OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Danbury Planning Commission Meeting - April 26, 2026

Meeting PortalSunday, April 26, 2026
BodyDanbury, Connecticut
SessionMeeting Portal
DateSunday, April 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Great Joanne.

0:00

And thank you, Joanne, and thank you, uh everyone.

0:03

Good evening and welcome to the April 15th, 2026 meeting of the Danbury Planning Commission.

0:09

We'll open with the roll call.

0:10

Mr.

0:10

Kyokio.

0:13

Here.

0:14

There he is.

0:15

Ms.

0:16

Hofstetter.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Mr.

0:18

Nazario.

0:20

Here.

0:21

We don't have any alternates to see.

0:23

And Chairman Finalti is here.

0:25

We do have a quorum.

0:26

Joe, anything on our newest member.

0:30

You're on mute.

0:31

You're muted.

0:34

You're muted, Joe.

0:35

Sorry.

0:36

I'll get I have to contact the mayor's office to get to contact her because apparently she didn't realize it meant you had to come to the meetings, you know.

0:44

Oh, okay.

0:44

I'll just leave it at that.

0:46

Okay, no problem.

0:48

Um, let me uh get the Zoom intro um out of the way.

0:51

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

0:55

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

1:05

You can participate via Zoom and see the audio and the video, or you can call in by phone and participate via audio only.

1:12

Please be aware that we may have to mute your microphone or telephone to avoid an echo or some other background noise.

1:18

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.

1:31

As always, if you have any questions on how to participate in the meeting, please contact the City of Danbury Planning and Zoning Office.

1:40

As a reminder, the entire meeting will be posted on and can be seen on the City of Danbury website.

1:45

We will follow the posted agenda as per standard practice.

1:48

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.

1:59

Finally, please remember that technology glitches sometimes do occur.

2:02

Please be patient if that happens.

2:07

Okay.

2:08

Um first item on our agenda is acceptance of the minutes.

2:12

Uh Commission members, the uh the minutes of the April 1st, 2026 meeting were previously distributed.

2:18

Unless there's any comments or discussion, I will entertain a motion to accept those minutes.

2:24

Mr.

2:25

Chairman, so moved.

2:26

Thank you, Helen.

2:27

Do I hear a second?

2:29

A second.

2:30

Thank you, Mr.

2:31

Nazario.

2:31

Is there any discussion?

2:33

All in favor, please say aye.

2:35

Aye.

2:36

Opposed.

2:37

The minutes are accepted.

2:38

Let the record show our next meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2026.

2:43

Please note your calendars accordingly.

2:46

Um we have no new public hearings this evening, so we're going to move right to our um continuation of public hearings agenda.

2:53

Item one, Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC.

2:57

Application for special exception, site plan approval for automobile service stations, 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 mil plane road D14013, special exception number 805.

3:22

Additional information on this application was previously distributed.

3:26

And um, we have heard quite a bit of testimony on this.

3:29

And with that, I will ask if there's anyone wishing to speak in favor of this application.

3:35

Yes, thank you, uh Mr.

3:37

Chairman for the record.

3:38

Attorney Josh Pedrera, Cohen and Wolf for the applicant.

3:42

Uh good evening to the rest of the commission.

3:44

Um thank you for having us tonight.

3:46

Um, with us tonight um is the uh engineering team again, um, which um spoke at length at the last hearing, um, but just for purposes of introduction here, so we know who's here.

3:59

Um, Leary Webster, um, Connor McNamara and uh Muhammadul Hassan, um, as well as the applicant Sammy Jamal, Sammy Jamal.

4:09

Um, I do see that he is also present.

4:11

Um, last time, as the commission knows, we had a pretty lengthy and substantive discussion about the project.

4:16

Um, at that time, there were a few outstanding uh comments from staff.

4:22

Um, although those were not um there were there were not many comments outstanding, but since that time we have submitted uh revised plans, um, as well as the remaining um comments that were uh hanging out there um between those meetings.

4:37

So um just relatively briefly, just again, because there were there weren't that many comments.

4:41

Um so with respect to planning and zoning, um, the issue there was the plans that were previously submitted did not have updated dates.

4:49

So um we did correct that to reflect the revisions and then the current date um upon submission.

4:55

That has been addressed.

4:56

And then uh on my part, the applications, um, given that Neil Marcus knows is no longer the applicant.

5:02

We have since um updated both applications and submitted those.

