Danbury Zoning Commission Meeting - April 16, 2026

On April 16, 2026, the Danbury Zoning Commission held a regular meeting at 7:04 p.m., adjourning at 8:11 p.m. The meeting focused on a presentation of proposed updates to the city's zoning regulations, driven largely by new state mandates. Commissioners, staff, and a councilman discussed accessory apartments, design standards, transit-oriented housing, parking requirements, and a new mixed-use corridor. No votes were taken on the proposals; the regulations will be submitted for formal adoption before the July 1, 2026 deadline.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the corrected minutes from the February 10, 2026 meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Councilman Rotello (Danbury City Council) raised three concerns during the workshop:
  1. The state may remove the ability for cities to opt out of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide, which would require new regulations beyond the current DTOD-only allowance.
  2. State provisions (Section 8-2) allowing up to 15 units per acre within half a mile of transit stations could affect areas like Long Ridge, potentially causing significant zoning changes.
  3. He asked for clarity on whether mobile/manufactured homes (trailers) would be allowed in CN5 zones (e.g., Worcester Village). Staff clarified that the change only updates the width definition from 35 to 40 feet, and no new zones are being added for trailers.

Discussion Items

• Accessory Apartments (State Mandate): Associate Planner Ali Smith presented updates to allow accessory apartments only within the DTOD (Downtown Transit-Oriented Development) district. Key rules: unit must be attached to a single-family home, owner must have owned the property for at least three years, one of the units must be owner-occupied, maximum size is 30% of gross floor area or 1,000 sq ft, and the unit cannot be leased for less than 30 days. Director Al Bakri noted these are state-mandated and cannot be altered; the city expects little use in the DTOD due to existing flexibility.
• Design Standards: New objective design standards for multifamily and vertical mixed-use buildings were presented, covering roof lines, setbacks, architectural details, and landscaping. These are intended to create a cohesive city look and remove subjectivity in site plan review.
• Transit Community Middle Housing (State Mandate): Definitions and bulk requirements for developments with 2–9 units in commercial and mixed-use zones were introduced. A parking needs assessment allows developers to propose fewer spaces based on actual demand.
• Mobile/Manufactured Homes: The definition was updated to increase the maximum width from 35 to 40 feet per state law. No other changes; these homes remain permitted only in existing zoning districts.
• Parking Requirements: Developments with fewer than 17 dwelling units have no minimum parking, except within two traffic/congestion overlay zones, where parking is still required.
• Mixed-Use Transit-Oriented Development Corridor: A new zoning district is proposed along Padanaram Road and North Street, extending from the DTOD to the New Fairfield line. It will replace fragmented existing zones (e.g., CN20, CL10) with a coherent district allowing zero minimum lot area and zero front yard setback, promoting infill and mixed-use development. The corridor includes parcels like the former Basilica, Bagelman, and Thayer's Driving School.
• Protest Petition Threshold: The state changed the threshold for a protest petition from 25% to 50% of affected property owners, making it harder for the public to challenge zoning changes.
• Affordable Housing Requirement: Staff noted that for developments over 10 units in the new corridor, a component of affordable housing is required to help Danbury maintain its 10% affordable housing threshold (currently ~10.51%).

Key Outcomes

• No Votes Taken: The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken on the proposed regulations.
• Next Steps: Director Al Bakri stated the draft regulations will be reviewed by the city's corporation counsel over the next two weeks. Following any adjustments, an official application will be submitted to the zoning commission for adoption. The state mandates that all changes be in effect by July 1, 2026.
• Upcoming Public Hearing: A petition to amend the master plan for The Reserve (project phasing and future use) was noted for reference; a public hearing is scheduled for May 12, 2026.
• Open House: Staff invited commissioners and the public to an informal open house at the Palace Theater on April 16, 2026, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss the proposals.
• Staff Announcement: Joanne, long-time administrative staff, announced her retirement from full-time work effective May 28, 2026, but will return part-time.