Everybody to the March 18th, 2026 meeting of the Danbury Planning Commission.

We will open with a roll call.

Mr.

Kyokio.

Here.

Ms.

Hofstetter.

Here.

Mr.

Nazario.

Here.

And that Chairman Finaldi is here.

We do have a quorum.

Commission members, I received a uh a letter that the mayor had appointed uh an alternate um uh to the planning commission.

Eva Vega, three Crane Street, Danbury, Connecticut.

Um, I believe uh she was sworn in, and uh I think the intent was to have her attend tonight, but I don't see her here on the Zoom meeting.

But um but good.

I uh Joe, I can't remember the last time we had an alternate, Joanne.

When did we have an alternate last time?

I I can't remember.

Unless it was uh uh Hallis, he was wasn't it come out.

Um Kevin Kevin Hoss.

Yeah, and then he became a member.

I that's the list I remember.

Yeah, what year was that?

I don't know, 1929.

And um, and then we had Cheryl Wallace, uh Cheryl Wallace Smith, but she came in and out very quickly.

So anyway, the good news is we have an alternate sworn in.

The bad news is she's not here tonight.

We're not sure when she's gonna attend her first meeting, but that's still movement in the right direction.

Anyway, um, I'll read the Zoom intro.

This meeting of the Danbury Planning Commission is being held on Zoom as a virtual meeting.

Even though this meeting is a virtual meeting, members of the public and interested parties continue to have an opportunity to participate in the meeting in a couple of different ways.

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 meeting to be 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.

Our next meeting is April 1st, 2026.

Please note your calendars.

Um, the minutes of the March 4th, 2026 meeting were distributed.

And unless there's any comments or corrections, I'll entertain a motion to accept those minutes.

Mr.

Chairman, so moved.

Thank you.

Do I hear a second?

A second.

Thank you, Mr.

Nazario.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Um, as I mentioned, there's no public hearings this evening.

Um, no new public hearings, rather.

And under continuation of public hearings, item one, Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC application for special exception site plan approval for automobile service station service garage and convenience market, sections 3e2, 3e9, 5b2B1, and 9 with trip generation greater than 500 vehicle trips per day in the CA80 zone, 85 mill plane road D14013, special exception number 805.

Uh Commission members, as shown on the agenda, this matter will be tabled and continued until the April 1st, 2026 meeting.

At the request of the applicant's attorney, there will be no testimony taken or given on this application at this meeting.

Um, Allie, just a brief refresher.

We're doing okay time-wise.

I know we have a meeting April 1st and April 15th.

I just want to make sure we're doing okay here.

Um, yes, we're doing good on time.

Um, I believe the drop dead date would be um May 1st.

So we do have an additional public hearing if necessary.

Um, I know the applicant is planning on presenting on April 1st.

Um, but we do have a little wiggle room with that April 15th um meeting scheduled as well.

All right, good.

Do we happen to know what the issues are?

Uh the why why they keep tabling this or continuing this?

I I don't for this in particular, this table in particular, they wanted to have both their environmental professional and their traffic engineer at the meeting.

They didn't want to come tonight and do a presentation with only one of them.

Um, they just thought it would be more efficient to do it all on April 1st.

Okay.

Commission members, any questions for Allie on this uh application?

And if I hear none, I'll entertain a motion to continue this until our April 1st meeting.

Mr.

Chairman, I'll vote to continue.

Thank you, Helen.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Thanks, Bob.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please say aye.

Opposed.

Okay.

This will hopefully um hear this one on April 1st.

Okay.

Um, under old business, you will note uh commission members, there are three draft resolutions.

Uh so Allie's been busy writing.

Allie, can well done.

Um the first one we'll get right to Western Connecticut Council on Alcoholism Inc.

application for revised special exception, revised site plan approval for interior renovations to existing dependency treatment centers, sections 5B2B11 in the CA80 zone 38 Old Ridgebury Road, C16024 special exception number 799.

Commission members, you may recall that our last meeting we gave Allie some guidance uh on this particular application, and um she's provided us with a draft resolution of approval.

Allie, any uh discussion or comments on that resolution?

Um I believe it was pretty straightforward resolution here.

Um again, just that interior renovation of the existing dependency treatment center.

Um, just jumping to number six.

So the commission is aware the applicant did submit the revised plans in response to um my staff report dated February 19th.

So that will be resolved hopefully shortly as well.

Um, but really no conditions in this that are out of the ordinary.

Thanks, Allie.

We like them when they're simple.

Uh Commission members, uh, if you had a chance to review the um draft resolution, any questions for Allie?

Anything?

This was a pretty straightforward one.

No meat on the bone, as they say.

No questions?

Okay.

If there are no questions with the draft resolution of approval with conditions, I will entertain a motion to approve or deny the resolution.

Mr.

