Bill Text: CT SB00485 | 2014 | General Assembly | Comm Sub


Bill Title: An Act Concerning Expedited Permitting For Priority Development Sites Identified By Municipalities.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-04-25 - House Calendar Number 477 [SB00485 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2014-SB00485-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly

 

Raised Bill No. 485

February Session, 2014

 

LCO No. 2657

 

*_____SB00485PD____041614____*

Referred to Committee on COMMERCE

 

Introduced by:

 

(CE)

 

AN ACT CONCERNING EXPEDITED PERMITTING FOR PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT SITES IDENTIFIED BY MUNICIPALITIES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) Any municipality, with the approval of the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, may designate municipally owned parcels of land within such municipality that are zoned for commercial or industrial use as priority development sites for the purpose of encouraging development of such parcels. Projects to develop such parcels shall be eligible for the expedited review of permit applications under section 32-726 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.

(b) Each municipality seeking the approval of the commissioner for the designation of a parcel of land within such municipality as a priority development site shall file with the commissioner an application that shall include (1) the geographical location of such parcel, (2) such parcel's proximity to roads, sewers and electrical service, (3) evidence of environmental condition, (4) the possible effect of development of such parcel on property taxes and on such municipality's grand list, (5) other possible effects of development of such parcel on both municipal and regional finances, and (6) any other information required on a form prescribed by the commissioner.

(c) In approving a priority development site designation, the commissioner shall evaluate any application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to determine (1) the suitability of such parcel for development, including environmental condition, and (2) the effect of development of such parcel on the economic development of such municipality, the region and the state, taking into consideration the nature of business and industry that may be developed, specific development plans for such parcel and any commitments to develop such parcel.

(d) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section. Such regulations (1) shall establish additional criteria for approval of priority development sites and a review and approval process, and (2) may establish a maximum number of sites that may be designated state- wide and in any municipality.

Sec. 2. Section 32-726 of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2014):

(b) (1) The commissioner shall establish an office of the permit ombudsman for the purpose of expediting review of permit applications for projects that would (A) create at least one hundred jobs, (B) create fifty jobs, if such project is to be located in an enterprise zone designated pursuant to section 32-70, (C) be located in a brownfield, as defined in section 32-760, (D) be compatible with the state's responsible growth initiatives, (E) be considered transit-oriented development, as defined in section 13b-79kk, (F) develop green technology business, (G) develop a priority development site approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 1 of this act, or [(G)] (H) meet the criteria set forth in subdivision (2) of this subsection. Projects ineligible for review under this section are projects for which the primary purpose is to (i) effect the final disposal of solid waste, biomedical waste or hazardous waste in this state, (ii) produce electrical power, unless the production of electricity is incidental and not the primary function of the project, (iii) extract natural resources, (iv) produce oil, or (v) construct, maintain or operate an oil, petroleum, natural gas or sewage pipeline. For purposes of this section, "responsible growth initiatives" includes the principles of smart growth, as defined in section 1 of public act 09-230, and "green technology business" means an eligible business with not less than twenty-five per cent of its employment positions being positions in which green technology is employed or developed and may include the occupation codes identified as green jobs by the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Labor Department for such purposes.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the commissioner may, upon consideration of the economic impact factors of the project that include, but are not limited to: (A) The proposed wage and skill levels relative to those existing in the area in which the project may be located, (B) the project's potential to diversify and strengthen the state and local economy, (C) the amount of capital investment, and (D) in the judgment of the commissioner, after consultation with the Departments of Energy and Environmental Protection, Transportation and Public Health that there is consistency with the strategic economic development priorities of the state and the municipality, deem projects eligible for expedited permitting pursuant to this section.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1

October 1, 2014

New section

Sec. 2

October 1, 2014

32-726

CE

Joint Favorable

 

PD

Joint Favorable

 
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