5:05

So to my understanding, all comments from planning and zoning have been addressed.

5:09

Again, those were relatively minor.

5:11

Um there were also uh comments from construction services.

5:16

Again, those were not too uh cumbersome.

5:18

Though those those were um uh briefly just with respect to um the ADA ramp uh on the east side of Westwood Drive.

5:27

They were just calling out that that is a CT D DOT uh right of way.

5:32

Um so they may require um, you know, um the ramps on both sides.

5:37

The response to that comment was basically um we have been and we will continue to work with D DOT on all these issues, including that.

5:44

So that will be addressed accordingly if that is necessary.

5:48

Um there was a comment about tectile warning strips, they were not required, so those have since been removed from the plans.

5:54

Um there was some comments uh on the sidewalk pattern, five wide sidewalk pattern uh with cross grade not exceeding two percent.

6:02

Um so the transition zones at both entrances have since been regraded um to a maximum of two percent cross slope.

6:09

Um so the plans now reflect that.

6:11

And then um finally there was just commenting uh commentary on um curbing from DOT.

6:17

So uh the comment was just essentially addressing that um curbing material be coordinated with DOT, whether that's asphalt concrete, etc.

6:25

So um again, that's it.

6:26

That was it.

6:27

That was outstanding from construction.

6:29

I have not seen anything else to my knowledge.

6:31

Um, those have been fully responded to, and again, those plans were um revised and um resubmitted.

6:37

Engineering had minor comments again, uh also addressing the dates on the plans because they were resubmitted um without an update on the date to reflect those revisions.

6:47

That has since been corrected.

6:48

That was all that I um am aware of from engineering.

6:51

Everything else um was previously um and there was a litany of comments um that were addressed by our engineering team.

6:58

Um, and then with respect to sanitary sewer, again, minor comment regarding grease traps.

7:04

We don't uh think that that's necessary right now, given the operation.

7:08

Um, however, they did ask for um a note to be added on the plan stating the operations on site will meet requirements of Connecticut deep FOG uh permits.

7:18

So the note was added to the plans very minor.

7:21

Um and then finally, um, the last request there was um the comments from um Connecticut DOT.

7:28

We did provide their preliminary comments as well as the responses there too, as they had asked um for DOT input to be submitted in their preliminary comments.

7:37

So that's have those have been provided.

7:39

That is all that I have from staff feedback.

7:41

So as far as I know, I think we're in full compliance with that.

7:44

We have addressed everything.

7:45

Um, and then finally, just to kind of wrap up my portion of this.

7:49

Um, I know on the last discussion we had at the last meeting, um, we did have some discussion about queuing and there was some concerns there.

7:56

Um, so our engineers will speak to that.

7:59

I did have a brief discussion um with him.

8:02

Um, and so he reiterated that that that wouldn't be an issue.

8:05

I'll let him speak more succinctly to that.

8:07

Um, but he did take a look at peak hours, AM and PM.

8:11

Um, and there was no significant backup.

8:13

I believe AM uh we had eight feet PM 23 feet.

8:18

So that's probably one car, and then maybe two to three cars in the PM in the uh peak night hours.

8:24

But again, he is on with us.

8:25

Um so he can address that.

8:27

Um beyond that, I know there was some discussion about maybe some signage, uh perhaps a crosswalk in the rear.

8:32

Um, those are not specifically delineated on the plans.

8:36

But again, um, as uh the applicant addressed and the engineering team, we can certainly add that in.

8:41

We have no issue with that.

8:42

That's that's a minor um addition.

8:44

So we can certainly condition any approval um to occlude a crosswalk or whatever additional signage um that the commission is looking for, certainly to address any any safety concerns they may have.

8:54

That's not going to be an issue.

8:56

Um outside of that, I believe that was basically the crux of what was outstanding from staff and then what we discussed at the last meeting.

9:06

Um I'll turn it over to uh engineering to speak on the queuing and the traffic report to address that.

9:14

Um, but beyond that, I think we've uh certainly covered everything, and then we'll just take uh any questions, feedback from the commission.

9:20

Um obviously happy to address any concerns that that you may have.

9:26

Thank you, Attorney Pedrera.

9:28

Um, who is gonna be speaking from your team?

9:30

Forgive me.

9:31

Uh so we have Larry, uh, we have Connor and we have Mohammed Dohl.