Chairman, I'll make a motion to uh approve the resolution with conditions.

Thank you.

Bob, do I hear a second?

Mr.

Chairman, I second.

Thanks, Sydney.

Uh motion has been made and seconded to approve the resolution of approval with conditions.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

The resolution of approval with conditions is approved.

Okay, Allie.

Um, we'll go right to the next one.

BRT Sconset LLC application for revised special exception, revised site plan approval for an existing previously approved cluster development, the ridgetop sections 4A2B3 and 4A6 in the RA40 zone, 10 Damia Drive, F09036, special exception number 589.

Um Allie, um your comments, please.

All right.

So again, pretty standard for the cluster development.

I know we just saw one for one and three Pembroke.

So I'm gonna jump straight into number six, which is that standard condition for the HOA.

Um, basically that they file the declaration and that it be referred to the Department of Planning and Zoning as well for review, um, just to ensure that the ownership maintenance of easement areas and the private drives um are well maintained by the HOA.

Then jumping to number nine, it is the standard to extend municipal water and sewer facilities that the applicant has to obtain approval from council.

Um then we have the standard staff report conditions, um, construction sequencing plan in number 12 was really important, just due to the existing housings houses up there.

Um, so we just want to make sure that everything is good on the construction sequencing.

Um, number 13.

We worked with the applicant on this as well a little bit, just to make sure that they can um start grading and drainage and foundations um prior to getting this verification from their engineer.

Basically, going off of Kelly's staff report, engineering staff report um that is conditioned.

The engineer needs to verify that the storm drainage systems are properly maintained and functioning as designed.

Um so we're allowing with this permit here, we're allowing allowing the applicant to start with grading and drainage permitting as well as um foundation permits.

But as soon as they start to go into the structure permit, which is the building itself, that's when they have to verify that the storm drainage systems are functioning properly.

And then number 18 is going to be the condition for the fire marshals.

As the commission is aware, there was some discussions about the widths and the concern for fire apparatus to get through the private drive.

So this is just going to verify that the as built maintains that minimum of 20 feet width of unobstructed roadway.

And I think that covers all the project specific conditions.

You mentioned in 13, the sort of chronology of permits.

First one is the grading and drainage.

And the third is the structure before they start building itself.

So the the intent here is to is to give them a little flexibility to let them start with the grading and drainage and foundation and then get to the structural permit after it's inspected.

Just give us a little bit on that.

Yes, that's correct, Mr.

Chairman.

The foundation here is really important because that's when the water and sewer hookups happen as well for each dwelling.

So it does allow a lot to happen just prior to the actual building of the structure itself.

That's when that verification would need to take place.

Thank you.

Commission members, anything uh on this draft resolution of approval.

Mr.

Chairman, just a quick refresher.

Is Damia Drive?

Is that a private road or is that a city road?

Go ahead, Allie.

That is a private road.

The whole the all the way from Clapboard up.

Yeah.

Okay.

And then the number 18 when you're talking about the private access road, is that Damien Drive or is that the back one with that's the parts?

That is going to be the looped um roadway, that proposed new looped roadway.

Oh, the new looped roadway.

Okay, got it.

Okay.

We're not crazy about private roads, but it's a private road.

What are you gonna do?

There's always seems to be issues, but we'll that's a discussion for another time.

Helen, please.

I just have a sort of a procedural question here.

It's general.

Uh on number nine, you have the applicant shall obtain approval from the city of Danbury City Council for the to extend the municipal water and sewer.

Um we have another thing on the dock, another item on the docket where the city of Danbury is coming back to us for a referral to do just the same thing.

So my question is in this case, because we're approving this this um resolution.

Does the city of Danbury City Council still have to give us a referral and then it goes back?

Yeah, is and okay.

I've just put it on the suggestion in the suggestion box to see if we can like just not have to have that go back and forth because that wastes time.

I mean, I'm sure the applicant would be happy with us doing all of this at one time.

All right, that's all I have to say on that.

Thank you very much.

Thanks, Ellen.

The wheels of government turn slowly, Helen.

We try to make it quick.

Every one of them is painful anyway.

It was the most profound thing I've said in many meetings, but anyway.

Okay.

All right, folks.

Um if there's no other discussion, I'll entertain a motion to approve or deny the resolution of approval with conditions.

Mr.

Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve.

Mr.

Chairman, I hope you're saying yes.

Okay.

Um motion to approve this application with the conditions as stated in the resolution.

Thank you, Helen.

Motion to approve.

Do I hear a second?

I'll second.

Thank you, Bob.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The mo the resolution of approval is approved.

Okay, Allie, you're two for two.

We're gonna go to number three.

Um, GR GPR owner LP application for floodplain permit for two Great Pasture Road K15109, special exception 754.

This one I noticed was a little shorter, Allie, a little less writing for you, but uh go right ahead.

