Commission tables petition to change auto‑repair prohibition in Danbury watershed

At the Sept. 4, 2024 meeting, a staff member read a referral petition from JM Zelle Partners LLC (and Danbury P LLC) proposing amendments to Danbury's zoning regulations to alter the prohibition on auto-repair uses at a previously approved site within the Public Water Supply Watershed District. The staff member said the zoning commission public hearing was rescheduled for Sept. 24, 2024 and that the Planning Commission would table consideration of the referral until its Sept. 18, 2024 meeting.

Staff described the petition as adding or modifying language in section 7.c.3.a (the transcript cites proposed additions and modifications, including a reference to a sub‑paragraph labeled 7.c.3.a.1.e and 7.c.3.a.4). No substantive deliberation or vote on policy was held by the Planning Commission; the item was placed on the agenda for future consideration and a separate public hearing is scheduled before the zoning commission.

Commissioners did not take a formal vote on a change to the regulation at this meeting; instead, the commission recorded the referral and set the procedural next step (tabling to Sept. 18 and noting the zoning commission hearing for Sept. 24). The transcript does not record detailed arguments for or against the zoning change or any technical analyses of watershed impacts during this meeting.

The commission's procedural action means that public input and the zoning commission hearing will be the next opportunities for substantive testimony and staff analysis on whether auto-repair uses should be allowed at the cited site within the watershed district.