Danbury council authorizes pursuit of 84 Mill Plain Road for west-side fire station, including eminent-domain option

Danbury City Council on Sept. 4 authorized the city, through the office of corporation counsel, to pursue acquisition of 84 Mill Plain Road as a potential west-side fire station site, allowing negotiation or eminent domain if negotiations fail.

The mayor introduced a resolution asking the corporation counsel to “acquire the property known as 84 Mill Plain Road in accordance with the procedures established by state law and come back to the council with the final agreement.” Corporation counsel explained the two possible paths: negotiate a purchase after exchanging appraisals, or, if negotiations fail, commence a condemnation action under state statute that blends the two appraisals for court purposes.

Council members pressed for clarity on whether authorizing acquisition tonight would permit the executive branch to use eminent domain without returning for council approval. Corporation counsel said the authorization gives the city the right to commence eminent domain but noted statutory procedures govern the process; several members asked the counsel to return with a final agreement before any purchase was finalized. One council member moved a friendly amendment requiring the corporation counsel to bring back a final agreement to the council; the chair treated that as a friendly amendment and accepted it into the motion.

Council discussion also covered timing and funding. A councilmember noted that the $49 million bond previously authorized includes funds commingled for the firehouse and asked whether money has been earmarked for a purchase; the mayor and staff said the bond conversation previously accounted for land and building costs and that state funding recently identified could reduce the city’s exposure. Corporation counsel said statutory timelines give the city six months to commence a condemnation action if needed and that eminent-domain filings for public‑safety facilities may be expedited in court.

The council approved the motion by voice vote. The motion authorizes the corporation counsel to pursue negotiation and, if necessary, to commence eminent-domain proceedings; the corporation counsel will return to the council with any final agreement for approval.

The council did not provide a roll-call tally in the record; the action passed on a voice vote. The next steps identified were appraisal exchanges, continued negotiations with the property owner, and council review of any final agreement or an eminent-domain filing.