CHAPTER 130*

REDEVELOPMENT AND URBAN RENEWAL.
STATE AND FEDERAL AID. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
URBAN HOMESTEADING. ABANDONED AND
BLIGHTED PROPERTY

*Valuation of special use when no comparable sales exist. 164 C. 254. Cited. 174 C. 160; 201 C. 305.

Suit by business against City of Hartford for recovery of additional allowance for moving expenses dismissed for lack of jurisdiction because federal law prohibited court redetermination of such awards. 31 CS 279. Cited. 45 CS 11.

Table of Contents


Note: Readers should refer to the 2024 Supplement, revised to January 1, 2024, for updated versions of statutes amended, repealed or added during the 2023 legislative sessions.


Sec. 8-124. Declaration of public policy.

Sec. 8-125. Definitions.

Sec. 8-126. Redevelopment agency.

Sec. 8-126a. Agency employees not to promote political parties or members.

Sec. 8-127. Preparation and approval of redevelopment plan. Notice of approval. Review.

Sec. 8-127a. Limits on redevelopment agency's use of eminent domain under a redevelopment plan.

Sec. 8-128. Acquisition or rental of real property by redevelopment agency. Limitations.

Sec. 8-129. Agency to determine compensation and file with Superior Court and town clerks; notice to owners and interested parties. Possession of land. Certificate of taking.

Sec. 8-129a. Apportionment and abatement of taxes on acquisition of property.

Sec. 8-130. Deposit filed with Superior Court clerk. Withdrawal of agency from proceeding.

Sec. 8-131. Acceptances to be filed. Approval by judge or judge trial referee.

Sec. 8-132. Judicial review of statement of compensation.

Sec. 8-132a. Determination of equities of parties in deposit or compensation.

Sec. 8-133. Costs taxable against agency.

Sec. 8-133a. Relocation or removal of public service facilities from streets closed as part of project.

Sec. 8-133b. Payments in lieu of taxes.

Sec. 8-134. Bonds: Authorization; terms, security, payment. Issuance by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated or its subsidiary for specified project.

Sec. 8-134a. Allocation of taxes on real or personal property in a redevelopment project.

Sec. 8-135. Acceptance of funds. Financing.

Sec. 8-136. Modification of redevelopment plan.

Sec. 8-137. Transfer, sale or lease of real property in a redevelopment area.

Sec. 8-137a. Other authority re transfer unaffected.

Sec. 8-138. Bonds and title to land to be in name of municipality.

Sec. 8-139. Joint action by two or more municipalities.

Sec. 8-140. Policy concerning slum areas.

Sec. 8-141. Urban renewal projects authorized.

Sec. 8-142. Urban renewal plan.

Sec. 8-143. Powers of redevelopment agency.

Sec. 8-144. Powers of municipality.

Sec. 8-145. Legislative body to prepare program.

Secs. 8-146 to 8-150. Finding and declaration of necessity. Contract for state assistance. Form of aid. Bond issue. Maximum amount of loan notes. Requirements of notes and bonds. Regulations.

Sec. 8-151. Declaration of policy.

Secs. 8-152 to 8-154. Grants-in-aid for redevelopment or urban renewal. Bond issue. Commissioner of Community Affairs to administer program.

Sec. 8-154a. Contracts for state financial assistance; eligibility. Net cost of project. Disposition of land by municipalities.

Sec. 8-154b. Bond issues.

Sec. 8-154c. Regulations.

Sec. 8-154d. Certified list of contractors for project prerequisite to grant payment.

Sec. 8-154e. Certification by agencies of employees and persons performing work under contract.

Sec. 8-154f. State grants-in-aid not subject to repayment. Contracts for financial assistance in effect prior to October 1, 1977, valid and binding.

Secs. 8-155 to 8-159. Commercial or industrial development.

Sec. 8-159a. State grants for urban problems.

Sec. 8-160. Capital improvement programs. Definitions.

Sec. 8-161. Commissioner to assist. State payments toward preparation of program.

Sec. 8-162. Procedure for obtaining technical assistance.

Sec. 8-163. Definitions.

Sec. 8-164. Authority to participate in federal act.

Sec. 8-165. Overall economic development program.

Sec. 8-166. Application for federal aid.

Sec. 8-167. Department of Economic and Community Development to act for state. Reimbursement of small business development centers.

Sec. 8-168. State loans for industrial or business projects.

Sec. 8-168a. Funds transferred to the Connecticut Growth Fund.

Sec. 8-169. Bond issue.

Sec. 8-169a. Declaration of policy.

Sec. 8-169b. Definitions.

Sec. 8-169c. Preparation and content of a community development plan.

Sec. 8-169d. Adoption and implementation of community development plan.

Sec. 8-169e. Modification of existing development plans. Acquisition of property.

Sec. 8-169f. Community development activities.

Sec. 8-169g. Issuance of municipal bonds.

Sec. 8-169h. Acceptance of financial assistance. Issuance of temporary notes.

Sec. 8-169i. Modification of a community development plan.

Sec. 8-169j. Joint activity by two or more municipalities.

Sec. 8-169k. State and federal assistance for community development projects.

Sec. 8-169l. Discretionary funds. Planning advances.

Sec. 8-169m. Receipt of funds. Issuance of bonds.

Sec. 8-169n. Regulations.

Sec. 8-169o. Declaration of policy.

Sec. 8-169p. Definitions.

Sec. 8-169q. Designation of urban homesteading agency.

Sec. 8-169r. Acquisition of abandoned property by urban homesteading agency. Certification of vacant municipally owned property.

Sec. 8-169s. Disposition of property by urban homesteading agency.

Sec. 8-169t. Selection of urban homesteaders.

Sec. 8-169u. Financial assistance. Abatement of real property taxes.

Sec. 8-169v. Acceptance of real property from United States government.

Sec. 8-169w. Urban Homesteading Fund created. Regulations. Bond authorization.

Secs. 8-169x to 8-169z. Reserved

Sec. 8-169aa. Appointment of receiver to rehabilitate abandoned and blighted property. Petition to superior court. Powers and duties of receivers. Disposition of property. Termination of receivership. Exceptions.

Secs. 8-169bb to 8-169gg. Reserved

Sec. 8-169hh. Definitions.

Sec. 8-169ii. Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority established. Board of directors; appointments; record of proceedings; action. Authority's procedures for conduct. Termination.

Sec. 8-169jj. Purposes of authority. Powers.

Sec. 8-169kk. Written procedures for conduct of board of directors.

Sec. 8-169ll. Member municipalities; joint member entities. Appointment of local development board.

Sec. 8-169mm. Reports to the Governor, Auditors of Public Accounts and General Assembly. Annual compliance and independent financial audits. Contract compliance officer; report.

Sec. 8-169nn. Application or request for funds re authority development project. Economic development statement. Expenditure of funds. Coordination of resources.

Sec. 8-169oo. Bonds, notes and other obligations of the authority.

Sec. 8-169pp. State's pledge to not limit or alter rights of authority or holders of bonds, notes and obligations or parties to contracts.

Sec. 8-169qq. State's protection of authority's directors, officers and employees from financial loss arising from claim. State's assumption of liability on debt authority unable to pay.

Sec. 8-169rr. Economic development master plan. Development and submission to authority; review and approval.

Sec. 8-169ss. Encouragement to hire local employees. Office of Workforce Strategy assistance with training and recruitment.


PART I*

REDEVELOPMENT

*Act is constitutional. 141 C. 135. Not unconstitutional because it expressly fails to provide procedure for judicial review of validity of taking of property. 146 C. 237. Motion of defendant development agency to erase complaint as a whole on ground that Secs. 8-124 to 8-133 provide exclusive remedy for determination of damages for taking by eminent domain denied where plaintiff joined an individual defendant, his lessor, who had filed an answer. 157 C. 122.

Cited. 21 CS 212.

Sec. 8-124. Declaration of public policy. It is found and declared that there have existed and will continue to exist in the future in municipalities of the state substandard, insanitary, deteriorated, deteriorating, slum or blighted areas which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious and inimical to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the state; that the existence of such areas contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease and crime, necessitating excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds for the preservation of the public health and safety, for crime prevention, correction, prosecution, punishment and the treatment of juvenile delinquency and for the maintenance of adequate police, fire and accident protection and other public services and facilities, and the existence of such areas constitutes an economic and social liability, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of municipalities, and retards the provision of housing accommodation; that this menace is beyond remedy and control solely by regulatory process in the exercise of the police power and cannot be dealt with effectively by the ordinary operations of private enterprise without the aids herein provided; that the acquisition of property for the purpose of eliminating substandard, insanitary, deteriorated, deteriorating, slum or blighted conditions thereon or preventing recurrence of such conditions in the area, the removal of structures and improvement of sites, the disposition of the property for redevelopment incidental to the foregoing, the exercise of powers by municipalities acting through agencies known as redevelopment agencies as herein provided, and any assistance which may be given by any public body in connection therewith, are public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and the power of eminent domain exercised; and that the necessity in the public interest for the provisions of this chapter is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.

(1949 Rev., S. 988; 1953, S. 483d; November, 1955, S. N30; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 1.)

History: 1959 act added word “deteriorating”.

Inclusion within area of certain properties which are not substandard does not constitute unreasonable or arbitrary action because it is condition obtaining as to entire area and not as to individual properties which is determinative; addition of word “deteriorating” indicates legislative intent that section is to be liberally construed. 147 C. 321. In determination whether property which is not substandard is essential to plan of redevelopment, condition obtaining as to entire area and not as to individual properties is determinative; condition of plaintiffs' buildings and use to which they are devoted have significance on question whether they could not be successfully integrated into overall plan for area in order to achieve its objective; if they could not be, then acquisition of property was essential to complete an adequate unit of development, even though the property was not, in itself, substandard. 150 C. 42. Cited. 162 C. 531.

Authority and obligations under Redevelopment Act discussed. 51 CA 262.

Sec. 8-125. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) “Redevelopment” means improvement by the rehabilitation or demolition of structures, by the construction of new structures, improvements or facilities, by the location or relocation of streets, parks and utilities, by replanning or by two or more of these methods;

(2) “Redevelopment area” means an area within the state that is deteriorated, deteriorating, substandard or detrimental to the safety, health, morals or welfare of the community. An area may consist partly or wholly of vacant or unimproved land or of land with structures and improvements thereon, and may include structures not in themselves substandard or insanitary which are found to be essential to complete an adequate unit of development, if the redevelopment area is deteriorated, deteriorating, substandard or detrimental to the safety, health, morals or welfare of the community. An area may include properties not contiguous to each other. An area may include all or part of the territorial limits of any fire district, sewer district, fire and sewer district, lighting district, village, beach or improvement association or any other district or association, wholly within a town and having the power to make appropriations or to levy taxes, whether or not such entity is chartered by the General Assembly;

(3) A “redevelopment plan” means a plan that includes: (A) (i) A description of the redevelopment area and the condition, type and use of the structures therein, and (ii) specification of each parcel proposed to be acquired, including parcels to be acquired by eminent domain; (B) the location and extent of the land uses proposed for and within the redevelopment area, such as housing, recreation, business, industry, schools, civic activities, open spaces or other categories of public and private uses; (C) the location and extent of streets and other public utilities, facilities and works within the redevelopment area; (D) schedules showing the number of families displaced by the proposed improvement, the method of temporary relocation of such families and the availability of sufficient suitable living accommodations at prices and rentals within the financial reach of such families and located within a reasonable distance of the area from which such families are displaced; (E) present and proposed zoning regulations in the redevelopment area; (F) a description of how the redevelopment area is deteriorated, deteriorating, substandard or detrimental to the safety, health, morals or welfare of the community; and (G) any other detail including financial aspects of redevelopment which, in the judgment of the redevelopment agency authorized herein, is necessary to give it adequate information;

(4) “Planning agency” means the existing city or town plan commission or, if such agency does not exist or is not created, the legislative body or agency designated by it;

(5) “Redeveloper” means any individual, group of individuals or corporation or any municipality or other public agency including any housing authority established pursuant to chapter 128;

(6) “Real property” means land, subterranean or subsurface rights, structures, any and all easements, air rights and franchises and every estate, right or interest therein; and

(7) “Deteriorated” or “deteriorating” with respect to a redevelopment area means an area within which at least twenty per cent of the buildings contain one or more building deficiencies or environmental deficiencies, including, but not limited to: (A) Defects that warrant clearance; (B) conditions from a defect that are not correctable by normal maintenance; (C) extensive minor defects that collectively have a negative effect on the surrounding area; (D) inadequate original construction or subsequent alterations; (E) inadequate or unsafe plumbing, heating or electrical facilities; (F) overcrowding or improper location of structures on land; (G) excessive density of dwelling units; (H) conversion of incompatible types of uses, such as conversion of a structure located near family dwelling units to rooming houses; (I) obsolete building types, such as large residences or other buildings which because of lack of use or maintenance have a blighting influence; (J) detrimental land uses or conditions, such as incompatible uses, structures in mixed use, or adverse influences from noise, smoke or fumes; (K) unsafe, congested, poorly designed, or otherwise deficient streets; (L) inadequate public utilities or community facilities that contribute to unsatisfactory living conditions or economic decline; or (M) other equally significant building deficiencies or environmental deficiencies.

