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Danbury Zoning Board approves two variances, tables two applications and adopts bylaw changes
Summary
At its Feb. 26 meeting the board approved variances for Hillandale Road and Sage Road, tabled variance requests for South Cornell Road and Osborne Street for additional plans and neighbor outreach, and adopted several modest bylaws amendments.
The Danbury Zoning Board of Appeals voted on multiple applications and administrative changes at its Feb. 26 online meeting.
The board approved application 26‑0224 (24 Hillandale Road) after an engineer described a steep, undersized lot and explained grading and retaining wall work needed to build a driveway; the board found the requested variances (grading within 5 feet and increasing driveway grade from 12% to 15.7%) were the minimum needed to allow reasonable use and would not adversely affect public health, safety or welfare. The approval was made as presented on the submitted plan.
The board also approved application 26‑0412 (12 Sage Road) for reduced western side and rear setbacks to permit a two‑story addition on an undersized parcel; the motion cited the lot’s existing encroachments and concluded the variances were necessary for reasonable use and would not harm public safety.
Two other cases were continued. The board tabled application 26‑018 (8 South Cornell Road, Solano) after extensive testimony from the owner, city staff and neighbors about unpermitted construction, encroachments and a stop‑work order; the board directed the applicant to work with city staff and submit engineered plans and a new survey showing remediation before the hearing resumes. Application 26‑0373 (73½ & 75 Osborne Street) was also tabled to allow the applicant’s engineer to meet with neighboring property owners and resolve questions about grading, plantings, drainage and property impacts.
In procedural business, staff proposed modest amendments to the board’s bylaws — clarifying references to other commissions, changing the officer election term to one year, narrowing a November meeting requirement, and replacing the word “listening” with “reviewing” in a provision allowing members to vote after reviewing an available recording. The board voted to adopt the proposed bylaws changes and agreed staff will consult corporation counsel as needed before finalizing the text.
Votes at a glance:
- 26‑0224 Hillandale Road — Approved (motion by committee member; second; voice vote) — variances to allow grading within 5 feet of the property line and increase driveway grade to 15.7% as per plan submitted.
- 26‑0412 Sage Road — Approved (motion by committee member; second; voice vote) — reduced west side setback from 15 to 12 feet and rear setback from 35 to 18.4 feet for proposed addition.
- 26‑018 South Cornell Road — Tabled (motion to continue pending revised plans and survey).
- 26‑0373 73½ & 75 Osborne Street — Tabled (applicant to meet neighbors to address questions about grading and drainage).
What happens next: the continued cases will return to a future meeting (the board noted the next regular ZBA meeting on 2026‑03‑12); applicants were instructed to coordinate with planning and building staff and to provide plans, surveys and any needed engineering studies prior to re‑advertisement or the resumption of public hearings.
