Developers seek Grenadier dealership, service and collision center at 17 Myra Brook Road; hearing continued

An application to redevelop 17 Myra Brook Road into an INEOS Grenadier sales, service and collision center drew a detailed technical presentation and questions from Danbury Planning Commission members on Oct. 16. Attorney Megan Miles, representing the applicant team, said the proposal includes a 3,642‑square‑foot showroom addition and conversion of an existing warehouse to a service and collision facility.

“This is the plan to redevelop 17 Myra Brook Road for use as a Curry Automotive INEOS Grenadier sales and service center,” Megan Miles said, identifying herself as an attorney at Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessy. She introduced the project team, including engineer Emily Jones and architect Justin Bhard, and said the applications before the commission are a special exception, site plan approval and a floodplain development permit.

The project team told commissioners the 1.4‑acre site sits in the IL‑40 zone adjacent to Danbury Airport and near several other high‑end dealerships. Emily Jones, a civil engineer with Civil 1 Engineering, described grading, drainage and parking: the plan calls for 51 parking spaces (46 required) and 10 service bays, and the team said the project will formalize stormwater conveyance and install subsurface detention chambers and a hydrodynamic separator to improve water quality.

“We've actually increased the flood storage volume by a little over 1,000 cubic feet, while also increasing the safety of the site,” Jones said, describing underground chambers that store and then drain stormwater as floodwaters recede.

Commissioners pressed the team on inventory and parking practices after members noted a high number of vehicles at the applicant’s Federal Road facility earlier this year. Bob Curran, who identified himself as the company’s chief commercial officer, said Grenadier’s business model is largely custom orders placed online and that the brand maintains relatively low on‑site inventory compared with other dealerships.

“For whatever reason, because it's a start up, we ended up with about 75 more cars than they ever told us we would get,” Curran said, explaining that off‑site storage arrangements exist and that the Federal Road situation was atypical.

The applicant said it expects roughly 13 employees on site and that the bulk of service work will be inside the building. The architect, Justin Bhard with Clarus Design Build, showed elevations and materials intended to tie the new building visually to the adjacent Mercedes site while meeting Grenadier’s design intent.

Commissioners and staff noted outstanding reviews from traffic, engineering, utilities and the fire marshal. Because those departmental comments remain outstanding, Commissioner Sylvain moved to continue the public hearing; the motion was seconded and the commission voted to continue the matter to the Nov. 6 meeting so staff can complete their reviews.

The application file and related materials are on file with the planning and zoning office. The commission will resume the public hearing at its next regular meeting, where staff comments on traffic, engineering and public‑safety review are expected to be available.