(1949 Rev., S. 979; 1953, 1955, S. 484d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 51; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 880; 1972, P.A. 99, S. 1; P.A. 07-141, S. 5; 07-207, S. 1.)

History: 1959 act added “deteriorating” in Subdiv. (b); 1967 act amended Subsec. (b) to allow inclusion of all or parts of listed types of districts and associations and others in areas whether or not such districts and associations are chartered by general assembly; 1972 act added Subsec. (f) defining “real property”; P.A. 07-141 redesignated Subsecs. (a) to (f) as Subdivs. (1) to (6) and redefined “redevelopment area” and “redevelopment plan”, effective October 1, 2007, and applicable to redevelopment plans adopted on or after that date; P.A. 07-207 added Subdiv. (7) defining “deteriorated” or “deteriorating” with respect to a redevelopment area, effective October 1, 2007, and applicable to redevelopment plans adopted on or after that date.

Subdiv. (2) (former Subsec. (b)):

Inclusion within area of certain properties which are not substandard does not constitute unreasonable or arbitrary action because it is condition obtaining as to entire area and not as to individual properties which is determinative; addition of word “deteriorating” indicates legislative intent that Subsec. is to be liberally construed. 147 C. 321. Cited. 148 C. 517. In determination whether property which is not substandard is essential to plan of redevelopment, condition obtaining as to entire area and not as to individual properties is determinative; condition of plaintiff's buildings and use to which they are devoted have significance on question whether they could be successfully integrated into overall plan for area in order to achieve its objective; if they could not be, then acquisition of the property was essential to complete an adequate unit of development, even though the property was not, in itself, substandard. 150 C. 42. Property that is not substandard and is the subject of a taking within a redevelopment area must be essential to the redevelopment plan in order for the agency to justify its taking. 259 C. 592.

Legislature has delegated to redevelopment agencies power to determine what properties are necessary to take in order to accomplish public policy behind redevelopment. 85 CA 38.

Subdiv. (6) (former Subsec. (f)):

Real property for purpose of taking includes every structure affixed to the soil so as to become part of real estate. 173 C. 525.

Sec. 8-126. Redevelopment agency. (a) The legislative body of any municipality may designate as a redevelopment agency the housing authority of the municipality or the Connecticut Housing Authority, or may create a new redevelopment agency to consist of electors resident therein. The members of any redevelopment agency so created shall be appointed by the chief executive of a city or borough or by the board of selectmen of a town with the approval of the legislative body. Any person appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the person or body authorized to make the appointment. Those first appointed shall be designated to serve for one, two, three, four and five years, respectively, and thereafter members shall be appointed annually to serve for five years. Each member shall serve until his successor is appointed and has qualified and any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. Action by any redevelopment agency shall be taken only on the majority vote of all the members. A redevelopment agency shall select from among its members a chairman and a vice-chairman, and may employ a secretary and such other officers, agents, technical consultants, legal counsel and employees as it requires. The members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

(b) The legislative body of any municipality may dissolve an agency authorized under subsection (a) of this section upon determination that such action would facilitate receipt and processing of federal funds and promote the purposes of this chapter. In the event a redevelopment agency to be dissolved has undertaken a project to which the state has contributed financial or other assistance, the legislative body of such municipality shall forward a request for approval to dissolve such agency to the Department of Housing. Upon receipt of such request, the department shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce (1) the nature and amounts of such financial assistance, (2) the department's preliminary decision to approve or disapprove such municipality's request, and (3) any other conditions on which such an approval would be based. Within thirty days of receipt of such report, the committee shall advise the department whether said committee agrees or disagrees with the department's preliminary decision and the reasons therefor. If the committee does not provide such advice within thirty days, the department shall proceed to issue its final decision to the legislative body of the municipality. If the department approves such dissolution, the legislative body may designate or create a new redevelopment agency in accordance with the procedure set forth in said subsection (a).

(1949 Rev., S. 980; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 52; 125, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 224; 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 86-281, S. 9; P.A. 90-84; P.A. 12-161, S. 7; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: 1961 act added provision member to serve until successor appointed and qualified; 1967 act substituted commissioner of community affairs for public works commissioner; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 86-281 replaced “commissioner of housing or other appropriate state agency” with “Connecticut housing authority”; P.A. 90-84 organized the section into Subsecs. and amended newly designated Subsec. (a) by specifying that members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and added Subsec. (b) re dissolution; P.A. 12-161 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re requests for approval to dissolve redevelopment agency that has undertaken a project to which the state contributed assistance, effective June 15, 2012; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Department of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Department of Housing in Subsec. (b), effective June 19, 2013.

Under municipal ordinance, members of redevelopment agency were appointed by board of selectmen but ordinance did not require approval of legislative body; held appointments were not valid as statute had not been followed. 148 C. 517. Cited. 158 C. 367; Id., 522; 201 C. 305.

When power to appoint has been validly exercised, subsequent action by appointing authority to reconsider such appointment held void. 21 CS 123. Mayor cannot remove appointed member except for legal cause since appointment is for a definite term and statute does not provide for power of removal. 25 CS 392.

Sec. 8-126a. Agency employees not to promote political parties or members. No person shall cause any employee of a redevelopment agency to serve in any capacity for the purpose of promoting a political party or any member thereof.

(February, 1965, P.A. 541, S. 4.)

Sec. 8-127. Preparation and approval of redevelopment plan. Notice of approval. Review. (a) The redevelopment agency may prepare, or cause to be prepared, a redevelopment plan and any redeveloper may submit a redevelopment plan to the redevelopment agency, and such redevelopment agency shall immediately transmit such plan to the planning agency of the municipality for its study. The planning agency may make a comprehensive or general plan of the entire municipality as a guide in the more detailed and precise planning of redevelopment areas. Such plan and any modifications and extensions of the plan shall show the location of proposed redevelopment areas and the general location and extent of use of land for housing, business, industry, communications and transportation, recreation, public buildings and such other public and private uses as are deemed by the planning agency essential to the purpose of redevelopment. Appropriations by the municipality of any amount necessary are authorized to enable the planning agency to make such comprehensive or general plan. The redevelopment agency shall request the written opinion of the planning agency on all redevelopment plans prior to approving such redevelopment plans. Such written opinion shall include a determination on whether the plan is consistent with the plan of conservation and development of the municipality adopted under section 8-23.

(b) Before approving any redevelopment plan, the redevelopment agency shall hold a public hearing on the plan, notice of which shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality, the first publication of notice to be not less than two weeks before the date set for the hearing. At least thirty-five days prior to any public hearing, the redevelopment agency shall post the plan on the Internet web site of the redevelopment agency, if any. The redevelopment agency may approve any such redevelopment plan if, following such hearing, it finds that: (1) The area in which the proposed redevelopment is to be located is a redevelopment area; (2) the carrying out of the redevelopment plan will result in materially improving conditions in such area; (3) sufficient living accommodations are available within a reasonable distance of such area or are provided for in the redevelopment plan for families displaced by the proposed improvement, at prices or rentals within the financial reach of such families; (4) the redevelopment plan is satisfactory as to site planning, relation to the plan of conservation and development of the municipality adopted under section 8-23 and, except when the redevelopment agency has prepared the redevelopment plan, the construction and financial ability of the redeveloper to carry it out; (5) the planning agency has issued a written opinion in accordance with subsection (a) of this section that the redevelopment plan is consistent with the plan of conservation and development of the municipality adopted under section 8-23; and (6) (A) public benefits resulting from the redevelopment plan will outweigh any private benefits; (B) existing use of the real property cannot be feasibly integrated into the overall redevelopment plan for the project; (C) acquisition by eminent domain is reasonably necessary to successfully achieve the objectives of such redevelopment plan; and (D) the redevelopment plan is not for the primary purpose of increasing local tax revenues. No redevelopment plan for a project that consists predominantly of residential facilities shall be approved by the redevelopment agency in any municipality having a housing authority organized under the provisions of chapter 128 except with the approval of such housing authority.

(c) (1) The approval of a redevelopment plan shall be given by the legislative body. The plan shall be effective for a period of ten years after the date of approval and may be amended in accordance with this section. The legislative body shall review the plan at least once every ten years after the initial approval, and shall reapprove such plan or an amended plan at least once every ten years after the initial approval in accordance with this section in order for the plan or amended plan to remain in effect. With respect to a redevelopment plan for a project that is funded in whole or in part by federal funds, the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the extent that such provisions are prohibited by federal law.

(2) The redevelopment agency shall cause notice of the initial approval of any redevelopment plan to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality.

(1949 Rev., S. 981; 1951, 1953, S. 485d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 53; P.A. 07-141, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 07-141 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) to (c), inserted in Subsec. (a) requirement that written opinion include determination whether plan is consistent with plan of conservation and development, inserted in Subsec. (b) requirement that notice of hearing be posted on Internet web site of agency, if any, at least 35 days prior to hearing, substituted “plan of conservation and development” for “comprehensive or general plan” in Subsec. (b)(4), inserted new provisions as Subsecs. (b)(5) re written opinion that plan is consistent with plan of conservation and development and (b)(6) re public benefits, integration of existing use, reasonable necessity of acquisition by eminent domain, and primary purpose of plan not being to increase tax revenue, required approval of plan by legislative body and deleted option for approval by designated agency in Subsec. (c)(1), inserted new provisions in Subsec. (c)(1) re effective period and review of plan, inserted new provisions as Subsec. (c)(2) re notice of initial approval, and made technical changes, effective October 1, 2007, and applicable to redevelopment plans adopted on or after that date.

What constitutes fair opportunity to be heard at public hearing. 147 C. 321. Strict compliance with procedure set out by statute is necessary in order to validly adopt a redevelopment plan; plan not valid since it was not first submitted to planning commission and no meeting or hearing on it was ever held. 148 C. 517. General Assembly has delegated to the agency power to prepare a redevelopment plan within prescribed limits; such authority having been reposed in the agency, its decision is conclusive unless, on judicial review, it is found to be unreasonable, or the result of bad faith, or an abuse of power conferred. 150 C. 42. Taking of land by Hartford for redevelopment was for a public purpose, although individuals might benefit thereby, and was constitutional; due process was satisfied when plaintiff whose property was taken for redevelopment attended hearing and his questions regarding project were answered. 156 C. 521. Cited. 158 C. 522. Modification of plan adopted under section subject only to procedures of Sec. 8-136. 159 C. 116. Cited. 161 C. 234; 201 C. 305. Agency has no statutory authority to adopt amendments to a redevelopment plan if such amendments constitute a new redevelopment plan and the notice, hearing and findings required by section have not been complied with. 259 C. 563.

Sec. 8-127a. Limits on redevelopment agency's use of eminent domain under a redevelopment plan. (a)(1) No real property may be acquired by a redevelopment agency by eminent domain pursuant to section 8-128 under a redevelopment plan under this chapter for the primary purpose of increasing local tax revenue.

(2) The redevelopment agency shall conduct a public hearing on any proposed acquisition of real property by eminent domain. The redevelopment agency shall cause notice of the time, place and subject of the hearing to be published in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the municipality not more than ten days before the date set for the hearing. Not less than ten days before the date of the hearing, the redevelopment agency shall send, by first class mail, notice of the time, place and subject of the hearing to the owners of record of the real property and to all owners of real property within one hundred feet of the real property to be acquired by eminent domain.

(3) (A) No parcel of real property may be acquired by eminent domain under section 8-128, pursuant to a redevelopment plan under this chapter, except by approval by vote of a majority of the members of the redevelopment agency. Such approval shall be by (i) separate vote on each parcel of real property to be acquired, or (ii) a vote on one or more groups of such parcels, provided each parcel to be acquired is identified for the purposes of a vote on a group of such parcels under this subparagraph. The redevelopment agency shall not approve the use of eminent domain unless the redevelopment agency has (I) considered the benefits to the public and any private entity that will result from the redevelopment project and determined that the public benefits outweigh any private benefits, (II) determined that the current use of the real property cannot be feasibly integrated into the overall redevelopment plan, and (III) determined that the acquisition of the real property by eminent domain is reasonably necessary to successfully achieve the objectives of the redevelopment plan.

