2007 Legislative Report

OVERVIEW
Relatively few bills pertaining to planning and development issues were passed in the 2007 session. A brief description of those that were enacted has been provided in the Chapter Newsletter, available elsewhere on this website, or may be reviewed here. Three updates: the provision to provide zoning protection for “farm stands” was removed from the bill creating a farmland preservation advisory board; the bill changing the restrictions on marketing of lots prior to final subdivision approval was passed and signed; and the eminent domain bill was in fact passed and signed by the Governor.

The table below provides hyperlinks to the new legislation that planners should be aware of and, where appropriate or helpful, to the Office of Legislative Research report.

In addition to the actual legislation, task forces of significant interest to municipalities and planners were established and will begin work in September. A Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing and Economic Development can be expected to follow up on the documentation and studies presented to the legislature on Connecticut's dire affordable housing situation, with an interim report due February 1, 2008 and a final report due June 30, 2008.

Two planning studies are scheduled, the first arising from PA 07-239. This bill from the Governor's Office creates a Responsible Growth Task Force which is scheduled to report to the Legislature February 15, 2008. Additionally, the Program Review and Investigations Committee of the General Assembly is conducting a study on the State's long-term planning efforts and another on the State's regional planning organizations. See the scope of work for these studies here.

Act Title	Link to Act	Link to OLR Analysis
An Act Concerning Demolition of Buildings	PA 07-26
An Act Concerning Zoning Appeals	PA 07-60	OLR Bill Analysis
An Act Concerning the Aquifer Protection Area Program	PA 07-85	OLR Bill Analysis
An Act Concerning Resubdivisons	PA 07-102	OLR Bill Analysis
An Act Concerning The Face of Connecticut	PA 07-131	OLR Bill Analysis
An Act Concerning the Purchase of Subdivision Lots	PA 07-182	OLR Bill Analysis
An Act Concerning (Eminent Domain)	PA 07-207	OLR Bill Analysis
An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Brownfields Task Force	PA 07-233	OLR Bill Analysis
An Act Concerning Responsible Growth	PA 07-239	OLR Bill Analysis
Incentive Housing Zones	Budget Implementer Bill (see sections 38 - 49)