A voluntary mediation session has been scheduled in the case of Dorothy Day Hospitality House versus Danbury.  The hearing is March 12th with Judge Pickard in Torrington. 

A Hartford Judge earlier asked that the City and Dorothy Day come to an agreement so he wouldn't have to issue a ruling, but the Zoning Board of Appeals voted in September to deny exceptions to zoning rules.  That action moved the matter back to the court.

Dorothy Day was looking for variances to driveway width, parking lot size and setbacks because their more-than century old building does not comply with regulations, which were updated over the decades.  The homeless shelter operator needed the variances in order to apply for a special exception before the Planning Commission. 

Danbury officials discovered in 2016 that Dorothy Day never renewed their permit and has been operating without one for about 30 years.