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Danbury Planning Commission approves amended Plaza West conditions, issues referrals and elects chair
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the commission approved amended conditions for 100 Mill Plain Road after DOT-directed changes, issued a positive referral for a sewer extension at 5 Forest Avenue, continued two public hearings to Feb. 4 and elected Arnold Finaldi chair and Bob Kyocchio vice chair.
The Danbury Planning Commission took several procedural and action items at its Jan. 21 virtual meeting, approving an amended resolution for a previously approved change-of-use at 100 Mill Plain Road, issuing a positive referral on a sewer extension request, continuing two public hearings and electing leadership for the coming term.
Jennifer Aminger, deputy planning director, explained a staff-led revision to the conditions of approval for special exception no. 7281 (Plaza West, 100 Mill Plain Road). Because Connecticut Department of Transportation staff determined signal and right-of-way work for a pedestrian button and crosswalk would be extensive and fall under DOT’s corridor improvements, the commission removed a condition that the applicant obtain state right-of-way permits (condition 3) and narrowed the language of condition 6 to exclude DOT-controlled construction. Aminger said staff would finalize a 'whereas' clause and work with counsel to perfect the resolution language; the commission approved the amended resolution by voice vote.
On referrals, the commission received an 824 referral from the City Council seeking an extension of time for sewer extension work at 5 Forest Avenue. Aminger said such sewer extension approvals are typically valid for 18 months; staff recommended a positive referral pending legal and engineering review and the commission voted to forward a positive referral to the council.
Procedurally, the commission also read a staff email requesting that the BRT/Skansen (BRT Wisconsin LLC) agenda item be continued and moved to Feb. 4; the commission approved that continuance and took the same action on the Mill Plain Road special-exception hearing to allow the applicant to respond to comments and finalize traffic/materials. Finally, commissioners nominated and approved Arnold Finaldi as chair and Bob Kyocchio as vice chair by voice vote.
What this means: The Plaza West amendment shifts responsibility for major right-of-way or signal upgrades to DOT timing and simplifies the local permit conditions to avoid requiring the applicant to perform work determined by the state agency. The positive referral for the sewer extension means the planning commission supports the council’s request (subject to legal and engineering review).
Next steps: Staff will finalize amended resolution wording with counsel and circulate it to commissioners; the referred sewer extension will proceed through the council referral process; the two continued hearings are scheduled for the Feb. 4 meeting.