9:36

Um, Mohammedul can um address the specific concerns on queuing um because I know that that was addressed at the last meeting, and my notes indicate that we wanted some sort of follow-up.

9:45

So um I made sure that he did look into that.

9:48

He reviewed the report.

9:49

Um, and so he can give the commission um feedback on that.

9:52

So maybe that'll be uh a segue to him if we want to address that right now.

9:56

I think that makes sense.

9:59

Okay.

10:00

Hello.

10:01

Uh this is Mahmoud Hassan from Biggie.

10:04

Um I work as a traffic engineer here.

10:07

Um, so I need to look at the um network and the report.

10:13

Um that there are there will be eight feet off BM.

10:19

Uh and 20 feet off uh in um West Drive uh intersection.

10:28

So I don't think there is a significant issue in terms of like DOLN uh in those intersection.

10:35

Um so uh uh I I think uh uh there's going to be any other issue.

10:44

And and just to build off that, so the commit I I believe the commission is aware, but just to kind of refresh refresh everyone's recollection.

10:50

So um obviously there was um a pre-existing uh gas station here.

10:56

Um so we are not adding any any pumps.

10:58

We're we're going with the two dispensaries there.

11:01

So there are no additions to that.

11:02

So just to kind of build off, you know, this this was pre-existing.

11:06

Um, and so there are no uh additions to that that would essentially increase you know what was there previously.

11:12

Um one other thing I did want to add because I know the commission did raise this previously.

11:16

We can certainly um put the plans on the screen so that everyone can follow along if we have specific questions.

11:23

I think that's probably good to do now to just have everyone review, just if they have specific questions based upon you know the plans in front of them, we can certainly do that.

11:32

I I know we got far into the meeting last time, so I just wanted to make sure that um, and I I know that uh Connor said he can do that.

11:38

So um, if we want to share his screen, um, we can bring those up for the for the sake of the commission and um their ability to actually see what these what these plans depict here.

11:50

Thank you.

11:51

Okay, attorney Pedrera, thank you.

11:53

If you if you have another member of your team that wishes to speak, feel free to introduce them at this time.

11:59

Um I don't uh again, Larry.

12:01

Larry is present but absent any specific targeted questions.

12:06

I think um we covered um most of what Larry had to opine on and address.

12:12

Larry, if there's if there's anything I'm missing um or something you wanted to add to the conversation, I certainly welcome that.

12:19

Um that would be uh Mr.

12:27

Webster, correct?

12:28

I apologize, Mr.

12:29

Webster.

12:30

Yes.

12:31

Okay.

12:32

I see he's on.

12:33

I don't I don't know if he's sometimes he has trouble with his mic, so it could be something like that.

12:40

But he gave us a thumbs up, but here's a thumbs up.

12:44

So he's not muted.

12:48

Well, as he as he works to correct that, I guess.

12:50

Um, yeah, so again, welcome any feedback from the commission.

12:53

But like I said, as far as um as I am aware, we have addressed all comments.

12:59

We have um revised the plans, the applications, we provided the DOT preliminary comments as well as um the responses there too.

13:08

Obviously, we will continue to work with um DOT on the project.

13:11

This is a state road.

13:13

Um, but as far as I know, we again we have addressed all comments um from staff.

13:19

Okay, Attorney Pedrera, thank you.

13:21

What I'll do is I'll um I'll call in favor, I'll call the opposition, then I'll open it up for questions.

13:27

So um, is there anyone else wishing to speak in favor of this application?

13:32

Anyone else in favor?

13:33

Is there anyone else wishing to speak in favor of this application?

13:37

Is there anyone wishing to speak against this application?

13:44

Anyone against it?

13:45

Anyone wishing to speak against this application?

13:50

Okay, uh commission members.

13:52

Um, we've heard quite a bit of testimony on this particular application.

13:55

Is there any additional questions for the applicant or any member of his team at this time?

14:02

I have a question, Mr.

14:04

Chairman.

14:04

Please.

14:06

So item number five in the uh response to DOT comments uh says the driveways should be narrowed to no more than 18 feet wide.

14:15

And the response was that the drivers have been narrowed from 44 feet down to the minimum required for tanker ingress and egress, which is approximately 25 feet.

14:25

So I don't according to item five, it's not meeting the DOT requirement.

14:29

Um how do we plan to reconcile that?

14:36

If my audio is working now, it is Larry Webster from Banish.

