Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

This is a zoning board of appeal.

We'll meet tonight, Thursday, April 9, 2026 at the City Council Chamber, 7 p.m.

Start with uh roll call.

Mr.

Williamson.

Present.

Mr.

Jacob.

Present.

Mr.

Delushia.

Present.

I'm Johanna, Chairman of the Board.

The next regular meeting will be April 23rd, 2026.

And the let's see, we got the minute here.

Mr.

Chairman.

We we uh I I need a motion to accept the minute from March twelfth, two thousand twenty-six.

Mr.

Chairman, I accept the minutes from March twelve, twenty twenty-six.

Motion made by Mr.

Delusia.

I second it.

Seconded by Mr.

William.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Uh public hearing.

Continued public hearing.

Well, uh you want to explain something.

We have four men board tonight.

If anyone you're okay with that.

Okay.

Um continued public hearing twenty-six-01, eight South Cornell Road.

And we have application twenty-six dash zero three, seventy-three and a half and seventy-five Osbourne Street.

Woman Carlos.

Um I need a motion to open the hearing.

Motion to continue public hearing for application twenty-six-01, eight South Cornell Road, and application twenty-six-ero three, seventy-three and a half and seventy-five Osborne Street.

Motion made by Mr.

William.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Delucia.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Anyone represent 26-01 South Cornell Road.

The table.

Oh.

Okay.

We need a motion to re-able 26-01-8 South Cornell Road.

I make a motion to continue 26-01 8 South Cornell Road.

Motion made by Mr.

Delusia.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Williamson.

All in favor.

Aye.

Twenty-six-zero three, seventy-three and a half and seventy-five Osbourne Street.

Good evening.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

So at the last meeting we had a couple uh we had a couple of meetings tabled uh just to try to coordinate with the adjacent property owner for some work that was being proposed in conjunction with with them as part of the proposal because of the grading activities and some uh landscaping issues and things like that.

So the Carlos, the owner, met with the adjacent landowner.

There was some a lot of quite a bit of dialogue back and forth about what they were looking.

I added a bunch of notes, we reduced some grading along the common property line.

Um we did add a defense, but later called it out to be sort of directed as both parties agree, whether it be a fence or additional landscaping in between the it's really just a transition point between on this side you have a call here, but here we don't really need a retaining wall until you get back here.

We start getting into another c on on this side of the uh um parking area.

So there's a little gap in here uh where we're just showing a fent or fence or plantings, depending on what they pick out.

Plantings along here we show is a replacement to the plantings that are there now.

There was a comment about taking having the Carlsha Gallman take the there's a pine tree.

He said he would be willing to take that down for the for the neighbor.

Um so yeah, there wasn't a lot of changes to the to the plan, just amount of notes and things like that.

So there was some just some concern about the grading here, and my suggestion was to take a look at it once construction, once they get in there and start working with the grades, because right now currently the the grade is up over the corner to side, and so we're we're looking to reduce that grade so we can get it down below the side so it's not touching the wood, at least get it down below the top of the foundation, and then hopefully just you know pitch it properly so the water's not directing to the foundation as it currently is.

So that's one of the things that we sort of left open, I think the it was alluded to in the letter from John Hancock.

So that's kind of where we're at.

Uh if you have any questions, but again materially the plan didn't change too much.

So where the the the fence and that's the fence, right?

Or the stone wall?

There's just a fence between the two walls.

And from the street to that point is that's all landscaped.

It's sort of yeah, retaining wall, then the top of the wall would be landscaping, which is pretty much where there is landscape.

There's a hedge row there now.

You have to rebuild the wall or no?

Don't need it.

You have to rebuild the wall.

No, the wall's not there.

We have to put the wall to get the grades for the driveway to work.

Because if you remember, there's about a almost a three foot high wall right now at the sidewalk.

So we really need to return walls on both sides to be able to deal with that initial grade difference.

In addition to lowering the sidewalk, because you literally have almost a foot difference between the edge of the sidewalk adjacent to the road and and the edge of you know the curve.

So it's very difficult to try almost a foot in three, three and a half feet.

It's you'll bottom out the bottom, you know.

Yeah, very slow.

And that's not really great.

So that's why we propose just dipping the sidewalk down so you get a nice grass entry into the you have a drainage, right?

Yes, we have two two drywalls and this area.

I'm working on them on a project on Crane Street.