Yes.

So um planning commission grant approval in May of 2025 to permit the expansion of the existing outdoor storage and storage of building materials at two Great Pasture Road.

Um there are portions of the property that are located within the numbered AE flood zone of the still river.

Um the base flood elevation for that zone is 355.4 feet.

Um they were not proposing any changes to the existing building.

This was strictly um expansion of that outdoor storage area um on the site.

Um so that finished floor elevation of the building remains the same at 363.4 feet, which is eight feet above the base flood elevation.

Um with all the site work into account, there is a total cut of 334 cubic yards.

Um so the proposed project results in no net fill below the hundred year floodplain.

Good.

And then it's just standard requirements at that point.

Questions for Allie on the resolution on this matter.

GPR Allie, is that the um that cut means that um you're getting a little bit more flood storage, right?

Correct.

Yeah, okay.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Any other questions for Allie?

Hearing none, I will entertain a motion to approve or deny the resolution as submitted.

Mr.

Chairman, I'll make option.

I'll make a motion to approve this floodplain permit application with the associated administrative requirements herein.

Thank you, Helen.

Do I hear a second?

Mr.

Chairman, I will second that.

Thank you, Sydney.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The draft resolution is approved.

Um that's it for um old business for discussion and possible action.

We're gonna move right to referrals.

We have only one.

Speaking of uh sewer extensions going back and forth.

The 824 referral March City Council agenda item number 15, application for sewer extension for 72 Liberty Street.

Allie, back to you.

Okay, so the Department of Planning and Zoning granted site plan approval in December of 2025 to permit the construction of a 12-unit garden apartment development um with associated site improvements.

The municipal sewer main currently exists in Liberty Street and terminates approximately 200 feet away from the subject property.

Um staff has no objection to this request of the sewer extension along Liberty Street to the subject property.

Um yeah, it's kind of it.

Okay, now Allie, I understand they're building is it one building with 12 units in it?

Is that what the intent is?

That is correct.

So it would be um two stories, six units on each floor.

Um with some associated parking and a storm drainage system as well.

Yeah, this go ahead, Bob.

This is the old lose everything property, right?

It it is, and the engineering team had um had some difficulties to work with, as you are aware.

The site, the shape of the site itself um poses some challenges as well as um the east ditch actually runs through it as well.

Um, so the project team had their work cut out for them for this project.

Yeah, it's who remembers Lou's Diner.

Yeah, I've eaten there and I didn't get sick.

Imagine that.

I live around the corner from there, so I'm very familiar with this property.

I see it every day.

You walk into loose diner, you come out your clothes, I mean you're you're walking up.

You you know immediately the smell of your clothes.

You gotta send them to the dry cleaners or put them in the laundry right away.

But uh you had pretty good chili.

I heard it was killer.

The food up the street at Old Oak is really good.

So you've got that at least.

There you go.

Okay.

She's all right.

Well, um, but in the meantime, um I guess this is this is good because I know that the intent of you know the administration is to have uh more residential development in downtown.

And this so this is this is good.

This speaks to that issue.

Um I don't I don't think Ali that this arose out of the rewrite of the the downtown the DTOD because this has been in plan, this has been sort of around for a while, right?

Yeah, this has been around for a bit.

Um it took the team again, has I mentioned the site has some difficulties to work with.

Um the project team went through a couple um preliminary designs of the site um and really worked with the city and public work specifically due to the East Itch restrictions.

Good.

Good.

Well, I mean, if you know that's good.

We we want more housing downtown.

It's very close to the train station, which is good, so it's very transit friendly.

But um anyway, this is the all we're talking about here is a sewer extension, just a referral for a zoo.

So um, unless there's any other questions for Ali, again, I'll entertain a motion for a positive or a negative referral.

Mr.

Chairman, I'll make a motion for a positive referral for the sewer extension.

Okay, do I hear a second?

Mr.

Chairman, I will second that wholeheartedly because I live around the corner.

So no problem.

We have a motion and a second for a positive referral.

Any discussion?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye opposed.

Good.

That ends lose diner and lose everything store.

Well, what are you gonna do?

I just googled the property address and it still shows lose diner there.

That's pretty crazy.

When did they close?

Anybody know when they closed?

Oh, it's been years.

It's been like three or four years, I think, since since they or they were in business.

So funny.

Okay, uh, we're gonna move on.

There's nothing under new business or correspondence.

We have no other matters for discussion.

Couple of things for reference only that you could take a look at.

Allie, can you think of anything I'm forgetting?

No, I think you've covered all of it, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

All right, commission members.

Anything else?

If nothing, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

Mr.

Chairman's so moved.

Thank you.

Helen second.

Second.

Thanks, Bob.

Any discussion?

Nice quick meeting tonight.

Everybody can get back to what they were doing.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Thanks, everybody.

Have a good night.