Connecticut APA

The Connecticut Story
Legislative Success

Steering States Toward Smart Growth
American Planning Association - 2003 Conference
April 1, 2003, Tuesday 10:15 – 11:30

Prepared By:
Connecticut Chapter American Planning Association
CCAPA Legislative Chairman – Donald J. Poland, AICP
11 Rye Street, East Windsor, CT 06016
Phone (860) 292-8256 Fax (860) 623-4798
ewplanning@yahoo.com

www.ccapa.org

January 3, 2003

Smart Growth – A Connecticut Summary
Key Movements in Connecticut

The Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board
In September 2000, Governor John G. Rowland, Speaker of the State House Moira K. Lyons and President Pro Temp of the State Senate Kevin B. Sullivan convened a Transportation Summit to discuss transportation concerns impacting the State. In June 2001 Public Act 01-5, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Transportation Strategy Board was passed by the Connecticut General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor. The Act created a fifteen member permanent Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) that was required to and did submit an initial transportation strategy and preliminary cost projections to the Governor and the General Assembly on January 15, 2002. 
On January 6, 2003, the Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board submitted its Action Plan (Transportation: A Strategic Investment) to Governor and to the Connecticut General Assembly. The Plan focuses on four major areas:
•	Movement of People
•	Movement of Goods
•	Land use and Economic Development
•	Funding and Finance

Blue Ribbon Commission on Property Tax Burdens & Smart Growth
In May 2002, The Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act No. 02-13, An Act Concerning a Blue Ribbon Commission on Property Tax Burdens and Smart Growth Incentives. The Commission was charged with the following:
•	evaluate personal and business property tax burdens in this state compared to other states and among this state's municipalities, 
•	consider modifications and alternatives to the current system of property taxation, and 
•	evaluate disincentives and incentives for smart growth.  
The Blue Ribbon Commission is meeting regularly and is due to submit a report to the General Assembly in October 2003. CCAPA has three Chapter members appointed to the Commission.

The Center Edge Coalition and Project
The Center Edge Project is a broad coalition organized by the Office of Urban Affairs of the Archdiocese of Hartford and its objective is to educate people about disparities created by our long-term pattern of development. OUA has been working with Ameregis and the Metropolitan Area Research Corporation (MARC) headed by Myron Orfield, based in Minneapolis. A report containing a selection of maps, the analysis and policy recommendations is now complete. 

The Keys to CCAPA’s Success

1.	Creating a high profile for CCAPA
•	Testifying on legislation as often as possible
•	Scheduling meetings with legislators
•	Distributing CCAPA marketing materials
•	Attending political fund raisers (not funded by CCAPA)

2.	Getting our message out
•	Issuing position papers on general land use issues
•	Issuing position papers  on specific legislation
•	Getting involved in other organizations, committees, and programs
•	Speaking at events held by other organizations

3.	Providing a useful and realistic perspective
•	Recognizing the uniqueness of Connecticut/smart growth
•	Focusing on the importance of planning
•	Supporting only those smart growth strategies that can work for Connecticut
•	Providing alternatives, not just supporting and opposing legislation

4.	Being a resource to the legislators
•	Established relationships with legislative staff
•	Offering to provide information, research and assistance
•	Inviting legislators out to our communities to see the issues first hand

5.	Working with other organizations
•	Working with other organization to support our legislation
•	Working even with those who traditionally oppose - HBA
•	Work with HBA where we can agree and respectfully disagree where we don’t
•	Being flexible – legislation is about give and take

Making Great Communities Happen

Connecticut

Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association
Legislative Chairman, Donald J. Poland, AICP – Phone: 860-292-8256 Fax: 623-4798 Mobile: 655-6897 (ewplanning@yahoo.com) www.ccapa.org

Sample Position Paper

S.B. 1024: An Act Concerning Consistency in Municipal Land Use Administrative Review Processes

Summary:  S.B. 1024 proposes to amend the general statutes to eliminate confusion and unnecessary complexity in the land use administrative review process by establishing a single procedure for review. 

Analysis: The major land use review boards at the local level include planning and zoning commissions, zoning boards of appeal, inland wetland/watercourses agencies, and water pollution control authorities. 
Each of these agencies review petitions or applications under different administrative provisions in our statutes, causing confusion and unnecessary complexity for our land use review processes.  This bill makes such administrative processes uniform by having each agency follow a single statutory section on land use administrative processes. The uniform timeline plus allowable extensions create a total length of time to make a decision of 200 days if a public hearing is held, or 130 days if no public hearing is held. 
Further, new language is added to section 8-7d(c) that presumes applications are complete unless municipalities produce application forms or checklists that define what constitutes a complete application.  This will help to alleviate the problem of filing incomplete applications and questions over when the day of receipt occurs and the time lines for hearings and decisions begin.
The bill also institutes a time frame for making certain limited decisions by water pollution control authority decisions and makes such decisions subject to the right of appeal as with other land use board decisions.
No changes are made to the substantive jurisdiction or responsibilities of any of these agencies.

Fiscal Impact: This bill has no direct fiscal impact on local land use agencies.  

CCAPA Position: The Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association supports S.B. 1024. CCAPA urges the Planning and Development Committee to vote favorably and pass S.B. 1024 out of committee. CCAPA in cooperation with the Connecticut Homebuilders Association recommended this bill and we have the support of other organizations. CCAPA is willing to work with the Committee and other organizations to resolve any minor issues with this bill that may arise out of testimony.