14:41

Yes.

14:41

Um representing the applicant.

14:44

And I'm primarily the contact with DOT.

14:49

Um at this point, we are waiting for their response to our response.

15:00

I've been in the past, there's been some give and take on items like this where they may either allow us to keep the wider driveways or they may require us to make some kind of a mountable curb for the tanker to get in and out of there.

15:10

But it hasn't been resolved yet.

15:12

It has to be resolved before we can get an encroachment permit.

15:17

So we have agreed that we'll keep the the city up to the up to speed on all correspondence and back and forth with the DOT until that is resolved.

15:28

Thank you, Mr.

15:29

Webster.

15:30

Thank you.

15:31

Thank you for that response.

15:33

Commission members, any other questions for the applicant at this time?

15:37

Mr.

15:38

Go ahead, Bob.

15:39

Just a quick question.

15:40

Um kind of refresh.

15:42

As far as the the two pumps that are there, are they in exactly the same spot as they were when it was previously a gas station there?

15:52

Just a curious question.

15:54

Not okay, Glarry Webster again, not exactly.

16:07

And the primary reason for moving them closer to the building was to um minimize the required variance that we needed for the canopy to fit there.

16:18

We have a uh 20.5 foot front yard, which would normally be required to be 25.

16:26

Um, so yeah, we we moved it back to take as much advantage of the existing front yard as we could and minimize the variance that we needed.

16:37

They're only probably actually uh Connor, can you zoom in on one of the islands, the one on the right?

16:47

You can actually see the outline of the old island just below the new one.

16:52

That's where it was.

16:54

So we're we're moving them a matter of a few feet.

17:00

Okay, thank you.

17:03

Commission members, Mr.

17:05

Chairman.

17:06

Go ahead, Helen.

17:07

Yeah, um so the um pumps that are nearest the store front doors for the store are pretty close to that curbing.

17:19

It's six feet, I think I saw I don't, yeah, six feet.

17:23

Um so if if somebody you know how people um they get gas and then they go inside and they buy stuff or eat something, you know.

17:34

Uh but if you do that here, you you can you know you tie up one whole half of the uh two uh aisle um, you know, uh access to the pumps.

17:45

Is there any plan um to address that in terms of you know signage, maybe that might say, you know, please um please move to parking area for for store entrance or something like that.

17:58

Would you feel that it's helpful?

18:04

I don't think there's really um that the well, first of all, the only dimension that that's on the plan is nine feet, and that's the width of the parking space next to the dispenser.

18:17

There's a clear space between that and the uh sidewalk of probably another three feet, and then there's the whole width of the sidewalk.

18:26

So there's plenty of room for pedestrian traffic around the vehicles there.

18:30

Uh but there's no way I can get room for a vehicle to pass a vehicle who's parked at that second.

18:37

Yes, and that and that's the problem I'm I'm uh uh bringing up in case you know, say the person at where it says four there decides after they get gas, they're gonna run in and do something.

18:49

So that kind of ties up that whole area there until you know, until that person it does prohibit the person behind him from leaving uh without backing up and going around the building, which is what I expect will happen most of the time.

19:03

Um, but this is essentially the same condition that existed before because there wasn't room to go around with the pumps in the previous location.

19:12

I guess I'm suggesting that maybe could consider putting up some signage someplace right there that says please you know move around to the parking area or something, just a suggestion.

19:22

It's I I don't think that that's a bad idea to just have some signage on the pump itself to just ask people to, you know, once you're done fueling up, please move to the parking area.

19:33

Yeah, I mean, obviously, um, you know, you can't do anything about it with with the restrictions you have here, but that I guess that's what I'm suggesting, something like that.

19:45

Any other questions for the applicant at this time, Commission members?

19:51

Um, Allie, uh are we um okay with all the uh departments and are there any open items uh from your department?

20:00

Um based on the last set of plans, the comments from staff were fairly minor.

20:07

Um and then they the project team recently submitted additional revisions in response to those staff comments.

20:14

Um so we are reviewing those um again if the commission sees fit, those staff is comfortable with that being a condition of approval um or a condition of the revel resolution.

20:27

Um and Commissioner Navar Nazario, um, in terms of the DOT feedback that was received, that is going to be a separate process with the state.

20:38

If comments um result in significant site changes, the project team will be required to come back to the commission um to review those plans.

20:50

Thank you.