(B) The redevelopment agency shall cause notice of any approved acquisition by eminent domain under this subdivision to be published in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the municipality not more than ten days after such approval.

(C) (i) The redevelopment agency shall acquire any property identified in the plan as property to be acquired by eminent domain by a date that is five years after the date the first property is acquired by eminent domain under the plan unless the redevelopment agency approves an extension of the time for acquisition, except that no property may be acquired by eminent domain under the plan more than ten years after the first property is acquired by eminent domain under the plan.

(ii) With respect to a redevelopment plan for a project that is funded in whole or in part by federal funds, the provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply to the extent that such provisions are prohibited by federal law.

(4) The owner-occupant of property acquired by eminent domain under section 8-128, pursuant to a redevelopment plan under this chapter, may file an application in the superior court for the judicial district in which the municipality is located to enjoin the acquisition of such property. The court may issue such injunction if the court finds that the redevelopment agency failed to comply with the requirements of this chapter. The filing of an application to enjoin the acquisition of property by eminent domain, in a court of competent jurisdiction, shall toll the five-year period or ten-year period set forth in subparagraph (C) of subdivision (3) of this subsection with respect to such property until the date a final judgment is entered in any such action, or any appeal thereof, whichever date is later.

(b) (1) With respect to real property acquired by eminent domain on or after June 25, 2007, under section 8-128, pursuant to a redevelopment plan under this chapter, if the municipality does not use the real property for the purpose for which it was acquired or for some other public use and seeks to sell the property, the municipality shall first offer the real property for sale pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection to the person from whom the real property was acquired, or heirs of the person designated pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, if any, for a price not to exceed the lesser of (A) the amount paid by the redevelopment agency to acquire the property, or (B) the fair market value of the property at the time of any sale under this subsection. After the municipality provides notice pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the municipality may not sell such property to a third party unless the municipality has permitted the person or named heirs six months during which to exercise the right to purchase the property, and an additional six months to finalize the purchase if the person or named heirs provide the municipality with notice of intent to purchase the property within the initial six-month period.

(2) For the purposes of any offer of sale pursuant to this subsection, the municipality shall provide a form to any person whose property is acquired by eminent domain pursuant to section 8-128, pursuant to a redevelopment plan under this chapter, to permit such person to provide an address for notice of sale to be sent, or to provide the name and address of an agent to receive such notice. Such form shall be designed to permit the person to designate heirs of the person who shall be eligible to purchase such property pursuant to this subsection. The person or agent shall update information in the form in writing. If the person or agent does not provide or update the information in the form in a manner that permits the municipality to send notice of sale pursuant to this subsection, no such notice shall be required.

(3) With respect to a redevelopment plan for a project that is funded in whole or in part by federal funds, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the extent that such provisions are prohibited by federal law.

(P.A. 07-141, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5, S. 39–41.)

History: P.A. 07-141 effective June 25, 2007, and applicable to property acquired on or after that date; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 amended Subsecs. (a)(3) and (4) and (b)(1) and (2) to substitute “section 8-128, pursuant to a redevelopment plan under this chapter” for “this section”, effective October 6, 2007.

Sec. 8-128. Acquisition or rental of real property by redevelopment agency. Limitations. (a) Within a reasonable time after its approval of the redevelopment plan as provided in section 8-127, the redevelopment agency may proceed with the acquisition or rental of real property by purchase, lease, exchange or gift. The redevelopment agency may acquire real property by eminent domain with the approval of the legislative body of the municipality and in accordance with the provisions of sections 8-129 to 8-133, inclusive, and this section, except that a redevelopment agency that acquires real property by eminent domain pursuant to a redevelopment plan under this chapter shall approve the acquisition in accordance with section 8-127a. The legislative body in its approval of a project shall specify the time within which real property is to be acquired, except as provided in sections 8-193 and 32-224, and such time for acquisition may be extended by the legislative body in accordance with section 48-6, upon request of the redevelopment agency, provided the owner of the real property consents to such request.

(b) Real property may be acquired prior to the adoption or approval of the project area redevelopment plan, provided the property acquired shall be located within an area designated on the general plan as an appropriate redevelopment area or within an area whose boundaries are defined by the planning commission as an appropriate area for a redevelopment project, and provided such acquisition shall be authorized by the legislative body. The redevelopment agency may clear, repair, operate or insure such property while it is in its possession or make site improvements essential to preparation for its use in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

(1949 Rev., S. 982; 1955, S. 486d; November, 1955, S. N31; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 54; P.A. 91-398, S. 4, 7; P.A. 07-141, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 91-398 added provisions requiring that approval by a legislative body of project under Sec. 8-127 specify time limit for acquiring property; P.A. 07-141 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) and (b), amended Subsec. (a) to add exception that acquisition by eminent domain be approved in accordance with Sec. 8-127a, add “except as provided in sections 8-193 and 32-224”, and delete “under section 8-127” re approval and “hereinbefore”, and substituted “prior” for “previous” in Subsec. (b), effective June 25, 2007, and applicable to property acquired on or after that date.

Cited. 141 C. 135. Acquisition of property must be for a public purpose and decision of condemnor, while conclusive, is open to judicial review as to abuse of power. 146 C. 237. Redevelopment agency has no right to acquire riparian rights by eminent domain under section prior to legal adoption of general redevelopment plan. 148 C. 517. Redevelopment agency not authorized to take property already devoted to public use. 155 C. 202. Damages for loss of a business cannot be included in damages, but could affect valuing of property in eminent domain proceedings. 158 C. 37. Cited. 160 C. 492; 201 C. 305.

Cited. 1 CA 20.

Sec. 8-129. Agency to determine compensation and file with Superior Court and town clerks; notice to owners and interested parties. Possession of land. Certificate of taking. (a)(1) The redevelopment agency shall determine the compensation to be paid to the persons entitled thereto for real property to be acquired by eminent domain pursuant to section 8-128.

(2) For any real property to be acquired by eminent domain pursuant to section 8-128 or 8-193, or by condemnation pursuant to section 32-224, pursuant to a redevelopment plan approved under this chapter or a development plan approved under chapter 132 or 588l, the agency shall have two independent appraisals conducted on the real property in accordance with this subdivision. Each appraisal shall be conducted by a state-certified real estate appraiser without consultation with the appraiser conducting the other independent appraisal, and shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted standards of professional appraisal practice as described in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice issued by the Appraisal Standards Board of the Appraisal Foundation pursuant to Title XI of FIRREA and any regulations adopted pursuant to section 20-504. Each appraiser shall provide a copy of the appraisal to the agency and the property owner. The amount of compensation for such real property shall be equal to the average of the amounts determined by the two independent appraisals, except that the compensation for any real property to be acquired by eminent domain pursuant to section 8-193 or by condemnation pursuant to section 32-224 shall be one hundred twenty-five per cent of such average amount. If the agency acquires real property that is subject to this subdivision five years or more after acquiring another parcel of real property within one thousand feet of the property pursuant to a redevelopment plan or development plan, the agency shall increase the amount of compensation for the subsequent acquisition of real property by an additional five per cent for each year from the sixth year until the tenth year after the acquisition of the first parcel of real property. With respect to a redevelopment plan or development plan for a project that is funded in whole or in part by federal funds, the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the extent that such provisions are prohibited by federal law.

(3) The redevelopment agency shall file a statement of compensation, containing a description of the property to be taken and the names of all persons having a record interest therein and setting forth the amount of such compensation, and a deposit as provided in section 8-130, with the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which the property affected is located.

(b) Upon filing such statement of compensation and deposit, the redevelopment agency shall forthwith cause to be recorded, in the office of the town clerk of each town in which the property is located, a copy of such statement of compensation, such recording to have the same effect and to be treated the same as the recording of a lis pendens, and shall forthwith give notice, as provided in this section, to each person appearing of record as an owner of property affected thereby and to each person appearing of record as a holder of any mortgage, lien, assessment or other encumbrance on such property or interest therein (1) in the case of any such person found to be residing within this state, by causing a copy of such notice, with a copy of such statement of compensation, to be served upon each such person by a state marshal, constable or indifferent person, in the manner set forth in section 52-57 for the service of civil process, and (2) in the case of any such person who is a nonresident of this state at the time of the filing of such statement of compensation and deposit or of any such person whose whereabouts or existence is unknown, by mailing to each such person a copy of such notice and of such statement of compensation, by registered or certified mail, directed to such person's last-known address, and by publishing such notice and such statement of compensation at least twice in a newspaper published in the judicial district and having daily or weekly circulation in the town in which such property is located. Any such published notice shall state that it is notice to the widow or widower, heirs, representatives and creditors of the person holding such record interest, if such person is dead. If, after a reasonably diligent search, no last-known address can be found for any interested party, an affidavit stating such fact, and reciting the steps taken to locate such address, shall be filed with the clerk of the superior court and accepted in lieu of mailing to the last-known address.

(c) Not less than thirty-five days or more than ninety days after such notice and such statement of compensation have been so served or so mailed and first published, the redevelopment agency shall file with the clerk of the superior court a return of notice setting forth the notice given and, upon receipt of such return of notice, such clerk shall, without any delay or continuance of any kind, issue a certificate of taking setting forth the fact of such taking, a description of all the property so taken and the names of the owners and of all other persons having a record interest therein. The redevelopment agency shall cause such certificate of taking to be recorded in the office of the town clerk of each town in which such property is located. Upon the recording of such certificate, title to such property in fee simple shall vest in the municipality, and the right to just compensation shall vest in the persons entitled thereto. At any time after such certificate of taking has been so recorded, the redevelopment agency may repair, operate or insure such property and enter upon such property, and take any action that is proposed with regard to such property by the project area redevelopment plan.

(d) The notice required in subsection (b) of this section shall state that (1) not less than thirty-five days or more than ninety days after service or mailing and first publication thereof, the redevelopment agency shall file, with the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which such property is located, a return setting forth the notice given, (2) upon receipt of such return, such clerk shall issue a certificate for recording in the office of the town clerk of each town in which such property is located, (3) upon the recording of such certificate, title to such property shall vest in the municipality, the right to just compensation shall vest in the persons entitled thereto and the redevelopment agency may repair, operate or insure such property and enter upon such property and take any action that may be proposed with regard thereto by the project area redevelopment plan, and (4) such notice shall bind the widow or widower, heirs, representatives and creditors of each person named in the notice who then or thereafter may be dead.

(e) When any redevelopment agency acting on behalf of any municipality has acquired or rented real property by purchase, lease, exchange or gift in accordance with the provisions of this section, or in exercising its right of eminent domain has filed a statement of compensation and deposit with the clerk of the superior court and has caused a certificate of taking to be recorded in the office of the town clerk of each town in which such property is located as provided in this section, any judge of such court may, upon application and proof of such acquisition or rental or such filing and deposit and such recording, order such clerk to issue an execution commanding a state marshal to put such municipality and the redevelopment agency, as its agent, into peaceable possession of the property so acquired, rented or condemned. The provisions of this subsection shall not be limited in any way by the provisions of chapter 832.

(1955, S. 489d; November, 1955, S. N32; 1957, P.A. 270, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 3; 1961, P.A. 231, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 226, S. 1; P.A. 78-280, S. 15, 127; P.A. 00-99, S. 24, 154; P.A. 04-257, S. 92; P.A. 07-141, S. 8; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 91.)

History: 1959 act added maximum period of 90 days after notice and statement of compensation served for agency to file return of notice, authorized agency to repair, operate or insure property, added property acquired or rented as well as condemned to provisions of section and exempted section from limitation by provisions of chapter 922; 1961 act set out procedure where last-known address of party to be notified is unknown; 1969 act deleted all references to bonds posted by development agencies; P.A. 78-280 replaced “county” with “judicial district” throughout section; P.A. 00-99 changed references to sheriff and deputy sheriff to state marshal, effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes, effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 07-141 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) to (e), inserted Subdiv. designators (1) and (3) in Subsec. (a), added “to be acquired by eminent domain pursuant to section 8-128” in Subsec. (a)(1), inserted new provisions as Subsec. (a)(2) re requirements for acquisitions pursuant to Sec. 8-128, 8-193 or 32-224, substituted “thirty-five days” for “twelve days” in Subsecs. (c) and (d), and made technical changes, effective June 25, 2007, and applicable to property acquired on or after that date; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 substituted “section 32-224” for “section 32-244” in Subsec. (a)(2).

