P&Z Approves New Dog Kennel and Changes to 131 Danbury Rd.

With minor dissension, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved both the regulation modification and a change to the special permit for 131 Danbury Rd.

The developer of the 208-unit, 4.5-story building can now move forward after addressing changes in response to flooding issues. Changes, which were presented last month, elevate the ground level of the parking area out of the floodplain by six feet.

The change necessitated a modification to the setback regulation, moving the development closer to the Norwalk River.

“In overlay zones like this, I think it’s appropriate that we have an open mind about minor tweaks, which I think this is,” Chair Rick Tomasetti said.

He said that where planning was concerned, the commission needed to have some flexibility, rather than being rigid about regulations just for the sake of being rigid.

The project was originally approved in May, 2024. While P&Z was warned about the possibilities of pollutants from parked cars washing into the river during high flooding events, it approved the application and parking plan without issue.

Following the flood on Aug. 18, 2024, however, the developer resubmitted a plan aimed at addressing the issue before construction continued.

“I think this is only an improvement, so I don’t really see a problem here,” Commissioner Jill Warren said, joining most of her fellow commissioners in a 7-1 vote of support for the changes.

Commissioner Ken Hoffman, however, held the lone objection, arguing that the rules shouldn’t be bent to accommodate an engineer’s mistakes.

“I don’t think it’s our job to make the developer’s project work,” he said.

“It’s a business where you’re not supposed to be imperfect,” Hoffman said. “It’s a business where imperfect decisions put people at risk, so I’m not inclined to vote for it and I’m really not of mind to have people recommend things that violate the rules we put in place.”

Others, however, were pleased with the change.

“I think that this is an environmental improvement,” Vice Chair Melissa-Jean Rotini said. “Any time that you can get something off the ground that has the potential to flood and pollute the river, I think that’s a positive.”

Commissioner Mark Ahasic concurred.

“I’m not a big fan of … changing our rules, but given that I think this change is a positive from an environmental standpoint, I’m in favor of saying yes to it,” he said.

Tomasetti praised the work of the engineer and developer.

“I think it’s going to be better for them and better for the community,” he said.

On Monday night, the commission also unanimously approved Benny’s Backyard, LLC, a new dog kennel planned for opening at 944 Danbury Rd., just north of West Church St. in the Wilton section of Georgetown.

“This is an ideal location for a kennel,” attorney John Hall said, reviewing some changes to the fencing plans after the P&Z raised some concerns last month that they weren’t adequate.

The owners, Francisco Albornoz and Emma Mery, currently operate two grooming salons in Stamford and Ridgefield.

In their application, they said grooming clients from Ridgefield have regularly asked about boarding their dogs, so they want a small facility to meet that need. The kennel will house a maximum of 12 dogs overnight, along with another 18 during the daytime.

“I think the neighbors will be isolated from the noise,” Hall said, given a rock outcropping that stands behind the facility, along with a wooded area behind it.

While she spoke largely in favor of the project, resident Sara Curtis asked the commission to be aware that both grooming businesses and kennels require state licenses.

“It might be a good idea to ask them to obtain that license and make certain that it is in place,” Curtis said, making reference to other local dog facilities that have operated without them.

Albornoz said there is a $480 fee for the state application and that, once all the paperwork is completed and the facility is up and running, a site inspection will be held.

“It’s completely mandatory in order to have the license to operate,” he said, noting that the state comes back every year to review everything at their grooming facilities.