Danbury planning director outlines downtown work, new high school cost and state funding opportunity

Chairman Haddad opened the Aug. 26 workshop-style meeting of the Danbury Zoning Commission and turned the floor over to Planning Director Waleed, who reviewed recent projects and funding prospects for downtown and school infrastructure.

Waleed, Danbury’s planning director, said the city’s new high school is expected to serve about 1,400 students at full capacity and that construction represents "a huge investment" roughly "about 168,000,000 or so." He said phased enrollment is likely and that the zoning commission’s earlier amendment allowed the campus to be built.

The director described ongoing Main Street streetscape work as ADA-compliant and on schedule through November. "We had funding now since last year of 9 millions," he said, adding that the city was previously short roughly $9.5 million on the original budget but has secured funding that improves the prospects of finishing the project as designed.

Waleed also briefed commissioners on a new state Municipal Development Authority that can invest in infrastructure and—unlike some prior programs—also provide financing directly to developers. He said Danbury has completed preliminary application stages and that the city council is expected to adopt a resolution in September to join and move into the final application stage.

Commissioner Bob, who attended a state briefing, said the authority indicated it may provide mezzanine financing to work alongside local banks and that, in his account, the state representative estimated $80–$90 million could be available initially for infrastructure and housing. Bob added that the authority "won’t have a commitment till, like, September, October" on Danbury’s application but that officials were optimistic about acceptance.

Waleed cautioned that joining the authority and receiving funds is not guaranteed but said the city has progressed through multiple stages of the application and that council action is the immediate next step. He also noted the authority’s financing is not necessarily tied to affordable-housing set-asides and that some forms of support may not require prevailing-wage projects, as reported in the state meeting.

The commission did not take formal action on the report; Waleed asked commissioners to contact staff with follow-up questions and said he would share further materials and application details.

The commission moved next to other planning items and adjourned at 8:57 p.m.