20:52

Thank you for that, Allie.

20:55

Okay, uh Commission members, we have um heard again from the applicant, we've heard from staff.

21:01

It appears that just about all open items have been addressed.

21:05

There we can condition our approval if we go in that direction for signage and crosswalks and such things.

21:11

Uh again, we can put that in the resolution.

21:14

But if the unless there's anything else, um I will entertain a motion to close the public hearing.

21:20

Chairman, I'll make a motion to close the hearing.

21:22

Thank you, Mr.

21:23

Kyokio.

21:24

Do I hear a second?

21:25

A second.

21:26

Second, Mr.

21:27

Nazario.

21:28

Any further discussion?

21:29

Hearing none.

21:30

All in favor, please say aye.

21:32

Aye.

21:33

Aye.

21:34

Pose.

21:34

This public hearing is closed.

21:36

Um, thank you to all commission members.

21:38

Uh, would anybody like to make a motion to move this to um item two under our old business agenda?

21:45

Yes.

21:48

Thank you, Helen.

21:49

Do I hear a second?

21:50

Second.

21:51

Second, Mr.

21:52

Kyokio, thank you.

21:53

All in favor of moving this to item two under our old business agenda, please say aye.

21:58

All right.

22:00

Posed.

22:01

Okay.

22:01

This will be item two under our old business agenda, which we will be moving to right now.

22:08

Um discussion and possible action.

22:12

Item one, Danbury Mall LLC, application for revised floodplain permit for Rivian EV charging station 7 Backis Avenue, F17002 revised site plan for special exception number 771.

22:27

Uh, this struck me as a little uh unusual, uh Commission members, um, because normally something appears on our old business agenda after we have a public hearing, which we close.

22:39

And as you all know, uh we didn't have a public hearing on this particular matter, but it's a little bit different.

22:45

And I guess I'll just turn it over to Allie to explain the circumstances.

22:49

All you Allie.

22:53

Okay.

22:54

So in terms of EV charging stations, there's a section in the regulations for accessory uses that requires a site plan approval um for any EV charging stations to be installed on a site.

23:08

With that being said, um that's exactly the case here.

23:13

Uh site plan application was required.

23:16

It was recently approved by the planning department um to install 10 EV charging stations, Vivian charging stations at the mall.

23:25

I'm going to share my screen just so you have an idea of where on the mall I'm talking about.

23:36

Can Commissioner see this?

23:38

Yes.

23:39

Yeah.

23:40

Okay.

23:41

So it's going to be in this section.

23:44

So Macy's is here right on this portion of the ring road here.

23:49

There's going to be 10 EV charging stations.

23:53

Um, not losing any parking associated with that.

23:58

Good.

23:59

This one is a bit interesting, just because this section of the floodplain is an unnumbered A zone, which means that FEMA did not provide an elevation for the base flood elevation.

24:15

We the city of Danbury uses the Army Corps um study number, which was 454.5 feet.

24:23

So that is where you're going to see the flooding around that mall area.

24:27

And I'm sure based on commissioners' experiences, um that section of the mall stays pretty dry in general.

24:35

One of the few portions of the ring road that does stay dry.

24:40

Um with that being said, um, all of the proposed grading is one foot above that established base flood elevation of 450 4.5.

24:52

So this project is really in the floodplain by area, but outside of it by elevation.

25:00

Um and then we just have the standard conditions for a floodplain permit, compliance with the map, um, engineering certifying.

25:10

It's installed for the approved plans.

25:12

Um that's kind of it.

25:14

Any questions?

25:17

Thanks, Allie.

25:18

Yeah, I think we've uh hold on one second, Bob.

25:20

But we've all uh had the experience of driving through the uh mall parking lot after heavy rain or flooding, and uh I think we know where the cones typically are put up to prevent us from going through water too deep.

25:30

And uh this particular section I know is isn't one of them, but just based on my own driving around through the mall.

25:37

Um, so thank you for that.

25:38

Bob, all you.

25:39

Yeah, so just a quick question just to understand.

25:42

So the um the asphalt that's there now is above that 454, or will these be built up slightly?

25:50

And then right right near there, I guess is the Tesla chargers.

25:54

And I are they at the same elevation?

25:57

Uh they're outside of the floodplain by area, I believe the Tesla chargers.

26:01

Uh, okay.

26:02

Um, but uh yes, that is correct.

26:05

Um they are outside of the elevation area.

