several development feasibility analyses for large suburban Fairfield County estates. He also served as a board member of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (USC) a national Ford Foundation sponsored non-profit housing consortium giving financial support for the development of "affordable housing" in lower Fairfield County (1995- 1999). In 2009 he was invited to participate in the '"Reinventing Stamford" Civic Conversation among 150 business and civic leaders evaluating Stamford's opportunities and challenges for the next 25 years.
He is survived by his son Dean Smith and daughters Cris Saunders (son-in-law Joseph Saunders) and Lauren Smith (son-in-law Eric Schnetzinger), grandchildren Jolie Smith, Zachary Smith, Andrew Saunders, Daniel Saunders, and Geoffrey Saunders and great-grandchild Jacob Saunders. His wife Ann Smith succumbed to cancer in 2006. Three brothers, Richard, Edward, and Fernley have all passed away.
There will be no services at this time, but we will have a celebration of his life later this year.
Published by Stamford Advocate on Feb. 9, 2021.