Section failing to provide owner with opportunity to contest taking, plaintiff, being without adequate remedy at law was entitled to equitable relief to obtain review of taking. 146 C. 237. Compensation may take into consideration moving expenses if these affect fair market value. 147 C. 362. Cited. 150 C. 44; 152 C. 139. Equitable relief indicated to review agency's taking of property as no adequate remedy exists at law to contest taking. 154 C. 446. Only factors in existence on date of taking land may be considered in determining just compensation; where plaintiff completed move from building prior to date of taking, moving costs not a factor. 155 C. 89. On date of recording of certificate of taking of defendant's property, title vested in municipality and, where possession was withheld by defendant for ten months thereafter, municipality was entitled to the reasonable value of defendant's use and occupation. Id., 397. As no single method of valuation was controlling, referee rightly selected most appropriate one for facts he found. 158 C. 37. City's postponement in applying for certificate of taking until determination of plaintiff condemnee's application for temporary injunction was proper and certificate was validly issued to city thereafter, although more than ninety days after statement of compensation filed. Id., 522. Cited. 160 C. 492; 162 C. 527. Valuation of special use when no comparable sales exist. 164 C. 254. Valuation of restrictive covenant owned in gross, for nonpecuniary charitable purpose. Id., 337. Cited. 168 C. 135; 173 C. 525; 175 C. 265; 179 C. 293; 181 C. 217; 203 C. 364. Date of taking is fixed by statute only in the absence of special equitable considerations; court assumed, without deciding, that statute applicable to a taking by city of Bristol and not a redevelopment agency. 276 C. 426.

Cited. 1 CA 20; 2 CA 355; 4 CA 271; 7 CA 485; 18 CA 508; 20 CA 148; 42 CA 292. Plaintiff town was entitled to recover back taxes from condemnation award despite its failure to claim an interest in the award in its statement of compensation filed with the court and defendant could cite no authority precluding the court from awarding back taxes to a town in a condemnation action. 175 CA 369.

Despite terms of lease whereby lessee's rights terminated with eminent domain taking, held that lessee may be entitled to part of condemnation award for trade fixtures which added to value of leasehold. 21 CS 140. Tenant may, by agreement, relinquish to his landlord all rights he may have for any damage due to land-taking. Id., 404. Cited. 35 CS 157.

Sec. 8-129a. Apportionment and abatement of taxes on acquisition of property. In any case where a redevelopment agency acquires real property, municipal taxes on such property may be apportioned in accordance with prevailing local practice in the transfer of property as of the date title vests in the grantee and the authority authorized under the provisions of section 12-124 to abate taxes in the municipality wherein such real property is situated may abate the taxes on such property from the date title so vests.

(February, 1965, P.A. 571, S. 1.)

Cited. 155 C. 399; 168 C. 135.

Cited. 1 CA 20; 2 CA 355; 4 CA 271.

Cited. 35 CS 157.

Sec. 8-130. Deposit filed with Superior Court clerk. Withdrawal of agency from proceeding. Whenever any redevelopment agency files a statement of compensation as provided for in section 8-129, it shall deposit with the clerk of the Superior Court a sum of money equal to the amount set forth in the statement of compensation to the use of the persons entitled thereto. The redevelopment agency, at any time prior to the issuance by the clerk of the Superior Court of a certificate of taking, as provided for in section 8-129, may withdraw any condemnation proceeding by filing with the clerk of the Superior Court a withdrawal, which shall state that all persons having a record interest therein have been given notice of the withdrawal in the same manner as provided in section 8-129 for giving notice of the filing of a statement of compensation. Upon the filing of such a withdrawal the clerk of the Superior Court shall return to the redevelopment agency any moneys deposited in court without charge of any fee. The redevelopment agency shall cause a copy of such withdrawal to be recorded in the office of the town clerk of each town in which the property which is the subject of the condemnation proceeding is located so as to remove the lis pendens as provided in section 8-129. If the amount of compensation is finally determined through the filing of an amended statement of compensation which is thereafter accepted by the owners and all other persons having a record interest therein as provided for in section 8-131, the redevelopment agency shall deposit with such amended statement an additional sum of money representing the excess over the amount appearing in the original statement of compensation. Interest shall not be allowed in any judgment on so much of the amount as has been deposited in court. Upon the application of any person claiming an interest therein the Superior Court, or any judge thereof, after determining the equity of the applicant in the deposit, shall order that the money so deposited or any part thereof be paid forthwith for or on account of the just compensation to be awarded in the proceeding. If the compensation finally awarded exceeds the total amount of money so deposited or received by any person or persons entitled thereto, the court shall enter judgment against the municipality for the amount of the deficiency.

(1957, P.A. 270, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 4; 1961, P.A. 231, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 226, S. 2.)

History: 1959 act specified “superior” court “or any judge thereof”; 1961 act added withdrawal procedure; 1969 act deleted provision concerning bond to be posted by development agency.

See Sec. 37-3c re calculation of interest in condemnation cases.

Cited. 153 C. 119; 155 C. 86; 158 C. 38; 160 C. 492; 168 C. 135; 179 C. 293.

Cited. 1 CA 20; 2 CA 355; 4 CA 271; 21 CA 359; 23 CA 554.

Cited. 35 CS 157.

Sec. 8-131. Acceptances to be filed. Approval by judge or judge trial referee. After the statement of compensation provided for in section 8-129 has been filed with the clerk of the Superior Court, the property owner affected and all other persons having a record interest therein may file with said clerk his or their written acceptance thereof. Said clerk shall thereupon notify the redevelopment agency of such acceptance. If the amount to be paid by the redevelopment agency or the municipality for such property does not exceed ten thousand dollars, said clerk shall send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and the acceptance thereof to the redevelopment agency, and the court shall order the deposit or any balance remaining thereon not disbursed by order of the court in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 8-130 to be paid to the persons entitled thereto in accordance with their equities upon application made by such persons. If the amount of such compensation exceeds ten thousand dollars, said clerk shall not certify the same until the compensation has been approved as reasonable in amount by a judge of the Superior Court or a judge trial referee. If such judge or judge trial referee approves such compensation, said clerk shall thereupon send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and the acceptance thereof to the redevelopment agency, and the court shall order the deposit or any such balance remaining on deposit to be paid to the persons entitled thereto in accordance with their equities upon application made by such persons. If such judge or judge trial referee does not approve such statement of compensation, said clerk shall notify the redevelopment agency and the latter may file an amended statement of compensation.

(1955, S. 488d; 1957, P.A. 270, S. 4; P.A. 02-132, S. 68.)

History: P.A. 02-132 replaced references to state referee with references to judge or judge trial referee.

Cited. 160 C. 492; 168 C. 135.

Cited. 1 CA 20; 2 CA 355; 4 CA 271; 23 CA 554.

Cited. 35 CS 157.

Sec. 8-132. Judicial review of statement of compensation. (a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by the statement of compensation filed by the redevelopment agency may, at any time within six months after the statement of compensation has been filed, apply to the superior court for the judicial district in which such property is situated for a review of such statement of compensation so far as it affects such applicant. The court, after causing notice of the pendency of such application to be given to the redevelopment agency, may, with the consent of the parties or their attorneys, appoint a judge trial referee to make a review of the statement of compensation, except that the court shall, upon the motion of either party or their attorneys, refer the application to a judge appointed by the Chief Court Administrator to hear tax appeals pursuant to section 12-39l, who shall consider such application in the manner set forth in subsection (c) of this section. For the purposes of such application, review and appeal therefrom, and for the purposes of sections 52-192a to 52-195, inclusive, such applicant shall be deemed a counterclaim plaintiff.

(b) If the court appoints a judge trial referee, the judge trial referee, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall hear the applicant and the redevelopment agency, shall view the property and take such testimony as the judge trial referee deems material and shall thereupon revise such statement of compensation in such manner as the judge trial referee deems proper and promptly report to the court. Such report shall contain a detailed statement of findings by the judge trial referee sufficient to enable the court to determine the considerations upon which the judge trial referee's conclusions are based. The report of the judge trial referee shall take into account any evidence relevant to the fair market value of the property, including evidence of environmental condition and required environmental remediation. The judge trial referee shall make a separate finding for remediation costs and the property owner shall be entitled to a set-off of such costs in any pending or subsequent action to recover remediation costs for the property. The court shall review the report, and may reject the report for any irregular or improper conduct in the performance of the duties of the judge trial referee. If the court rejects the report, the court may appoint another judge trial referee to make such review and report. If the court accepts the report, the statement of compensation in the report shall be conclusive upon such owner and the redevelopment agency.

(c) If the court does not appoint a judge trial referee, the court, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall hear the applicant and the redevelopment agency and take such testimony as the court deems material, may view the subject property, and shall make a finding regarding the statement of compensation. The findings of the court shall take into account any evidence relevant to the fair market value of the property, including evidence of environmental condition and required environmental remediation. The court shall make a separate finding for remediation costs and the property owner shall be entitled to a set-off of such costs in any pending or subsequent action to recover remediation costs for the property. The findings of the court shall be conclusive upon such owner and the redevelopment agency.

(d) If no appeal to the Appellate Court is filed within the time allowed by law, or if an appeal is filed and the proceedings have terminated in a final judgment finding the amount due the property owner, the clerk shall send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and of the judgment to the redevelopment agency, which shall, upon receipt thereof, pay such property owner the amount due as compensation. The pendency of any such application for review shall not prevent or delay any action that is proposed with regard to such property by the project area redevelopment plan.

(1955, S. 490d; 1972, P.A. 148, S. 1; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 20, 82; P.A. 00-89; 00-192, S. 100, 102; P.A. 01-186, S. 1; 01-195, S. 113, 181; P.A. 02-132, S. 69; P.A. 04-257, S. 93; P.A. 07-141, S. 9; 07-207, S. 2; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 163.)

History: 1972 act added sentence specifying nature of referee's report to court; P.A. 78-280 replaced “county” with “judicial district”; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted reference to supreme court and substituted appellate court in lieu thereof; P.A. 00-89 added provision re consideration of evidence relevant to fair market value, including environmental condition and environmental remediation, and added provision re remediation costs; P.A. 00-192 changed effective date of P.A. 00-89 from October 1, 2000, to May 26, 2000, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 01-186 changed “shall appoint a state referee” to “may appoint a judge trial referee” and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 11, 2001 (Revisor's note: In merging P.A. 01-186 and P.A. 01-195, the Revisors gave precedence to the gender-neutral technical changes contained in P.A. 01-195); P.A. 02-132 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a), (b) and (d), making technical and conforming changes throughout, amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re court review of report and replacing provisions re mandatory appointment of another referee with provisions re discretionary appointment of another judge trial referee and added Subsec. (c) re review by court; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes, effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 07-141 amended Subsec. (a) to add “with the consent of the parties or their attorneys” re appointment of judge trial referee, add provision re referral of application to a judge appointed to hear tax appeals pursuant to section 12-39l, and provide that for purposes of application, review and appeal and for purposes of sections 52-192a to 52-195, applicant shall be deemed a counterclaim plaintiff, and made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (c), effective June 25, 2007, and applicable to property acquired on or after that date; P.A. 07-207 added provisions authorizing Superior Court to refer statement of compensation to Ombudsman for Property Rights for revision and made technical changes, effective October 1, 2007, and applicable to property acquired on and after that date; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsecs. (a) to (c) to delete provisions re referral of application to the Ombudsman for Property Rights for a hearing, effective October 5, 2009.

Cited. 147 C. 321. Compensation may take into consideration moving expenses if these affect fair market value. Id., 362. Referee is not bound by opinion of experts; such opinions only aid trier to arrive at his own conclusion which is reached by weighing such opinions in light of all other relevant circumstances and his own general knowledge. 148 C. 513. Statute permits, and indeed requires, referee to raise, lower or leave unchanged the assessment of damages and there was no reason for precluding referee from revising assessment downward. 152 C. 141. Cited. 153 C. 119; 160 C. 492; 168 C. 135; 179 C. 293. Referee did not err in finding that the unique characteristics and special business use of the property were factors enhancing its fair market value. 180 C. 579. Cited. 181 C. 217; 184 C. 444; 203 C. 364; 215 C. 197. A claim alleging a civil rights violation pursuant to 42 USC 1983 is not barred by doctrine of res judicata because such claim cannot be encompassed within the limited scope of review in a condemnation proceeding pursuant to this section. 294 C. 817.