26:10

The first one is the is the is the asphalt outside of the elevation area, or will they asphalt is within the area of the floodplain, it's outside the elevation.

26:22

Okay, got it.

26:24

Thank you.

26:25

Any other questions for Ali, Commission members?

26:29

Okay, a draft resolution um has been previously distributed, dated April 14th, 2026.

26:39

Uh, for the revised floodplain permit, commission members, unless there's any further discussion, I'll entertain a motion in favor or against the revised floodplain permit.

26:50

Yes, Helen.

26:51

Mr.

26:52

Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve the request with the conditions as noted.

26:58

Motion made uh to approve the revised floodplain permit.

27:01

Is there a second?

27:03

Second.

27:04

Second, Mr.

27:05

Kyokio.

27:05

Any further discussion?

27:07

Hearing none.

27:08

All in favor, please say aye.

27:10

Aye.

27:11

Posed.

27:12

The revised floodplain permit is approved.

27:15

Thank you, uh, Allie for the uh clarification.

27:18

Thank you on that.

27:20

Okay, uh, we're gonna move to item two um for uh to have a discussion.

27:26

Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC application for special exception site plan approval for automobile service station service garage and convenience markets, section 3e2, 3e9, 5B2B1 and 9 with trip generation greater than 500 vehicle trips per day in the CA80 zone 85 Mill Plain Road D14013, special exception number 805.

27:49

And again, that public hearing was closed just a short while ago.

27:53

Would anyone like to comment or give direction to staff on this particular matter?

28:00

Bob Mr.

28:01

Chairman, I'll go first, I guess.

28:03

Um I don't I don't have any issues with uh with the application.

28:10

Uh there's been a lot uh a lot of work done on this back and forth.

28:15

I know there's uh it's in a environmentally sensitive area, and from what I could tell, um that's being handled uh in the correct way and will be monitored uh as well.

28:28

So um I'm comfortable that uh that re remediation and monitoring will be will be handled uh uh in a good way.

28:37

Um as far as the site plan um is uh pretty reasonable to to me.

28:43

Um, you know, one of my uh requirements was for that painted sidewalk in the back, which uh it seems like the customers agreed to, so that's fine.

28:53

I don't believe that uh this is gonna cause a lot of extra uh traffic on Mill Plain Road.

28:59

I know everybody's uh concerned about as well as I uh concerned about the traffic situation on Mill Plain Road, but um uh as the analysis said, I do believe that uh the vast majority of this will be drive-by, so it's gonna be uh already traffic on the road.

29:14

So an increase of traffic, I think will be uh pretty minimal on this.

29:18

Um it was uh a filling station previously, so um I I don't I don't have any uh issues there.

29:27

Thank you, Mr.

29:28

Kyokio.

29:29

Um anyone else want to comment at all or Helen?

29:32

Yes, um, so I appreciate all the work that went into this um in our request.

29:39

Um I I do appreciate the effort that you know covers so many details and um so we're left with um a few conditions.

29:51

I think we talked crosswalk and uh DLT driveway are the two that I remember, but so um I I I think uh job well done, and I you know I'm I'm fine with it as long as the uh remaining conditions are met.

30:06

Thank you, Helen Sydney.

30:08

Anything to add?

30:09

You're okay.

30:11

Yeah, echo Helen's sentiments there.

30:14

Um I'm okay with it as long as the conditions are met.

30:18

And I agree again, Mr.

30:20

Kyoko and Helen gave a very succinct uh summary, and uh I too uh am okay with proceeding forward.

30:27

So Allie, you have your uh you have your direction from the uh from the commission.

30:32

So thank you.

30:33

And thank you all to the applicant as well.

30:35

Thank you for your thoroughness.

30:37

Appreciate it.

30:38

Okay, uh we are going to move on, uh, Commission members to referrals.

30:43

You will note from your agenda we have four.

30:46

All are 824 referrals that all have to do with uh a sewer and water main extensions.

30:52

Um so we're gonna go right down through them.

30:55

Um there's an eight two four referral, April City Council agenda item number 13.

31:00

Application for sewer and water main extension on Damia Drive.

31:03

We're certainly familiar with that application.

31:06

Um Allie, any comments on it other than what appears on your report?

31:10

Uh no other comments, basically just the extension to accommodate those 12 additional units that was previously approved by the Planning Commission.

31:20

Any questions, Commission members?

