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DANBURY, Conn. A proposal to slash permit and other fees by 50 percent to help revitalize a square-mile section along both sides of Main Street in downtown Danbury is on the Danbury City Council's agenda for discussion next week.
Called the Downtown Revitalization Zone, the area runs through Danbury CityCenter from the train tracks near Garamella Boulevard to the north and Elmwood Place to the south, and Patriot Drive to the east and New Street to the west. Efforts have been made for several years to revitalize the area, which includes several bars and restaurants, the Palace Danbury Theatre and Danbury Ice Arena.
However, the proposal to cut in half permit, building, sewer and water hookup, and other fees is new, and officials hope it will ultimately lead to more development.
Working on ways to improve the downtown area is always important, City Council President Joseph Cavo said. Danbury has to stay competitive and attractive to businesses and developers, so anything we can do to make it a more vibrant area is what were looking to do.
The area hosts concerts and festivals as well as the Taste of Greater Danbury, among other events. Yet it is still home to several vacant storefronts and properties, and lacks some of the refinement of parts of downtown Stamford or the SoNo area of Norwalk, for example.
The City Council will begin deliberations on the proposal at its meeting Oct. 4, and it will likely set a date for a public hearing on the matter for later next month or November.
The Zoning Commission last year passed a motion that would increase the types of developments that could receive certain tax abatements to include retail, office, residential, recreation and others. The abatements are designed to reduce the tax burden for building in the zone.
The cost of the the tax abatements and proposed fee reductions to city has not yet been determined, partly because officials do not how successful the initiative will be, Danbury Planning Director Dennis Elpern said.
We want more people coming to the downtown area, more activity, Elpern said. Weve had so little activity from a development standpoint that were hoping this will spark more interest.
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