Cited. 1 CA 20; 2 CA 351; Id., 355; 4 CA 271; 7 CA 485. Does not mandate filing of separate action to contest compensation statement. 18 CA 508. Cited. 20 CA 148; 21 CA 359; 23 CA 554; 37 CA 7; 42 CA 292. Defendant could not prevail on claim that trial court's valuation of property taken by eminent domain was inherently flawed because it failed to follow its statutory obligation to actually view the property; under the circumstances, court's failure to view the property was harmless because at time of trial the property no longer existed in same condition as it did at time of taking and, therefore, evidence of court's viewing of property would have been irrelevant. 76 CA 678.

Cited. 35 CS 157.

Sec. 8-132a. Determination of equities of parties in deposit or compensation. (a) Any person making application for payment of moneys deposited in court as provided for by section 8-130 or claiming an interest in the compensation being determined in accordance with section 8-132 may make a motion to the superior court for the judicial district in which the property that is the subject of the proceedings referred to is located for a determination of the equity of the parties having an interest in such moneys. The court may appoint a judge trial referee to hear the facts and to make a determination of the equity of the parties in such moneys.

(b) If the court appoints a judge trial referee, such judge trial referee, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall hear the applicant and any parties interested, take such testimonies as such judge trial referee deems material and determine the equities of the parties having a record interest in such moneys and forthwith report to the court. Such report shall contain a detailed statement of findings by the judge trial referee, sufficient to enable the court to determine the considerations upon which the judge trial referee based his conclusions. The court shall review the report, and may reject it for any irregular or improper conduct in the performance of the duties of such judge trial referee. If the report is rejected, the court may appoint another judge trial referee to make such determination and report. If the report is accepted, such determination of the equities shall be conclusive upon all parties given notice of such hearing, subject to appeal to the Appellate Court.

(c) If the court does not appoint a judge trial referee, the court, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall take such testimony as it deems material and determine the equities of the parties having a record interest in such moneys. The finding of the court and such determination of the equities shall be conclusive upon all parties given notice of such hearing, subject to appeal to the Appellate Court.

(d) If no appeal to the Appellate Court is filed within the time allowed by law, or if one is filed and the proceedings have terminated in a final judgment determining the amount due to each party, the clerk shall send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and of the judgment to the redevelopment agency, which shall, upon receipt thereof, pay such parties the amount due them as compensation. The pendency of any such application for review shall not prevent or delay whatever action is proposed with regard to such property by the project area redevelopment plan.

(1961, P.A. 231, S. 3; 1972, P.A. 148, S. 2; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 21, 82; P.A. 02-132, S. 70.)

History: 1972 act specified nature of referee's report to court; P.A. 78-280 replaced “county” with “judicial district”; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted reference to supreme court and substituted appellate court in lieu thereof; P.A. 02-132 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a), (b) and (d), making technical and conforming changes throughout, amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provisions re appointment of state referee with provisions re appointment of judge trial referee, amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re court review of report and replacing provisions re mandatory appointment of another referee with provisions re discretionary appointment of another judge trial referee and added Subsec. (c) re review by court.

Cited. 155 C. 46; 163 C. 12; 168 C. 135.

Cited. 1 CA 20; 4 CA 271; 23 CA 554.

Cited. 35 CS 157.

Sec. 8-133. Costs taxable against agency. If, as the result of any review under the provisions of section 8-132, the applicant obtains an award from the court greater than the amount determined as compensation by the redevelopment agency, costs of court, including such appraisal fees as the court determines to be reasonable, shall be awarded to the applicant and taxed against the redevelopment agency in addition to the amount fixed by the judgment.

(1955, S. 491d; February, 1965, P.A. 285.)

History: 1965 act authorized awarding of appraisal fees.

Cited. 160 C. 492; 168 C. 135; 215 C. 197; 236 C. 710. “Appraisal fees” are those costs reasonable and necessary for court's determination of taken property's value. 272 C. 14.

Cited. 1 CA 20; 2 CA 355; 4 CA 271; 23 CA 554. A redevelopment agency is an agent of the state, therefore Sec. 48-17b applies to fees for inverse condemnation. 51 CA 262.

What costs of court include is determined by Sec. 52-257. 24 CS 390. Cited. 35 CS 157.

Sec. 8-133a. Relocation or removal of public service facilities from streets closed as part of project. As used in this section, “public service facility” includes any sewer, pipe, main, conduit, cable, wire, pole, tower, building or utility appliance owned or operated by an electric distribution, gas, telephone, water or community antenna television service company. Whenever a redevelopment agency determines that the closing of any street or public right-of-way is provided for in a redevelopment or renewal plan adopted and approved in accordance with section 8-127, or where the carrying out of such a redevelopment or renewal plan, including the construction of new improvements, requires the temporary or permanent readjustment, relocation or removal of a public service facility from a street or public right-of-way, the agency shall issue an appropriate order to the company owning or operating such facility, and such company shall permanently or temporarily readjust, relocate or remove the same promptly in accordance with such order, provided an equitable share of the cost of such readjustment, relocation or removal of said public service facility located within the redevelopment area, including the cost of installing and constructing a facility of equal capacity in a new location, shall be borne by the redevelopment agency. Such equitable share shall be fifty per cent of such cost after the deductions hereinafter provided. In establishing the equitable share of the cost to be borne by the redevelopment agency, there shall be deducted from the cost of the readjusted, relocated or removed facilities a sum based on a consideration of the value of materials salvaged from existing installations, the cost of the original installation, the life expectancy of the original facility and the unexpired term of such life use. For the purposes of determining the equitable share of the cost of such readjustment, relocation or removal, the books and records of the company shall be available for the inspection of the redevelopment agency. When any facility is removed from a street or public right-of-way to a private right-of-way, the redevelopment agency shall not pay for such private right-of-way. If the redevelopment agency and the company owning or operating such facility cannot agree upon the share of the cost to be borne by the redevelopment agency, either may apply to the superior court for the county within which the street or public right-of-way is situated, or, if the court is not in session, to any judge thereof, for a determination of the cost to be borne by the redevelopment agency, and such court or such judge, after causing notice of the pendency of such application to be given to the other party, shall appoint a state referee to make such determination. Such referee, having given at least ten days' notice, to the parties interested, of the time and place of the hearing, shall hear both parties, shall take such testimony as such referee may deem material and shall thereupon determine the amount of the cost to be borne by the redevelopment agency and forthwith report to the court. If the report is accepted by the court, such determination shall, subject to right of appeal as in civil actions, be conclusive upon such parties.

(1959, P.A. 73, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 469; 1969, P.A. 381; P.A. 75-130; P.A. 14-134, S. 25.)

History: 1961 act removed facilities owned by municipal government; 1969 act made minor changes in wording; P.A. 75-130 included material of community antenna television service companies in definition; P.A. 14-134 deleted reference to telegraph company and replaced reference to electric company with reference to electric distribution company, effective June 6, 2014.

Cited. 161 C. 234.

Sec. 8-133b. Payments in lieu of taxes. The redevelopment agency of a municipality shall make payments in lieu of taxes to such municipality on all property acquired by such agency in accordance with any redevelopment or urban renewal plan, to the extent that such payments qualify as part of the gross project cost as provided by the federal Housing Act of 1949, as amended and as it may be amended, except that any municipality, by ordinance, may provide for the use of tax credits instead of actual payments as permitted by said federal act.

(1967, P.A. 447.)

Sec. 8-134. Bonds: Authorization; terms, security, payment. Issuance by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated or its subsidiary for specified project. For the purpose of carrying out or administering a redevelopment plan or other functions authorized under this chapter, a municipality, acting by and through its redevelopment agency, is hereby authorized, subject only to the limitations and procedures set forth in this section, to issue from time to time bonds of the municipality which are payable solely from and secured by: (a) A pledge of and lien upon any or all of the income, proceeds, revenues and property of redevelopment projects, including the proceeds of grants, loans, advances or contributions from the federal government, the state or other source, including financial assistance furnished by the municipality or any other public body pursuant to section 8-135; (b) taxes or payments in lieu of taxes, or both, in whole or in part, allocated to and paid into a special fund of the municipality pursuant to the provisions of section 8-134a; or (c) any combination of the methods in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. For the purposes of a specified project only, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated may, upon a resolution with respect to such project adopted by the legislative body of the municipality, issue and administer bonds which are payable solely or in part from and secured by the pledge and security provided for in this section subject to the general terms and provisions of law applicable to the issuance of bonds by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, except that the provisions of subsection (b) of section 32-23j shall not apply. Any bonds payable and secured as provided in this section shall be authorized by a resolution adopted by the legislative body of the municipality, notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, local law or charter governing the authorization and issuance of bonds generally by the municipality. No such resolution shall be adopted until after a public hearing has been held upon such authorization. Notice of such hearing shall be published not less than five days prior to such hearing in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality. Such bonds shall be issued and sold in such manner; bear interest at such rate or rates, including variable rates to be determined in such manner as set forth in the proceedings authorizing the issuance of the bonds; provide for the payment of interest on such dates, whether before or at maturity; be issued at, above or below par; mature at such time or times not exceeding forty years from their date in the case of bonds issued to finance housing and facilities related thereto or thirty years from their date in all other cases; have such rank or priority; be payable in such medium of payment; be issued in such form, including, without limitation, registered or book-entry form, carry such registration and transfer privileges and be made subject to purchase or redemption before maturity at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions, including the condition that such bonds be subject to purchase or redemption on the demand of the owner thereof; and contain such other terms and particulars as the legislative body of the municipality or the officers delegated such authority by the legislative body of the municipality body shall determine. The proceedings under which bonds are authorized to be issued may, subject to the provisions of the general statutes, contain any or all of the following: (1) Provisions respecting custody of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds and any bond anticipation notes, including any requirements that such proceeds be held separate from or not be commingled with other funds of the municipality; (2) provisions for the investment and reinvestment of bond proceeds until such proceeds are used to pay project costs and for the disposition of any excess bond proceeds or investment earnings thereon; (3) provisions for the execution of reimbursement agreements, or similar agreements, in connection with credit facilities, including, but not limited to, letters of credit or policies of bond insurance, remarketing agreements and agreements for the purpose of moderating interest rate fluctuations; (4) provisions for the collection, custody, investment, reinvestment and use of the pledged revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys pledged for payment of bonds as provided in this section; (5) provisions regarding the establishment and maintenance of reserves, sinking funds and any other funds and accounts as shall be approved by the legislative body of the municipality in such amounts as may be established by the legislative body of the municipality and the regulation and disposition thereof, including requirements that any such funds and accounts be held separate from or not be commingled with other funds of the municipality; (6) covenants for the establishment of maintenance requirements with respect to facilities and properties; (7) provisions for the issuance of additional bonds on a parity with bonds issued prior to the issuance of such additional bonds, including establishment of coverage requirements with respect to such bonds as herein provided; (8) provisions regarding the rights and remedies available to the bond owners, note owners or any trustee under any contract, loan agreement, document, instrument or trust indenture in case of a default, including the right to appoint a trustee to represent their interests upon occurrence of any event of default, as defined in any such default proceedings, provided that if any bonds or bond anticipation notes are secured by a trust indenture, the respective owners of such bonds or notes shall have no authority except as set forth in such trust indenture to appoint a separate trustee to represent them; and (9) other provisions or covenants of like or different character from the foregoing which are consistent with this section and which the legislative body of the municipality determines in such proceedings are necessary, convenient or desirable in order to better secure the bonds or bond anticipation notes, or will tend to make the bonds or bond anticipation notes more marketable, and which are in the best interests of the municipality. Any provisions which may be included in proceedings authorizing the issuance of bonds under this section may be included in an indenture of trust duly approved in accordance with this section which secures the bonds and any notes issued in anticipation thereof, and in such case the provisions of such indenture shall be deemed to be a part of such proceedings as though they were expressly included therein. Any pledge made by the municipality shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made, and any revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys so pledged and thereafter received by the municipality shall be subject immediately to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act. The lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the municipality, irrespective of whether such parties have notice of such lien. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded. The legislative body of the municipality may enter into a trust indenture by and between the municipality and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the municipality. Such trust indenture may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bond owners and note owners as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the municipality in relation to the exercise of its powers pursuant to this section and the custody, safeguarding and application of all moneys. The municipality may provide by such trust indenture for the payment of the pledged revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys to the trustee under such trust indenture or to any other depository, and for the method of disbursement thereof, with such safeguards and restrictions as it may determine. All expenses incurred in carrying out such trust indenture may be treated as project costs. Such bonds shall not be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality, provided, if such bonds are made payable, in whole or in part, from funds contracted to be advanced by the municipality, the aggregate amount of such funds not yet appropriated to such purpose shall be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality. As used in this section, “bonds” means any bonds, including refunding bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures or other obligations. For purposes of this section and section 8-134a, references to Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated shall include any subsidiary of Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated established pursuant to subsection (a) of section 32-11e.