31:22

And if not, I'll entertain a motion to approve or deny the referral.

31:27

Mr.

31:27

Chairman, I'll uh make a motion for a positive referral.

31:31

Thank you.

31:32

Motion for positive.

31:33

Do I hear a second?

31:34

Uh second.

31:35

Thank you.

31:36

Any discussion?

31:37

All in favor, please say aye.

31:39

Aye.

31:40

Aye.

31:41

Posed.

31:43

The first one could say the first eight two four referral gets a positive.

31:46

Uh the second one, eight to four referral, April City Council agenda item number 14, application for sewer main extension 48 East Gate Road, F09071.

31:56

Allie.

31:58

Yes.

31:58

So this one um is for a municipal sewer main extension um for a single family dwelling located again at 48 Eastgate.

32:08

Um this section is also in within the proposed sewer service area.

32:14

Um, and staff has no objection.

32:18

Questions for Allie.

32:20

Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion for a positive or negative referral.

32:25

Mr.

32:25

Chairman.

32:26

Yes.

32:27

I'll make a motion for positive recommendation on this referral subject to the conditions therein.

32:33

Thank you, Helen.

32:34

Motion for positive.

32:34

Do I hear a second?

32:37

Second.

32:38

Second, Mr.

32:38

Kyokio, any discussion?

32:40

All in favor, please say aye.

32:43

Aye.

32:44

Opposed.

32:45

The second one gets a positive.

32:48

Um eight two four referral, April City Council agenda item number 15, application for sewer main extension.

32:53

85 Worcester Heights Road G18082.

32:57

Allie.

32:58

Another application that the commission is familiar with.

33:01

This is the Danbury Proton facility on Worcester Heights Road.

33:05

Um again, the commission just granted that extension to the project.

33:10

Um, and back in February.

33:12

Um, this is just for the sewer extension um to continue so the project can be um connected to that sewer main and staff has no objection.

33:25

Thank you, Allie.

33:26

Questions for Allie?

33:28

Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion for either a positive or negative referral.

33:32

Mr.

33:33

Chairman, I'll make a positive uh a motion for a positive uh referral.

33:38

Thank you, Bob.

33:38

Any second?

33:40

Second by Helen, any discussion?

33:42

All in favor, please say aye.

33:45

Aye opposed.

33:47

And again, the fourth one, 824 referral, April City Council agenda item number 16, application for renewal of sewer and water extension for Great Plain Road and Great Meadow Road.

33:58

Allie, back to you.

33:59

This is another one that the commission is familiar with.

34:03

Um renewals were approved back in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2024.

34:10

Um so no real changes there.

34:13

Just again, another renewal for the sewer and water main extensions um on Great Plain Road and Great Meadow Road.

34:19

Um staff has no objections to this renewal.

34:24

And um your summary, Allie, uh comments on the fact that um the approval is for no more than 63 single family dwelling units.

34:34

So if there's a motion to approve, that should probably uh uh confirm uh that the motion to approve the um the renewal of the water and sewer extension uh does not change the density, the 63 single family dwelling units.

34:51

Yes, please, Mr.

34:52

Okay.

34:53

Uh with that said, Commission members, can would somebody like to make a motion for a positive or negative referral?

35:00

Mr.

35:00

Chairman, I'll make a motion for a positive referral subject to the density restriction outlined in the uh staff memo.

35:07

Thank you.

35:07

Bob second.

35:10

Mr.

35:11

Chairman, second.

35:12

Second, Helen, any discussion?

35:14

All in favor, please say aye.

35:16

Aye.

35:17

Opposed.

35:18

Okay.

35:19

Four for four.

35:20

Four eight two four referrals, all approved.

35:22

A lot of people want to uh extend our sewer and water, which is good.

35:26

Um commission members, you will see an 83A referral um uh regarding the uh um uh from Ali to to uh amend the master plan at the reserve.

35:38

Um and we're gonna be discussing that as shown on the agenda at our uh May 6th, 2026 meeting.

35:44

So we won't be discussing that one this evening.

35:49

All right.

35:51

Um I don't believe there's anything else on the agenda.

35:55

Allie, am I missing anything or are we good?

35:58

No, we are all good.

35:59

Okay, commission members, anything else?

36:03

If there's nothing, I'll depend a motion to adjourn the meeting.

36:09

So chairman, I'll make a motion to adjourn.

