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Record of Proceedings

Danbury Planning Commission Meeting – May 7, 2026: Positive Referral for West Side Fire Station

Meeting Portal — Thursday, May 7, 2026
BodyDanbury, Connecticut
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, May 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 24:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Anyway, thanks, Joanne, and welcome everybody to the May 6th, 2026 meeting of the Dambery Planning Commission.

0:06

We'll open with the roll call.

0:07

Mr.

0:07

Kyokchio.

0:08

Here.

0:09

Ms.

0:09

Hofsteader.

0:10

Here.

0:11

Mr.

0:11

Desario.

0:12

Here.

0:14

Chairman Fernaldi is here.

0:15

We don't have any alternates to see.

0:17

We still do not know the status of Ava Avega, who we believe was sworn in, but has not yet shown up for a meeting.

0:25

So we'll be we'll be checking into that at some point.

0:29

Before we get started, I'll read the Zoom intro.

0:32

And you know what something Joanne, at some point I should ask about the Zoom intro.

0:37

I mean, when we first started doing meetings on Zoom, it was something of a novelty.

0:41

So uh I always read.

0:43

Do you think it's still we'll see if it's still necessary?

0:45

I guess it is.

0:46

Did the other questions do it?

0:48

I don't think zoning does it.

0:49

All right.

0:50

Well, sometimes Teddy does if he remembers, you know.

0:52

He tries, but he doesn't always remember.

0:55

But I'll read it, but again, it's okay.

0:58

I think you could skip it if everyone who's on knows you.

1:02

Wally's hand is up.

1:03

Let's see what Waleid wants.

1:05

Uh-huh.

1:06

I'll ask him.

1:10

So unmute.

1:12

Let's see.

1:12

I got a text.

1:14

Good evening.

1:16

Hey, Chairman.

1:17

It's unnecessary at this stage, but it's up to you.

1:20

It is.

1:22

So you can decide if you actually feel you need to do it.

1:25

That's fine.

1:26

If you feel that you could skip it, it's fine too.

1:29

Right.

1:30

All right.

1:31

Well, since it's up to my discretion and in my never-ending attempt to have a short and efficient meeting, we'll skip it.

1:38

I will double check and see if it's necessary, but for tonight, I think we're going to be okay.

1:42

We're just going to skip right by it.

1:44

Um the first item on our agenda is acceptance of the minutes of April 15th, 2026.

1:50

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

1:55

Mr.

1:55

Chairman, so moved.

1:57

Thank you, Helen.

1:58

Second.

1:59

Second, Mr.

2:00

Kyokio.

2:01

Any questions or discussion?

2:03

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

2:06

Opposed.

2:07

The minutes are accepted.

2:08

Um let the record show our next regular meeting is scheduled for May 20th, 2026.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████████38%
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████37%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Summary of Proceedings

Danbury Planning Commission Meeting – May 7, 2026

The Danbury Planning Commission held its regular meeting on May 7, 2026. The agenda included a consent motion to approve minutes, old business approval of a gas station application, and an 83a referral to amend the master plan for the Reserve project to allow a fire station on Phase 10. The meeting ended with a short adjournment.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of April 15, 2026 were approved unanimously by voice vote (motion by Helen, seconded by Mr. Kyokchio).

Discussion Items

  • Danbury Millplane Realty LLC – Special Exception & Site Plan (85 Mill Plain Road): Staff planner Allie presented a revised draft resolution (dated April 30, 2026, revised May 4, 2026). Conditions 5 and 6 addressed fuel tank maintenance and vehicle queuing. Condition 10 (revised) required the applicant to locate the existing water service prior to building permits and address any city/state encroachment permits needed for the Mill Plain Road connection. Conditions 17 and 18 required fuel hoses to fill both sides of vehicles and a pedestrian crosswalk from the rear parking area to the building sidewalk. The commission voted unanimously to approve the resolution with conditions.

  • 83a Referral – The Reserve Master Plan Amendment: Planning director Waleed Alakab (also referred to as “Wally” or “Walid Alakab al-Bakari”) presented a petition to amend the master plan for the Reserve project (initial approval 2002, amended multiple times) to allow a fire station on Phase 10 (approximately 18.2 acres, limited by wetlands, wildlife corridor, and slope). The City was in discussion to acquire the land; if engineering studies show the site meets fire station needs, the City would purchase it. The amendment would also update outdated tables (e.g., reflecting 2,068 units built vs. the 1,434 listed in the 2021 addendum). Commissioners expressed strong support, noting the need for fire protection in the rapidly growing west side and that access from Ridgebury Road would minimize disruption to the Rivington community. The commission voted unanimously for a positive referral, citing consistency with the POCD and enhanced public safety.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the Millplane gas station resolution with conditions.
  • Approved a positive 83a referral for the Reserve master plan amendment (fire station on Phase 10), which will be forwarded to the Zoning Commission for final action.
  • Next regular meeting scheduled for May 20, 2026.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Anyway, thanks, Joanne, and welcome everybody to the May 6th, 2026 meeting of the Dambery Planning Commission. We'll open with the roll call. Mr. Kyokchio. Here. Ms. Hofsteader. Here. Mr. Desario. Here. Chairman Fernaldi is here. We don't have any alternates to see. We still do not know the status of Ava Avega, who we believe was sworn in, but has not yet shown up for a meeting. So we'll be we'll be checking into that at some point. Before we get started, I'll read the Zoom intro. And you know what something Joanne, at some point I should ask about the Zoom intro. I mean, when we first started doing meetings on Zoom, it was something of a novelty. So uh I always read. Do you think it's still we'll see if it's still necessary? I guess it is. Did the other questions do it? I don't think zoning does it. All right. Well, sometimes Teddy does if he remembers, you know. He tries, but he doesn't always remember. But I'll read it, but again, it's okay. I think you could skip it if everyone who's on knows you. Wally's hand is up. Let's see what Waleid wants. Uh-huh. I'll ask him. So unmute. Let's see. I got a text. Good evening. Hey, Chairman. It's unnecessary at this stage, but it's up to you. It is. So you can decide if you actually feel you need to do it. That's fine. If you feel that you could skip it, it's fine too. Right. All right. Well, since it's up to my discretion and in my never-ending attempt to have a short and efficient meeting, we'll skip it. I will double check and see if it's necessary, but for tonight, I think we're going to be okay. We're just going to skip right by it. Um the first item on our agenda is acceptance of the minutes of April 15th, 2026. Unless there's any discussion, I will accept a motion to accept those minutes. Mr.

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