(1953, S. 492d; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 11; P.A. 74-319, S. 1; P.A. 87-572, S. 1, 5; P.A. 88-233, S. 1, 5; P.A. 89-230, S. 2, 4; P.A. 98-237, S. 1; P.A. 01-179, S. 2; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 152; P.A. 13-123, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 74-319 allowed issuance of bonds payable from and secured by taxes or by combination of taxes and lien of assets of redevelopment projects if approved by local legislative body and allowed deferral of principal payment for up to 5 years; P.A. 87-572 made extensive amendments in procedures for issuance and payment of debt; P.A. 88-233 included payments made from payments in lieu of taxes; P.A. 89-230 provided for 40-year maturity limits for bonds which finance housing and related facilities; P.A. 98-237 authorized the Connecticut Development Authority to issue bonds for a specified project upon approval of the legislative body of the municipality in which the project is located; P.A. 01-179 added provisions authorizing bonds to be payable in part from and secured by pledge and security provided for in section and specifying that references to the Connecticut Development Authority include its subsidiaries; pursuant to June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, “Connecticut Development Authority” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-123 substituted reference to Sec. 32-11e(a) for reference to Sec. 32-11a(1), effective June 18, 2013.

Cited. 201 C. 305.

Prior rejection of bond issue for redevelopment project by voters does not restrict legislative body from again considering matter and calling second referendum. 21 CS 212.

Sec. 8-134a. Allocation of taxes on real or personal property in a redevelopment project. Any redevelopment plan authorized under this chapter or any proceedings authorizing the issuance of bonds under this chapter may contain a provision that taxes, if any, identified in such plan or such authorizing proceedings and levied upon taxable real or personal property, or both, in a redevelopment project each year, or payments in lieu of such taxes authorized pursuant to chapter 114, or both, by or for the benefit of any one or more municipalities, districts, or other public taxing agencies after the effective date of the ordinance approving the redevelopment plan or such bond authorizing proceedings, as the case may be, shall be divided as follows: (1) In each fiscal year that portion of the taxes or payments in lieu of taxes, or both, which would be produced by applying the then current tax rate of each of the taxing agencies to the total sum of the assessed value of the taxable property in the redevelopment project on the effective date of such ordinance or the date of such authorizing proceedings, as the case may be, or on any date between such two dates which is identified in such proceedings, shall be allocated to and when collected shall be paid into the funds of the respective taxing agencies in the same manner as taxes by or for said taxing agencies on all other property are paid; and (2) that portion of the assessed taxes or payments in lieu of taxes, or both, each fiscal year in excess of the amount referred to in subdivision (1) of this section shall be allocated to and when collected shall be paid into a special fund of the municipality or Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated as issuer of such bonds to be used in each fiscal year, first to pay the principal of and interest due in such fiscal year on loans, moneys advanced to, or indebtedness, whether funded, refunded, assumed, or otherwise, incurred by such municipality or Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated as issuer of such bonds to finance or refinance in whole or in part, such redevelopment project, and then, at the option of the municipality or Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated as issuer of such bonds, to purchase bonds issued for the project which has generated the increments in taxes or payments in lieu of taxes and then, at the option of the municipality or Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated as issuer of such bonds, to reimburse the provider of or reimbursement party with respect to any guarantee, letter of credit, policy of bond insurance, funds deposited in a debt service reserve fund, funds deposited as capitalized interest or other credit enhancement device used to secure payment of debt service on any bonds, notes or other indebtedness of a municipality or Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated as issuer of such bonds issued pursuant to section 8-134 to finance or refinance such redevelopment project, to the extent of any payments of debt service made therefrom. Unless and until the total assessed valuation of the taxable property in a redevelopment project exceeds the total assessed value of the taxable property in such project as shown by the last assessment list, referred to in subdivision (1) of this section, all of the taxes levied and collected and all of the payments in lieu of taxes due and collected upon the taxable property in such redevelopment project shall be paid into the funds of the respective taxing agencies. When such loans, advances, and indebtedness, if any, and interest thereon, and such debt service reimbursement to the provider of or reimbursement party with respect to such credits, have been paid, in full, all moneys thereafter received from taxes or payments in lieu of taxes, or both, upon the taxable property in such redevelopment project shall be paid into the funds of the respective taxing agencies in the same manner as taxes on all other property are paid.

(P.A. 74-319, S. 2; P.A. 87-572, S. 2, 5; P.A. 88-233, S. 2, 5; P.A. 98-237, S. 2; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 152.)

History: P.A. 87-572 made extensive amendments in procedures for issuance and payment of debt; P.A. 88-233 included payments in lieu of taxes, provided for multiple jurisdiction projects and allowed for a municipally-fixed assessment date for the valuation of taxable property; P.A. 98-237 applied provisions to personal property and inserted reference to Connecticut Development Authority for consistency with other 1998 statutory changes; pursuant to June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, “Connecticut Development Authority” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated”, effective July 1, 2012.

Sec. 8-135. Acceptance of funds. Financing. For the purpose of carrying out or administering a redevelopment plan or other functions authorized under this chapter, a municipality, acting by and through its redevelopment agency, may accept grants, advances, loans or other financial assistance from the federal government, the state or other source, and may do any and all things necessary or desirable to secure such financial aid. To assist any redevelopment project located in the area in which it is authorized to act, any public body, including the state, or any city, town, borough, authority, district, subdivision or agency of the state, may, upon such terms as it determines, furnish service or facilities, provide property, lend or contribute funds, and take any other action of a character which it is authorized to perform for other purposes, to include entering into a written agreement fixing the assessment of real estate to be used for a rental housing project to be constructed in a redevelopment or urban renewal area, pursuant to section 12-65. To obtain funds for the temporary and definitive financing of any redevelopment project, a municipality may, in addition to other action authorized under this chapter or other law, levy taxes and issue and sell its temporary loan notes, bonds or other obligations. Such temporary loan notes shall be issued for a period of not more than three years, but notes issued for a shorter period of time may be renewed by the issue of other notes, provided the period from the date of the original notes to the maturity of the last notes issued in renewal thereof shall not exceed three years, and the provisions of section 7-373 shall be deemed to apply thereto. Any such bonds or other obligations issued by a municipality pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with such statutory and other legal requirements as govern the issuance of obligations generally by the municipality.

(1949 Rev., S. 983, 986; 1949, S. 250b; 1953, S. 493d; November, 1955, S. N33; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 91; 1963, P.A. 615, S. 4.)

History: 1961 act removed obsolete reference to counties; 1963 act included authority to enter into agreement fixing assessments on rental housing projects.

Nothing herein authorizes redevelopment agency to condemn property already devoted to public use. 155 C. 202. Cited. 201 C. 305.

Sec. 8-136. Modification of redevelopment plan. A redevelopment plan may be modified at any time by the redevelopment agency, provided, if modified after the lease or sale of real property in the redevelopment project area, the modification must be consented to by the redeveloper or redevelopers of such real property or his successor or their successors in interest affected by the proposed modification. Where the proposed modification will substantially change the redevelopment plan as previously approved by the legislative body, the modification must similarly be approved by the legislative body.

(1949 Rev., S. 985; 1953, S. 494d.)

Cited. 158 C. 522. Submission of proposed modification of redevelopment plan to include plaintiff's property to Stamford legislative body is sufficient compliance with law. 159 C. 116. Cited. 174 C. 160; 201 C. 305.

Cited. 26 CS 249.

Sec. 8-137. Transfer, sale or lease of real property in a redevelopment area. The redevelopment agency, for the purpose of this chapter, may sell, lease or otherwise transfer for such sums as are agreed upon the whole or any part of the real property within a redevelopment area to the redeveloper or, if the real property is to be used for public purposes, to an appropriate public agency. Such sale, lease or transfer may include easements or other interests in, above or below any street, highway or other public right-of-way, existing or proposed, to the centerline thereof, other than the right-of-way of a state highway as defined in section 13a-1; provided adequate provision is made for the safe and convenient public use of the street, highway or other public right-of-way and for the protection of adjacent land users; and provided further, such sale, lease or transfer is made to or with the consent of the owner of the real property abutting that portion of the street, highway or other public right-of-way in, above or below which such easements or other interests are sold, leased or transferred unless the right or interest of the owner of such abutting real property in or to the easements or other interests in, above or below such street or other public right-of-way has been acquired by the municipality, or unless the owner of such abutting real property has no real property interest in or to such street, highway or other public right-of-way. The sale, lease or transfer of easements or other interests in, above or below the portion of a street, highway or other public right-of-way lying to one side of the centerline thereof, shall not prevent the sale, lease or transfer of easements or other interests in, above or below the portion lying on the other side of such centerline, unless the terms of the initial sale, lease or transfer so provide. The consideration paid for the sale, lease or other transfer of the real property shall be determined by the redevelopment agency, provided, if the cost or carrying charges of such real property to the redevelopment agency are greater than such consideration, the redevelopment agency shall first have specific authorization from the legislative body of the municipality for the sale, lease or other transfer at any lesser consideration, and the municipality may appropriate and authorize the expenditure of money to compensate for any portion of the difference between the acquisition cost of such real property and such sale, lease or other transfer price of such real property at a lesser consideration to a redeveloper, but in no case shall such sale, lease or other transfer price be lower than the use value of such real property. Each contract for sale, lease or other transfer to a redeveloper shall provide, among other things, (a) that the real property transferred shall be developed and used in accordance with the redevelopment plan or such plan as modified with the approval of the redevelopment agency; (b) that the building of the improvements shall begin within a period of time which the redevelopment agency fixes as reasonable; and (c) that all transfers of real property by the redeveloper shall, until the original construction thereon is completed and approved by the redevelopment agency, be subject to the consent of the redevelopment agency; except that the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c) above may be waived by the redevelopment agency with respect to any bona fide mortgage placed upon the real property by the redeveloper in order to obtain financing for the project. Any such mortgage, with the approval of the agency, shall be free of the requirements of said subdivisions (b) and (c). Any contract for sale, lease or other transfer shall be approved by the legislative body before its final approval by the redevelopment agency. Any contract for sale, lease or other transfer to a redeveloper may provide, among other things, (a) that the real property in the redevelopment area shall be maintained in accordance with the redevelopment plan; (b) that the redevelopment agency shall have the right of inspection; (c) that the redeveloper, as security for its fulfillment of the contract, shall make a cash deposit or give a bond with such surety as the contract may provide or make such other guarantee as the redevelopment agency deems necessary in the public interest; and that, if the redevelopment agency finds that the real property in the redevelopment area is not being maintained in accordance with the contract terms and conditions, it shall notify the redeveloper or its successor in title in writing of the work which shall be done to meet the standards of maintenance agreed upon. Unless the redeveloper or its successor in title complies within ninety days with the requirements of the redevelopment agency as stated in such notice, the redevelopment agency may cause such work to be done, and the cost of the work shall be paid by the redevelopment agency out of the deposit herein provided for; and that, if a redevelopment agency, pursuant to this subsection, causes any work to be paid for out of such deposit, the redeveloper shall, within thirty days thereafter, pay an equivalent amount to the redevelopment agency in order to replenish the deposit; and that, if the redeveloper fails to make such payment within thirty days after being notified by the redevelopment agency to do so, it shall be liable to such agency in the penal sum of twice the amount of the cost of the work, which sum may be recovered in a civil action; (d) that any municipality may contract to retain or accept, close, relocate, construct, reconstruct and maintain specified streets, playgrounds, parks or other public facilities within the area of the proposed redevelopment. Upon consummation of the contract for sale, lease or other transfer of a site to a redeveloper, any municipality may provide for the extension of such streets, sidewalks and public utilities as are necessary to its use for residential, commercial or public purposes.

(1949 Rev., S. 984; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 55; 648; 1972, P.A. 99, S. 2.)

History: 1972 act specified sale, lease or other transfer of real property, added provisions concerning sale, lease etc. of easements, required consent of redevelopment agency for transfers only if original construction not completed and approved and allowed municipality to extend services necessary for commercial and public purposes as well as for residential purposes.