36:11

Thank you, Bob.

36:12

Second.

36:13

I second.

36:14

Second, Mr.

36:15

Nazario.

36:16

Any discussion?

36:17

All in favor, please say aye.

36:19

Aye.

36:20

Go ahead.

36:21

Opposed.

36:21

Meetings adjourned.

36:22

Thank you very much, everybody.

36:24

Have a good night.

36:25

Thanks, everyone.

36:26

Well done.

36:26

Well done, everyone.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████24%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████16%
Procedural███████████████15%
Summary of Proceedings

Danbury Planning Commission Meeting - April 26, 2026

The Danbury Planning Commission met on April 26, 2026, to consider several applications and referrals. The meeting included a continued public hearing and subsequent discussion on a gas station and convenience store redevelopment, approval of an EV charging station floodplain permit, and unanimous approval of four sewer/water main extension referrals.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the continued public hearing for the Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC application. Only the applicant's team and commission members participated.

Discussion Items

  • Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC – Special Exception & Site Plan (85 Mill Plain Road): Attorney Josh Pedrera and engineering team (Larry Webster, Connor McNamara, Muhammadul Hassan) presented. All outstanding staff comments from planning, construction, engineering, and sanitary sewer were addressed. Traffic queuing analysis showed minimal backup (8 ft AM, 23 ft PM). The applicant agreed to add a crosswalk and signage as conditions. A question about driveway width (25 ft vs. DOT request of 18 ft) remains under review with CT DOT. Commission members expressed support subject to conditions.
  • Danbury Mall LLC – Revised Floodplain Permit for Rivian EV Charging Station (7 Backis Avenue): Staff explained the 10 charging stations are in a floodplain area by designation but sit above the base flood elevation (454.5 ft). No loss of parking. The project complies with floodplain regulations. Approved unanimously with conditions.
  • 824 Referrals: Four sewer and water main extension referrals were presented and approved unanimously:
    1. Damia Drive – extension for 12 previously approved units.
    2. 48 East Gate Road – municipal sewer main for a single-family dwelling.
    3. 85 Worcester Heights Road – sewer extension for the Danbury Proton facility.
    4. Great Plain Road and Great Meadow Road – renewal of extensions with a density cap of 63 single-family units.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes of April 1, 2026: Accepted unanimously.
  • Danbury Mill Plain Realty LLC: Public hearing closed unanimously. Matter moved to old business for discussion; commission directed staff to prepare a resolution of approval with conditions (crosswalk, signage, ongoing DOT coordination).
  • Danbury Mall LLC Floodplain Permit: Approved unanimously (motion by Helen, second by Mr. Kyokio) with standard conditions.
  • 824 Referrals: All four approved unanimously:
    • Damia Drive: positive referral (motion by chairman, seconded).
    • 48 East Gate Road: positive referral subject to conditions (motion by Helen, second by Mr. Kyokio).
    • 85 Worcester Heights Road: positive referral (motion by Bob, second by Helen).
    • Great Plain Road/Great Meadow Road: positive referral subject to density restriction of 63 units (motion by Bob, second by Helen).
  • Next meeting scheduled for May 6, 2026.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Great Joanne. And thank you, Joanne, and thank you, uh everyone. Good evening and welcome to the April 15th, 2026 meeting of the Danbury Planning Commission. We'll open with the roll call. Mr. Kyokio. Here. There he is. Ms. Hofstetter. Here. Mr. Nazario. Here. We don't have any alternates to see. And Chairman Finalti is here. We do have a quorum. Joe, anything on our newest member. You're on mute. You're muted. You're muted, Joe. Sorry. I'll get I have to contact the mayor's office to get to contact her because apparently she didn't realize it meant you had to come to the meetings, you know. Oh, okay. I'll just leave it at that. Okay, no problem. Um, let me uh get the Zoom intro um out of the way. 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 the 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 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 on how to participate in the meeting, please contact the City of Danbury Planning and Zoning Office. 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 that technology glitches sometimes do occur. Please be patient if that happens. Okay. Um first item on our agenda is acceptance of the minutes. Uh Commission members, the uh the minutes of the April 1st, 2026 meeting were previously distributed. Unless there's any comments or discussion, I will entertain a motion to accept those minutes. Mr. Chairman, so moved. Thank you, Helen. Do I hear a second? A second. Thank you, Mr. Nazario. Is there any discussion?

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