The soils are excellent, so very good drainage, and that's probably one of the reasons why they really haven't had too much problem with drainage uh in the neighborhood.

So yeah, not a not a problem there.

I have a question, Mr.

Luco.

Will the finished product of uh the sidewalks be flush with the you know the entrance of the driveway?

In other words, somebody walking around and it's not gonna uh well there'll be that's why we're we're we have to start back here, taper down.

Okay, yeah, it'll be tapered down across the ring and then tapered back up.

Okay, yeah.

Yeah, that's the only way you can do it.

Okay.

So yeah, I think it's about eight feet or so back on each side.

Good question.

Any other questions from the board?

So is the only thing with respect to discussions with a neighbor that's still TBD, that section in the middle with the grading that you mentioned.

Is there anything else TBD that's critical?

It's that, and then just what what is gonna be in between this section here, whether it's gonna be a fence or additional plant screenings.

But that's off for them to decide.

Okay.

The neighbor I want to read for the record.

John L.

Hancock, Trustee Hancock Family Trust, seven sixty-nine seventy-three Osbourne Street, Denbury, Connecticut 06810.

Zoning Board of Appeals, City of Denbury, one fifty five Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, Connecticut 06810.

Application 2603, 73 and a half and 75 Osbourne Street, Goman application for variance to zoning regulation.

Dear members, with respect to Goman application for variance is to add a driveway and parking lot to 73 and a half dash seventy five Osbourne Street.

Our concerns regarding the proximity to our dwelling at 69 73 Osbourne Steep Osbourne Street is a steep grade changes and the impact that excavation construction would have on our property have been acknowledged.

And although there are many aspects of the process we do not understand.

Primarily how excavation machinery will access a job site and a process of management of removing spoils.

If the following conditions are met.

Whether the variance is approved or not, we are committed to things to be in good neighbors and are grateful to Mr.

Woman, positive and respectful nature, and Mr.

Mazuku integrity and professionalism.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

I'm most appreciative.

John El Hancock Trustee 69-73 Osbourne Street, Denver, Connecticut, 0610.

Okay.

That's for the record.

Anyone have any question anymore?

I got a quick question.

Sure.

The points that mentioned by Mr.

Hancock, is that acceptable to Mr.

Goman?

Yes.

Yes.

Who is here tonight?

This he came in late.

Okay, thank you.

Jill Hancock, that's John's sister.

Okay.

Okay.

So you are all engineers.

So we don't understand as much as I do.

Please let's talk one at a time.

If you're gonna speak to the hold on one second, hold on.

We'll let you know.

Any more question?

I'm done.

Okay.

No, anyone in support of this application.

I I just had okay.

Get up, sign your uh your name over there on the board.

Sure.

Is it it still on?

Yes, on.

Okay.

Gonna sign, did you sign?

Yes, I'm oh no, of course.

I don't have a pen though.

Here.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for having me.

So I have had meetings and meetings at my property with Carlos and with Mike.

Um, it's we are just trying to figure things out.

The concern of having equipment coming really close to our foundation is actually a concern in how things are getting in and out, which also Carlos has expressed, like we need a plan to get big machinery in and out of and how it's gonna work.

Um we were talking about going through my property, but we also have walls that are not gonna allow big machinery up there.

So that just all has to be worked out.

Uh we've worked a lot of things out that way.

And I think we can work together as long as I know, all right.

Well, oh because Carlos thinks he does not have to come on to my property, but Mike thinks he does have to go on to my property.

So it's there's not they are like they don't think the same thing.

But you know, like if it has to happen and we say, all right, well, this has to happen a little bit.

We're gonna I I think we're in agreement that we could work together to make it work best for both of us.

It's been a long it has been a long process to get to this because um just for your information.

Carlos came to me in the summer.

He said, Oh, I want to do this, I'm gonna have da la la.

And I never heard back, and it's like, oh, maybe he didn't want to do it anymore.

And then all of a sudden I just get a letter in the mail.

Says this is happening.

And I'm like, well, what is happening?

I personally had to come to the city hall, get the drawings.

I actually at first of all I emailed the councilwoman and I said, Can you she said and I mean it's like this big, you know, on your email.

So I did that just so you know how your process might be better to let people know things are happening.

I had no idea what this letter meant.

I researched it, I came here, I got a big printout, and I was like, I have no idea what any of this means, because I'm just like you said, civilian.

I'm like, I don't know, what is this grading variance?