Cited. 141 C. 135. There must be a legally established redevelopment plan before agency enters into contract for sale under section. 148 C. 517. Redevelopment is constitutional where taking of plaintiff's property was for public purpose and not for private interests. 156 C. 521. Cited. 158 C. 381. Subsequent resale of plaintiff's property, condemned for redevelopment, to church retained in area, was not taking for private use. 159 C. 116. Cited. 201 C. 305.

Sec. 8-137a. Other authority re transfer unaffected. Nothing in section 8-137 shall be deemed to diminish or restrict in any way authority concerning the sale, lease or transfer of any easements or other interests in, above or below any street, highway or other public right-of-way which any municipality or redevelopment agency thereof may have by virtue of any special act or otherwise.

(1972, P.A. 99, S. 3.)

Sec. 8-138. Bonds and title to land to be in name of municipality. Any redevelopment agency shall exercise its powers in the name of the municipality, except that all bonds issued under section 8-134 shall be issued solely in the name of the municipality and that title to land taken for redevelopment purposes shall be solely in the name of the municipality.

(1949, S. 496d.)

Sec. 8-139. Joint action by two or more municipalities. By concurrent action the legislative bodies of two or more municipalities: (a) May create a regional or metropolitan planning agency and may authorize such agency or the planning agency of any of such municipalities to make a comprehensive or general plan of the area included within such municipalities as described in section 8-127, and (b) may exercise the powers granted in this chapter to the legislative body of any municipality. In all matters under this chapter requiring the approval of the legislative body, such approval shall be by the legislative body of each municipality only as to the portions of the redevelopment plan situated in such municipality.

(1949 Rev., S. 987; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 56.)

See Sec. 7-137 re regional economic development commissions.

PART II*

URBAN RENEWAL

*Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 241.

Sec. 8-140. Policy concerning slum areas. In addition to the findings and declarations made in section 8-124, which findings and declarations are incorporated herein and made a part of this section, it is further found and declared that (a) certain insanitary, deteriorated, deteriorating, slum or blighted areas, or portions thereof, may require acquisition and clearance, as provided in this part, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation, but other areas or portions thereof may, through the means provided in this part, be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a manner that the conditions and evils hereinbefore enumerated may be eliminated, remedied or prevented, and to the extent feasible salvable slum and blighted areas should be conserved and rehabilitated through voluntary action and the regulatory process, and (b) all powers conferred by this part are for public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and such other powers exercised, and the necessity in the public interest for the provisions of this part is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination. A municipality, to the greatest extent it determines to be feasible in carrying out the provisions of this part, shall afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the municipality as a whole, to the rehabilitation or redevelopment of areas by private enterprise.

(1955, S. 497d; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 5.)

History: 1959 act added word “deteriorating” to Subdiv. (a).

Sec. 8-141. Urban renewal projects authorized. In addition to its authority under other provisions of this chapter, a redevelopment agency is authorized to plan and undertake urban renewal projects. As used in this part, an urban renewal project may include undertakings and activities for the elimination, and for the prevention of the development or spread, of slums or substandard, insanitary, blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating areas, and may involve any work or undertaking for such purpose constituting a redevelopment project or any rehabilitation or conservation work, or any combination of such undertaking or work. For this purpose, rehabilitation or conservation work may include (1) carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements; (2) acquisition of real property and demolition, removal or rehabilitation of buildings and improvements thereon where the agency has determined the same to be necessary to eliminate unhealthful, insanitary or unsafe conditions, lessen density, reduce traffic hazards, eliminate obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare, or to otherwise remove or prevent the spread of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities; (3) installation, construction or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds and other improvements necessary for carrying out the objectives of the urban renewal project; and (4) the disposition, for uses in accordance with the objectives of the urban renewal project, of any property or part thereof acquired in the area of such project; provided such disposition shall be in the manner prescribed in this part for the disposition of property in a redevelopment project area.

(1955, S. 498d; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 6.)

History: 1959 act added words “or deteriorating” in second sentence.

Cited. 158 C. 522.

Cited. 26 CS 249.

Sec. 8-142. Urban renewal plan. Any urban renewal project undertaken pursuant to section 8-141 shall be undertaken in accordance with an urban renewal plan for the area of the project. As used in this part, an urban renewal plan means a plan, as it exists from time to time, for an urban renewal project, which plan (1) shall conform to the general plan for the municipality as a whole; and (2) shall be sufficiently complete to indicate such land acquisition, demolition and removal of structures, redevelopment, improvements and rehabilitation as may be proposed to be carried out in the area of the urban renewal project, zoning and planning changes, if any, land uses, maximum densities, building requirements and the plan's relationship to definite local objectives respecting appropriate land uses, improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities and other public improvements. An urban renewal plan shall be prepared and approved pursuant to the same procedure as provided in this chapter with respect to a redevelopment plan.

(1955, S. 499d.)

Cited. 26 CS 249.

Sec. 8-143. Powers of redevelopment agency. A redevelopment agency shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to undertake and carry out urban renewal plans and urban renewal projects, including the authority to acquire and dispose of property, to issue bonds and other obligations, to borrow and accept grants from the federal government or other source and to exercise the other powers which this chapter confers on a redevelopment agency with respect to redevelopment projects. In connection with the planning and undertaking of any urban renewal plan or urban renewal project, the redevelopment agency, the municipality and all public and private officers, agencies and bodies shall have all the rights, powers, privileges and immunities which they have with respect to a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, in the same manner as though all of the provisions of this chapter applicable to a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project were applicable to an urban renewal plan or urban renewal project. In addition to the surveys and plans which a redevelopment agency is otherwise authorized to make, an agency is hereby specifically authorized to make (1) plans for carrying out a program of voluntary repair and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements and (2) plans for the enforcement of laws, codes and regulations relating to the use of land and the use and occupancy of buildings and improvements and to the compulsory repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal of buildings and improvements. The redevelopment agency is authorized to develop, test and report methods and techniques, and carry out demonstrations and other activities, for the prevention and the elimination of slums and urban blight.

(1955, S. 500d.)

Condemnee cannot prevail in alternative plan for development of his property where commission did not act unreasonably, in bad faith or in abuse of its powers. 158 C. 522.

Sec. 8-144. Powers of municipality. Any municipality or other municipal corporation is hereby authorized, without limiting any provision in section 8-143, to do any and all things necessary to aid and cooperate in the planning and undertaking of an urban renewal project in the area in which such municipality or corporation is authorized to act, including the furnishing of such financial and other assistance as the municipality or public body is authorized by this chapter to furnish for or in connection with a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, and including the entering into a written agreement fixing the assessment of real estate to be used for a rental housing project to be constructed in a redevelopment or urban renewal area pursuant to section 12-65. Any municipality or other public body is authorized to enter into agreements, which may extend over any period, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary, with any other public body or bodies respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted by this part, including the furnishing of funds or other assistance in connection with an urban renewal plan or urban renewal project.

(1955, S. 501d; 1963, P.A. 615, S. 3.)

History: 1963 act added provision re agreement fixing assessment on rental housing project.

Sec. 8-145. Legislative body to prepare program. The legislative body of the municipality, or such public officer or public body as it may designate, is hereby authorized to prepare a workable program, which may include an official plan of action, as it exists from time to time for effectively dealing with the problem of urban slums and blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating areas within the community and for the establishment and preservation of a well-planned community with well-organized residential neighborhoods of decent homes and suitable living environment for adequate family life, for utilizing appropriate private and public resources to eliminate, and prevent the development or spread of, slums and urban blight and deterioration, to encourage needed urban rehabilitation, to provide for the redevelopment of blighted, deteriorated or slum areas, or to undertake such of the aforesaid activities or other feasible activities as may be suitably employed to achieve the objectives of such a program.

(1955, S. 502d.)

PART III

FLOOD-PRONE AREAS

Secs. 8-146 to 8-150. Finding and declaration of necessity. Contract for state assistance. Form of aid. Bond issue. Maximum amount of loan notes. Requirements of notes and bonds. Regulations. Sections 8-146 to 8-150, inclusive, are repealed.

(November, 1955, S. N34–37; 1957, P.A. 311, S. 1; 646, S. 2–4; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 7; P.A. 77-313, S. 8.)

PART IV

STATE AID

Sec. 8-151. Declaration of policy. It is found and declared that there exist in the municipalities of the state substandard, insanitary, deteriorated, deteriorating or blighted areas, that the existence thereof is impairing and arresting the sound growth and development of such municipalities and is inimical to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the inhabitants of the state, that such municipalities are unable to rehabilitate such areas without state financial assistance as provided by sections 8-154a, 8-154b, 8-154c and 8-154e, that the granting of such assistance is a public use and purpose for which public moneys may be expended and that the necessity in the public interest for the provisions of said sections is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.

(March, 1958, P.A. 24, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 8; P.A. 77-313, S. 1.)

History: 1959 act added word “deteriorating”; P.A. 77-313 substituted “sections 8-154a, 8-154b, 8-154c and 8-154e” for “sections 8-151 to 8-154, inclusive”.

Secs. 8-152 to 8-154. Grants-in-aid for redevelopment or urban renewal. Bond issue. Commissioner of Community Affairs to administer program. Sections 8-152 to 8-154, inclusive, are repealed.

(March, 1958, P.A. 24, S. 2–4, 6–8; P.A. 77-313, S. 8.)

Sec. 8-154a. Contracts for state financial assistance; eligibility. Net cost of project. Disposition of land by municipalities. (1) The state, acting by the Commissioner of Housing, may enter into a contract with a municipality, acting by its redevelopment agency, for state financial assistance for a redevelopment or urban renewal project under this chapter, in any redevelopment area or urban renewal area in such municipality, as defined in this chapter; provided such project shall have been approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for an advance for surveys and plans, a loan or grant contract or a neighborhood development program under Title I of the federal Housing Act of 1949, as amended, and provided a contract between the municipality and the federal government for a federal capital grant-in-aid shall not have been entered into prior to May 9, 1958. Such contract may provide for financial assistance by the state in the form of a grant equal to one-half of the excess of the net cost of the project as determined by the commissioner over the federal grant-in-aid thereof; provided, in determining such net cost for purposes of providing state financial assistance from any funds becoming available after July 1, 1963, by legislative enactment, the commissioner shall neither recognize nor credit as municipal noncash contributions any expenditures by the state of Connecticut, other than state grants for urban renewal or redevelopment or schools, which relate in any way to any urban renewal or redevelopment project, and provided, with respect to state financial assistance from any funds becoming available after July 1, 1963, by legislative enactment, in any instances in which noncash contributions provided by any private, nongovernmental source exceed one-half of such excess of the net cost of the project as determined by the commissioner, the state grant or advance-in-aid for urban renewal or redevelopment shall be reduced by an equal amount. In determining the net cost of a project, nothing shall prevent the commissioner from including costs in excess of the original projected costs of such project, provided such excess cost has been approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Contracts for state financial assistance for urban renewal or redevelopment projects executed under the provisions of this chapter prior to July 1, 1967, or contracts executed subsequent thereto for which reservations of state funds were approved by the Connecticut Development Commission prior to July 1, 1967, may be amended or executed under the provisions of this chapter and administrative procedures established hereunder, provided, if such amendment is for the purpose of providing additional state financial assistance due to an increase in the net cost of the project, as determined by the commissioner, such additional state financial assistance shall be made available from funds previously authorized for redevelopment or urban renewal programs or authorized for the purposes of this chapter and chapter 133.

(2) Any municipality which acquires or retains title to all or part of the land contained in any urban renewal or redevelopment area as defined in section 8-125 or 8-141, for not less than the use value of such property in accordance with section 8-137, may sell, lease, dedicate, donate or otherwise dispose of such land for less than said use value, provided there is constructed thereon housing solely for persons or families of low or moderate income, as defined in section 8-202; provided nothing herein shall be construed to limit the power of any municipality to retain any redevelopment project land for any use for which such municipality is authorized for other purposes.

