Danbury approves custom auto shop from Ridgefield businessman - Danbury News Times

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DANBURY — The city’s newest custom auto service garage has been approved on the east end — across town from an emerging high-end automotive niche clustered near Danbury Municipal Airport and Danbury Fair mall.

“It seems weird to do this (approve the latest custom garage) away from the mall and away from the airport,” joked veteran Zoning Commission member Robert Melillo at a public hearing earlier this month. “We’ve been doing so much of this over there (on the west side), it’s nice to be in a different part of Danbury for a change.”

Melillo was referring to a Ridgefield businessman’s plans to restore vintage and classic off-roaders at a 6,500-square-foot garage on Shelter Rock Road.

"I appreciate everybody’s consideration,” said Robert Madeira at a Nov. 10 zoning hearing, where his plans were approved. “I appreciate everybody’s time this evening.”

Madeira, a self-described old school craftsman, said Danbury’s east end has the right growth potential for his company, Legacy Overland, which specializes in precision restoration of off-roaders, such as Land Cruisers, Mercedes G-wagons and Broncos.

“Mr. Madeira has a very interesting business,” said Thomas Beecher, Madeira’s attorney, during the hearing. “He does some work on classic automobiles but primarily the business is off-road style vehicles.”

The Zoning Commission was interested less in the business model than how it would affect the rest of the neighborhood, which is zoned for light industrial use.

“The retail sale of automobiles is strictly prohibited,” said Theodore Haddad, the zoning commission chairman.

“We understand that,” Beecher said.

To a question about whether Madeira would agree to the condition that no autos in repair would be parked outside, Beecher also agreed.

“To be honest, these vehicles and the parts are too expensive to leave outside lying around,” Beecher said.

Instead, the off-road vehicles will be restored in a custom garage with two car lifts, a handful of restorers, and “plenty of room,” for all aspects of auto repair and restoration, including full body spray-painting, Beecher said.

Madeira, who has a workshop in Portugal and established his first American garage in Greenwich before moving to Ridgefield, said he’s drawn to the old school craftsmanship of “restoring the interior and the leather, and everything; whatever the client wants — that’s what we do.”

Madeira’s garage is the latest contribution to a growing trend of custom and high-end auto businesses, mostly on the west end.

In just the last year, for example, the city has approved new Mercedes-Benz and Infinity dealerships. In addition, a 50,000-square-foot classic car and luxury vehicle restoration and storage facility opened, alongside existing Porsche and Audi dealerships, high-end auto garages, and a film director’s company that recently began producing $600,000 custom sports cars.

Reach Rob Ryser at rryser@newstimes.com or 203-731-3342

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