Danbury Planning Commission Meeting - January 21, 2026
Danbury Planning Commission Meeting - January 21, 2026
The Danbury Planning Commission held a regular meeting on January 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The commission welcomed new member Sydney Nazario and addressed several items including a public hearing for a proposed gas station and convenience store at 85 Mill Plain Road, a continuation for BRT Sconset LLC, an 824 referral, election of officers, and an amendment to a prior approval. The next meeting was corrected from February 5 to February 4, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of January 7, 2026: Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Paul Rotolo (13 Linden Place, Danbury, speaking as a Sixth Ward representative): Expressed opposition to the Mill Plain application, citing traffic congestion on Mill Plain Road and the need to protect the Lake Kenosha watershed. He questioned why the applicant planned to replace piping and equipment but not the underground storage tanks, and requested an update on any contamination at the site at the next hearing. He also offered personal congratulations to retiring attorney Neil Marcus.
Discussion Items
Public Hearing – Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC (85 Mill Plain Road, Special Exception 805)
- Applicant’s Introduction: Attorney Neil Marcus (Cohen and Wolf) stated he is retiring after 52.5 years and introduced attorney Josh Pedrera as new counsel. He explained the proposal to redevelop a long-standing non-conforming auto repair/gas station into a less non-conforming use: a retail fueling station with a convenience store. The building would be reduced from approximately 7,000 to 5,000 sq ft.
- Project Description: Engineer Larry Webster (Alfred Benesch & Co.) described the site plan via screen share. Improvements include a new canopy and dispensers (relocated slightly from the building to allow a sidewalk), removal of a rear addition, new double-wall piping and monitoring systems (existing underground storage tanks to remain), narrowed driveways, improved on-site circulation, and code-compliant parking. A traffic study (by Banash) has been submitted; the city’s traffic engineer (Vera) has not yet reported.
- Commission Questions: Members inquired about pedestrian access, building entrances, and traffic flow. The applicant agreed to provide building elevations and renderings and to address all outstanding staff comments.
- Applicant’s Position: The applicant stated they are not seeking approval that evening due to significant recent comments from staff and engineering, and requested a continuation to present a complete response.
- Outcome: The public hearing was continued unanimously to February 4, 2026.
Continuation – BRT Sconset LLC
- Staff received an email from Stephen Sullivan requesting the application be continued to the next meeting. The commission continued the hearing to February 4, 2026, without hearing testimony.
824 Referral – Extension of Sewer Extension Approval (54th Avenue, J12012)
- Deputy Planning Director Jennifer Eminger: Staff recommended a positive referral extending the sewer extension approval for 18 months, pending review of legal documents and engineering. No objections.
- Outcome: Unanimous positive referral to City Council.
Election of Officers
- Chairman: Arnold Finaldi was nominated by Bob Kyokio and seconded by Helen Hostetter; elected unanimously.
- Vice Chairman: Bob Kyokio was nominated by Sydney Nazario and seconded by Helen Hostetter; elected unanimously.
Amendment to Conditions – Plaza West (100 Mill Plain Road, Special Exception 7281)
- Jennifer Eminger: The amendment revises conditions from a prior approval for a change of use (office to medical, adding 1,350 sq ft). After DOT review, required sidewalk and crosswalk improvements within the state right‑of‑way proved too complex for the scope of the project. Condition #3 (requiring DOT permits) was deleted entirely; Condition #6 was revised to remove sidewalk and crosswalk requirements while retaining pavement markings and signage. Staff will add a whereas clause reflecting DOT input and wordsmith with Corporation Counsel.
- Applicant’s Representative (Tom): Thanked the commission for resolving the issue, noting the tenant had been waiting. Staff apologized for the unintended consequences.
- Outcome: Unanimous approval of the amended resolution; staff to finalize language.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes of January 7, 2026: Approved.
- Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC: Continued to February 4, 2026.
- BRT Sconset LLC: Continued to February 4, 2026.
- Sewer Extension Referral: Positive referral to City Council.
- Election: Arnold Finaldi (Chairman) and Bob Kyokio (Vice Chairman) elected.
- Plaza West Amendment: Approved with amended conditions; staff to finalize.
- Next Meeting: February 4, 2026 (corrected from February 5).
Meeting Transcript
Okay, Joanne, thank you. And welcome everybody to the January 21st, 2026 meeting of the Danbury Planning Commission. We will open with a roll call. Mr. Kyokio. Here. Miss Hostetter. Here. Mr. Nazario. Here. And Chairman Finaldi is here. Before I forget, let me extend a uh a welcome on behalf of the uh planning commission to Mr. Nazario, our newest member. We're very happy you're here, Sydney. I read um on your confirmation letter that um uh you have your uh master's degree from Western Connecticut State University. You worked as a national sales manager for Ceres. You're a licensed realtor, and you served two years on the Danbury Zoning Commission. Is that all correct? That is all correct. Thank you. Well, we're glad to have you and please uh at any time uh during our meeting. If we do anything that doesn't quite make sense or you need an explanation, please stop us and let us know. Excellent. Thank you so much. And I'll try to do that as well. Okay. Um before I forget also, um, this on our agenda under continuation of public hearings, uh item one, BRT Sconset LLC. Uh staff did receive an email yesterday from uh Stephen Sullivan. Um, and which I'll read briefly. After speaking with the applicant, we request the application be continued to February 4th, and we will attend the meeting tomorrow night. That's what the email said. Now I'm interpreting this as meaning that they want us to continue that public hearing and there will be no testimony on that application tonight. Is that correct? That's correct, Mr. Chairman. Um, and there's actually a second page that does the correction for that, saying that they will not be attending. All right, thank thanks, Allie. So just again, if anyone is uh attending this evening to hear the matter of BRT Scons at LLC, we will not be hearing any testimony on that matter this evening. Um let me uh get the Zoom intro in if I could. Uh this meeting of the Danbury Planning Commission is being held on Zoom as a virtual meeting. You can participate via Zoom and see the audio and the video, or you can call in by phone and participate via audio only. Please be aware that we may have to mute your microphone or telephone to avoid an echo or some other background noise. Instructions on how to participate in the meeting appear on the City of Danbury website and all of the documents and materials that apply to the matters to be discussed during this meeting, including the agenda, are also available on the City of Danbury website. As always, if you have any questions regarding how to participate in the meeting, please contact the City of Danbury Planning and Zoning Department. As a reminder, the entire meeting will be posted on and can be seen on the City of Danbury website. We will follow the posted agenda as per standard practice. If prior to the meeting, any questions or comments on agenda items were submitted via email to the planning and zoning department, those comments will be read during the appropriate portion of the meeting. Finally, please remember the technology glitches do sometimes occur. Please be patient if that happens.
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