Danbury planning commission closes JAR Associates hearing after sewer easement issues addressed

The Danbury Planning Commission on May 21 closed a public hearing on JAR Associates LLC’s application for special exception site‑plan approval after applicants and staff described revisions made to protect a previously unmapped city sanitary sewer line.

The applicant’s attorney, Tom Beecher, told the commission the property on Lemak Avenue sits on about 2.5 acres in the IL‑40 zone and that a city sewer main was discovered along the northerly side of the parcel during department reviews. Beecher said the applicant redesigned the site to move the proposed building away from the line and is willing to provide an easement to the city to preserve access. “Better late than never,” Beecher said of recording the easement after the fact.

Engineer Benjamin (Ben) Dodo described the redesign in more detail, saying the revised plan shifts the proposed building roughly 14 feet southeast to avoid a 24‑inch sanitary main and retains an existing 10,000‑square‑foot building while adding a 10,000‑square‑foot addition and a separate future 12,300‑square‑foot warehouse to the rear. Dodo told commissioners the rear warehouse will be sprinklered and that both buildings sit above the 100‑year flood elevation. He also described planned improvements: widening the main driveway to add dedicated left and right egress lanes, closing a secondary driveway near the Triangle Street intersection, installing continuous five‑foot sidewalks across the frontage, replacing a private hydrant and adding accessible ramps at the crosswalk.

Staff reported there were no “show‑stopper” engineering or regulatory issues that would prevent closing the hearing. Planning staff asked for easements over the sanitary mains, a fire‑flow analysis for the rear building, and continued coordination on landscaping, stormwater management (including an oil‑water separator and an annual maintenance plan) and a safety/spill plan once tenants are identified.

With no members of the public speaking for or against the application, the commission closed the hearing and voted to move the matter to old business for discussion and possible action at a later point. No final approval or vote on the special exception was recorded that night.

Next steps include filing required easements and addressing outstanding staff comments on utilities, drainage and fire‑flow analysis before the application returns to the commission. The applicant and staff said they will continue to coordinate to ensure plans comply with the city’s engineering and public‑safety requirements.