Neighbors press developer on blasting, consultant promises 500‑foot surveys and monitoring

The Danbury Planning Commission on Nov. 6 heard extended public comment on a proposed nine‑home cluster development by 3775 LLC that will require substantial rock excavation, and commissioners closed the public hearing and moved the petition to “old business” for further consideration.

Benjamin Dodo, a licensed professional engineer representing 3775 LLC, spent the bulk of the meeting summarizing revised materials submitted in response to staff comments, including an updated site plan, planting plan and a rock excavation recommendations and control‑measures memo. “We think it’s about a 300 working‑day project,” Dodo said, adding that the team estimates roughly “about 120,000 yards of material that’d be removed, assuming 30 to 40 loads a day on average” and that blasting would be periodic rather than continuous.

Why it matters: The scope and duration of excavation prompted neighborhood concern because several homes and a small business with vibration‑sensitive equipment sit relatively near the rear of the parcel. Residents and some council members asked what protections and remedies would be in place if blasting caused damage or disrupted nearby operations.

Community concerns and suggested mitigations

Mr. Gucker, speaking for the Kennedy family, said their house and a small machine shop are close to the excavation area and that the family worries about vibration harming sensitive CNC equipment and about prolonged disruption from trucks. Councilman Dwayne Perkins (Danbury City Council, 5th Ward) said he believed the project would follow fire‑marshal rules but asked what recourse neighbors would have if foundations were damaged.

Paul Rotello, a neighboring council member, recommended documented baseline surveys—“high‑definition video of the surrounding properties” including basements—so claims of post‑project damage could be checked against a pre‑blast record.

Consultant: expanded surveys, monitoring and insurance

Ray Gennaro of Down to Earth Consulting, the applicant’s geotechnical/blasting consultant, told the commission the team’s control measures “meet or exceed the minimum requirements put forth by the fire marshal.” He said the consultant will offer a broader pre‑construction survey radius than the fire marshal recommended: “We’re gonna do 500 feet.” Gennaro described planned measures including a pre‑blast meeting, a test blast, vibration monitoring and development of allowable vibration thresholds tailored to the project and to documented neighbor conditions.

Gennaro also said the contract specifications will require the blasting subcontractor to carry liability insurance and that the project will include post‑excavation surveys to help determine whether any new damage occurred. He noted existing rock berms on neighboring lots that should provide some natural mitigation for nearby properties.

Applicant response on outreach and site details

Dodo said the site plan now shows added fire protection (an additional hydrant and required striping/signage), clarified easements on grading and utility plans, added planting and sight‑distance details, and a fence around the detention basin. On access he said the plan provides 44 parking spaces where about 18 are required and that the design keeps driveway access points limited.

Procedural steps and next actions

After the presentation and public comment, Commissioner Helen Hofstadter moved to close the public hearing; the motion passed on voice vote. Commissioner Kyocchio moved to transfer the petition to the commission’s old business list for discussion and possible action; the motion was seconded and approved.

What remains open: The commission did not take a final land‑use vote on the application on Nov. 6. Staff and commissioners encouraged the applicant to maintain close communication with neighbors—specifically recommending pre‑blast surveys, regular neighbor meetings and clear notification practices (for example, reverse‑311 or similar outreach) so that residents understand timing and remedies if problems arise. The commission will consider the application further under old business at a future meeting.

Key quotes

“We’re gonna do 500 feet,” Ray Gennaro said when asked about the pre‑construction survey radius. “We think it’s about a 300 working‑day project,” Benjamin Dodo said, noting that blasting would happen periodically and not continuously.

Next steps

The application was moved to old business for further review; commissioners asked the applicant to document outreach and monitoring commitments and to include pre‑blast survey protocols and insurance requirements in the contract documents. No final vote was taken on the special exception or site plan on Nov. 6.