The hearing is continuing in Danbury on the proposal to turn the former Super 8 motel into a homeless shelter.  The meeting was supposed to be held on Thursday, but notice of Tuesday's hearing adjournment wasn't properly made delaying the next session.  At the meeting last Tuesday, Zoning Commission members rejected last-minute revisions, which would have made substantial changes to the application. 

The applicant is seeking to have zoning regulations amended to allow a shelter in the CA-80 zone, an arterial commercial district that includes the Super 8 property at 3 Lake Avenue Extension.  Neighbors oppose the shelter location citing concerns for safety and quality of life. 

There are 741 exhibits connected with the application.  More than 20 hours of hearing into the proposal has been heard. 

The proposed revision would have required shelter applicants to include a “detailed plan” for safety and security, as well as form a neighborhood crime watch program with law enforcement and nearby property owners.   Had the Commission accepted the proposed changes, City Attorney Dan Casagrande cautioned that the opponents could appeal and the courts would “nullify” the entire zoning process.  If that were to happen he says that would be a more substantial waste of time and resources that this would impose for the commission, the applicants, the opponents and the public. 

Casagrande, who has 30 years advising Danbury’s land use commissions, believes this is the most controversial application he's seen.  The Zoning Commission was on the ballot earlier this month and current member terms expire December 1st.