I don't know.

So um so I pursued it from there.

And I'm glad I did because I'm learning things, um meeting my neighbor, or you know, do we're discussing things.

But honestly, if I was just Joe Schmill and got, oh, somebody's doing next something next door, I would have no idea that my neighbor was gonna be tearing up all of the soil just by this letter that I got.

It was not informative.

That's just my FY.

But we I think that as um as my brother said, we're we're very happy to move forward with uh cooperation.

So you are happy now, you're in support.

Yes, I'm gonna take pictures of my foundation, as we talked about, because honestly, it's when they say within three feet.

Okay, it's that far.

It's not three feet.

It's like it's close, right?

To my foundation.

It's very close.

Yeah, I mean, but the good thing is we're lowering the grades.

Well, they keep saying the good thing for my same here.

But I've never had a problem.

Right.

But if you're lowering grade, you're lessening the ground pressure, that's against your foundation.

So that's a good thing.

But the building is an 1800 building, and we never had a problem.

So I get I get what you're saying.

The great because you have great soils.

You're very lucky.

Very lucky.

So that's where we're at, and I I after a lot of time and talk and things.

I think you know, I think we're ready to move forward with the speculations of my brother's email.

So unless there's any consideration of yours, and of course, then there's you know, permits and stuff that have to get la la la.

That's the next step, right?

Yes.

That's what I think.

So yeah, and again, thank you for having me to chat.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Just a quick thing through the chair, if I may.

Michael, if you could please we're not, I'm not gonna enforce a uh a side agreement that's not addressed by the board.

So going into the some of the details of the letter, there's no reason for the city to be involved in that.

The variances are for the grade and for the setback requirements.

Michael, exactly as far as of if if an approval was granted, um, is this plan here as you laid out something that I would rely on as far as completing my inspections for finals?

Yes.

Okay, I just want clarification, sir.

Plans per plan submitted would be an important uh caveat in this approval.

Uh revised, revised.

Yep, thank you.

Yeah, and then and again with the the letter that was submitted, we have no problem abiding by their conditions like the hours of operation, coordination.

I offered to be on site uh if needed at any time to go over any questions with both parties so we can address it then and there.

Um so yeah.

Okay.

Anyone else in support of this application?

Anyone in opposition for this application?

Anyone in opposition?

Okay, I guess any more questions from the board, or are you ready for motion?

We're ready.

Motion to close public hearing for application number 26-03, 73 and a half and 75 Osborne Street.

Motion made by Mr.

William.

Second, second, seconded by Mr.

Williamson.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Motion to open for voting and discussion.

Uh motion to open application uh number 2603.

Uh 73 and a half and 75 Osborne Street for voting session and discussion.

I second it.

Motion made by Mr.

Williamson, seconded by Mr.

William.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

So approved.

Okay.

And I approved.

So now if you guys want to discuss it with each other here, not with the applicant no more.

If no discussion.

Someone make a motion.

I make a motion to approve 26-03, 73 and a half, 70 and 75 Osbourne Street.

Guaman Carlos.

1122 16 RH3 zone section 8A2Z4.

Allow grading within five feet of property line.

Section A B 1B3 increased maximum driveway grade from 8% to 10% for the first 20 feet of the proposed new driveway per revised plan submitted.

And the and the variance will not adversely affect public health safety and welfare.

Motion made by Mr.

Delusia.

I second it.

Seconded by Mr.

William.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

So approved.

Thank you.

Okay.

Now before we close uh the hearing, I have some to say.

Good night.

Thanks, Jim.

Okay, I uh and planning to resign from the board effective, maybe April 30th, and will be my next meeting, my last meeting.

Thank you.

It was uh great to work with you guys here uh for a long time.

I've been there like almost 25 years or more.

I have real good time uh doing these things and uh now I want to pursue other things and on the process moving to Florida so the uh next meeting maybe we have a probably have an election for new chairman someone wanna run, whatever you guys want to do, and at the consultant staff and everybody else.

Thank you so much for your service.

Thank you.

Well thank you for the brain.

Thank you.

So the next meeting Joe your last is amazing, 25 years.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

I got full benefit.

Thank you.

All right, so we have a motion to adjourn now.

We have no old business, no business, no new business, right?

I make a motion to adjourn.

Second.

Motion made by Mr.

William, seconded by Mr.

Delusha.

All in favor, aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Thank you, everybody.