Planning commission approves revised floodplain permit for 10 Rivian chargers at Danbury Mall

The Danbury Planning Commission on April 15 approved a revised floodplain permit and site plan to install 10 Rivian electric‑vehicle charging stations at Danbury Mall (Backus Avenue), with conditions customary for floodplain permits.

Planning staff member Ali told commissioners the site lies in an unnumbered A flood zone for which FEMA did not supply a base elevation; the city uses a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study elevation of 454.5 feet. The applicant’s proposed grading is one foot above that elevation, which places the chargers outside the base flood elevation even though the area remains within the floodplain by map area. “This project is really in the floodplain by area, but outside of it by elevation,” Ali said.

Ali also noted the approved site plan locates 10 Rivian chargers without reducing parking supply and recommended standard floodplain permit conditions such as engineered grading and certification of installation per the approved plans. Commissioners asked whether existing Tesla chargers are at comparable elevations; Ali confirmed the Tesla units are outside the critical elevation area.

Commissioner Helen Hofstadter moved to approve the revised floodplain permit as outlined in the draft resolution dated April 14, 2026; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The permit was approved with staff‑recommended conditions; staff said they will monitor compliance and require engineering certification as part of the standard floodplain permitting process.