There are ongoing discussions about the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury as the no-questions asked charity is working to resolve land use issues and make other changes.  The soup kitchen and emergency shelter has room for meals to be served to 30 people, and beds for 16.

The Planning Commission received a letter from Attorney Neil Marcus about the Dorothy Day House, which was discussed at their meeting this month.  Dorothy Day had to apply to the Danbury Planning Commission for a special permit to keep operating after it was discovered over the summer that there is currently no valid permit.  

Danbury Planning Commission chairman Arnold Finaldi says there's some research and legal opinions needed on an issue dating back 32 years.  The Planning Commission gave Dorothy Day permission to operate in 1983, but only for a year.  A one year renewal was then granted, but they stopped updating the permit in 1985.  Since then, fire and health department inspections were conducted, but there wasn't a permit in place.

Marcus is recommending that the current Planning Commission take some sort of action, but Finaldi says there are too many questions on something that happened so long ago.  Finaldi notes there's spotty documentation and some correspondence that has to be looked into on the issue uncovered amid neighbor complaints and concerns.

Planning Director Sharon Calitro says they're not sure the Commission has jurisdiction for any next steps in the matter.  The group referred the letter from Marcus to the City's attorney.