(1961, P.A. 594, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 646, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 541, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8, 35; June, 1971, P.A. 4, S. 2; P.A. 73-286, S. 2, 5; P.A. 74-105, S. 2, 4; P.A. 76-289, S. 1, 3; 76-435, S. 31, 82; P.A. 77-313, S. 2; 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: 1963 act amended Subsec. (1) by adding the proviso concerning private and municipal noncash contributions and by increasing the bond issue from $25,000,000 to $37,500,000 and amended Subsec. (5) by adding consideration of moneys received in lieu of real estate taxes; 1965 act added Subsecs. (2) and (3), added provisions concerning sale of land at less than use value for low and moderate income housing in Subsec. (4), included in said subsection provisions for grants-in-aid and increased aggregate amount from $37,500,000 to $54,000,000, made former Subsec. (2), Subsec. (5) and provided that payments be made to treasurer in Subsec. (5); 1967 act repealed Subsec. (5) and called for substitution of commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission but for some reason not enacted; 1971 act amended Subsec. (4), substituting commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission, deleting requirement that public works commissioner justify rents to Connecticut development commission but requiring reimbursements if rents exceed financial capabilities of persons living in housing and increasing aggregate amounts of state advances to $59,000,000; P.A. 73-286 increased amount of advances in Subsec. (4) to $62,000,000; P.A. 74-105 increased amount of advances in Subsec. (4) to $67,500,000; P.A. 76-289 included urban renewal projects approved by federal Department of Housing and Urban Development which exceed projected cost but the excess cost of which is also approved by HUD in limit on amount of advances and increased limit to $87,900,000; P.A. 76-435 substituted commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission in Subsecs. (1) to (3); P.A. 77-313 amended Subsec. (1) to require approval of advances by Department of Housing and Urban Development rather than Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency, to include loans, grant contracts and neighborhood development programs and to add provisions concerning calculating excess costs in net cost and concerning amendments to and executions of contracts originally executed or approved by commission before July 1, 1967, deleted former Subsecs. (2) and (3) and amended former Subsec. (4), now Subsec. (2), to delete provisions for reimbursement of municipalities for difference between use value of land and its sale price; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing in Subsec. (1), effective June 19, 2013.

Sec. 8-154b. Bond issues. To provide funds for state grants provided pursuant to section 8-154a, the Treasurer is directed, subject to the provisions of section 3-20, to issue bonds of the state in an amount not exceeding eighty-seven million six hundred ninety-two thousand two hundred eighteen dollars. Such bonds shall be issued at such times and in such amounts as shall be determined by the State Bond Commission provided that total bond commission allocations of such amounts shall not exceed seventy-seven million nine hundred thousand dollars prior to July 1, 1977, and eighty-six million two hundred thousand dollars prior to July 1, 1978. All temporary notes and all renewals thereof issued by the state in anticipation of the issue of such bonds shall mature within three years from the date of the first of such notes to be issued. The full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and the interest on such bonds and notes. Net earnings on investments of proceeds, accrued interest and premiums on the issuance of such bonds shall be used first by the Treasurer for the payment of expenses incurred in connection with their issuance.

(1961, P.A. 594, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 646, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 541, S. 2; June, 1971, P.A. 4, S. 3; P.A. 73-286, S. 3, 5; P.A. 74-105, S. 3, 4; P.A. 76-289, S. 2, 3; P.A. 77-313, S. 3; P.A. 85-558, S. 7, 17; P.A. 86-396, S. 8, 25; P.A. 87-405, S. 5, 26; P.A. 88-343, S. 6, 32; P.A. 89-331, S. 8, 30.)

History: 1963 act increased bond issue from $25,000,000 to $37,500,000; 1965 act included grants-in-aid and increased bond issue to $54,000,000; 1971 act increased bond limit to $59,000,000; P.A. 73-286 increased bond limit to $62,000,000; P.A. 74-105 increased bond limit to $67,500,000; P.A. 76-289 increased bond limit to $87,900,000, added provisions limiting authorizations to $87,900,000 prior to July 1, 1977, and to $86,200,000 prior to July 1, 1978, and added provision re agreements for reimbursement to municipalities; P.A. 77-313 specified issuance of bonds to provide funds for state grants pursuant to Sec. 8-154a rather than to meet advances and to reimburse municipalities for differences between use value and sale price, deleted limitation on amount to be made available for grants-in-aid, deleted provision re agreements for reimbursements enacted by 1976 act and substituted “allocations” for “authorizations”; P.A. 85-558 reduced bond authorization to $87,695,000; P.A. 86-396 increased bond authorization from to $89,195,000; P.A. 87-405 reduced the bond authorization to $86,695,000; P.A. 88-343 increased the bond authorization from to $87,695,000; P.A. 89-331 decreased the bond authorization to $87,692,218.

See Sec. 8-226 re use of bonds issued under authority of this section.

Sec. 8-154c. Regulations. The Commissioner of Housing is authorized to make and enforce reasonable regulations to effectuate the purposes of this part and to determine the allocation of state financial assistance herein provided for among the municipalities of the state on the basis of their respective needs.

(1961, P.A. 594, S. 3; 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8; P.A. 76-435, S. 32, 82; P.A. 77-313, S. 4; 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: 1967 act substituted commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission; P.A. 76-435 enacted substitution of commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission called for by 1967 act; P.A. 77-313 substituted “this part” for “section 8-154a” and deleted provision permitting commissioner to designate administrator to administer provisions of Secs. 8-154a to 8-154e; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing, effective June 19, 2013.

Sec. 8-154d. Certified list of contractors for project prerequisite to grant payment. Section 8-154d is repealed.

(1963, P.A. 646, S. 3; P.A. 76-435, S. 33, 82; P.A. 77-313, S. 8.)

Sec. 8-154e. Certification by agencies of employees and persons performing work under contract. All local redevelopment agencies or commissions administering urban renewal or redevelopment projects receiving grants for urban renewal or redevelopment from the state shall certify to the Commissioner of Housing on September first of each year a list of all persons employed or retained by the redevelopment agency or commission during the preceding fiscal year and the amount of remuneration that each of such persons received; and a list of all other persons or firms that performed work by contract or otherwise, with a description of the work performed, and the contract amounts paid to such persons or firms during the preceding fiscal year. The filing of such certification shall be a prerequisite for the receipt of state financial assistance and the state will not reserve any funds, execute any assistance agreements or make any further payments under existing contracts to any redevelopment agency or commission which has not complied with this filing requirement, except that the commissioner may determine that such redevelopment agency or commission has made a good faith effort to provide such certification.

(February, 1965, P.A. 541, S. 3; P.A. 77-313, S. 5; 77-614, S. 284, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 85, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 77-313 deleted reference to receipt of grants-in-aid, required certification to commissioner of community affairs rather than state, required certification to include description of work performed and added provisions allowing good faith report in lieu of certification; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing, effective June 19, 2013.

Sec. 8-154f. State grants-in-aid not subject to repayment. Contracts for financial assistance in effect prior to October 1, 1977, valid and binding. (a) All state financial assistance authorized by sections 8-154a to 8-154c, inclusive, shall, on July 1, 1967, become state grants-in-aid and no state financial assistance authorized by said sections and paid to municipalities for the purposes specified therein on account of any contract for state financial assistance in accordance therewith, shall be repaid to the state in whole or in part but shall become a state grant-in-aid in accordance with this section.

(b) Contracts for state financial assistance for urban renewal or redevelopment projects executed under any provisions of this chapter in effect prior to October 1, 1977, shall be deemed valid and shall be binding upon all parties thereto. Obligations issued by the state in order to provide funding for such contracts shall remain valid and binding in accordance with their terms.

(1967, P.A. 522, S. 10; 1969, P.A. 305, S. 1; P.A. 77-313, S. 6.)

History: 1969 act required approval of Department of Housing and Urban Development for loan and grant contracts or neighborhood development program rather than for surveys and plans as previously; P.A. 77-313 deleted Subsec. (a) re state-municipality contracts for redevelopment or urban renewal, relettered Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (a) deleting provision requiring substitution of “grant-in-aid” for “advance-in-aid” and added new Subsec. (b) validating contracts and obligations made prior to October 1, 1977.

See Sec. 8-226 re use of prior bond proceeds for purposes of this section.

Secs. 8-155 to 8-159. Commercial or industrial development. Sections 8-155 to 8-159, inclusive, are repealed; provided, that in any case where any municipality, on or before July 6, 1967, had entered into a contract with the Connecticut Development Commission for financial assistance to a commercial or industrial redevelopment project under said sections 8-155 to 8-159, inclusive, or had otherwise taken substantial action under said sections, then such municipality, the state and any other interested person shall continue to be subject to said sections and be eligible for state financial assistance thereunder but only insofar as said sections relate to those projects that have been planned or commenced thereunder and such municipality, the state or such other interested person may make application to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for, and the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development may make grants for the purposes of such commercial or industrial redevelopment project from the funds available for the purposes of chapter 133, but subject to the provisions of section 8-154f.

(March, 1958, P.A. 8, S. 1–4, 6–9; 1959, P.A. 397, S. 9; 1967, P.A. 760, S. 14; 1971, P.A. 505, S. 1; P.A. 73-599, S. 25; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

History: 1967 act repealed sections; 1971 act substituted Connecticut development commission for commissioner of community affairs; P.A. 73-599 substituted department of commerce for Connecticut development commission; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for department of commerce, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 required substitution of commissioner of economic development for department of same name in sections originally involving commissioner of community affairs which implies that 1971 and 1973 amendments were never enacted; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.

Sec. 8-159a. State grants for urban problems. (a) During each fiscal year the Comptroller shall pay to each municipality for its unrestricted use, from any funds appropriated for such purpose, a grant-in-aid to assist it in meeting its urban problems. Payment of such grants shall be made in March of each year. The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall in February of each year calculate the amount due each municipality in accordance with the allocation formulas provided in subsection (c) of this section and shall certify to the Comptroller the amount due. In January of each year the Commissioner of Public Health shall certify to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management the population of each municipality.

(b) For purposes of this section: (1) “Population” means the number of persons according to the most recent federal decennial census, except that, in intervening years between such censuses, “population” means the number of persons according to the most recent estimate of the Department of Public Health; (2) “density of a municipality” means the population of the municipality divided by the number of square miles in the municipality; (3) “density of the state” means the population of the state divided by the number of square miles in the state; and (4) “public housing rooms” means rooms contained in publicly or privately owned dwelling units which are assisted by the United States under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, and dwelling units which are assisted by or owned or leased by the state under chapter 128 or 129. The number of such rooms shall be determined in accordance with the methods established and used by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(c) Any funds appropriated from the General Fund, for any fiscal year, for the purposes of this section, shall be distributed among the municipalities in the following manner: (1) Ten per cent of the amount shall be distributed pro rata on the basis of the ratio of the population of each municipality to the population of the state. (2) Fifty per cent of the amount shall be divided among those municipalities whose density exceeds the density of the state. The distribution shall be made to each such municipality pro rata on the basis of the following ratio: The density of such municipality multiplied by the population of such municipality shall be the numerator of the fraction. For each municipality whose density exceeds that of the state, the density of such municipality shall be multiplied by the population of such municipality. The resulting products shall be added together, and the sum shall be the denominator of the fraction. (3) Forty per cent of the amount shall be distributed pro rata on the basis of the ratio of the number of public housing rooms within such municipality to the number of such rooms in the state. The amounts computed under subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection shall then be multiplied by the ratio between the per capita income of the state as numerator and the per capita income of such town as the denominator, prorated to the level of the funds allocated. “Per capita income” means that which is reported in the most recent current population report series issued by the United States Department of Commerce, Social and Economic Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the sum distributed to municipalities by the Comptroller in accordance with the provisions of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1981, shall not exceed eleven million nine hundred thousand dollars.

(1969, P.A. 792, S. 5–8; June, 1969, S.A. 2, S. 8; P.A. 77-614, S. 19, 284, 323, 610; P.A. 78-185, S. 1, 3; 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-424, S. 1, 2; 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 81-2, S. 1, 3; 81-284, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 99-94, S. 9; P.A. 07-217, S. 33; P.A. 14-122, S. 77.)

History: June 1969 act reduced appropriation amount from $10,000,000 to $7,000,000; P.A. 77-614 substituted secretary of the office of policy and management for commissioner of finance and control and, effective January 1, 1979, substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs; P.A. 78-185 amended Subsec. (c) raising appropriation amount from $7,000,000 to $23,860,000, specified source of allocation as general fund and added provisions for formula to determine amount of grants and guaranteeing that grant equal total grants for fiscal year 1977–1978; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-424 decreased allocation to $23,800,000, deleted obsolete reference to old limit of $23,860,000 in formula and defined “per capita income”; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 81-2 added Subsec. (d) limiting the sum distributed for grants for fiscal year 1980–1981; P.A. 81-284 repealed requirement that $23,800,000 be allocated from the general fund each fiscal year for the purpose of making grants under this section, added provision that any such grants would be paid from any funds appropriated for that purpose, repealed “hold-harmless” provision that no town would receive less under the section than the total received by such town for fiscal year 1977–1978 under Secs. 3-123d, 8-159a and 10-266k of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to 1977; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-94 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting the requirement that the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development submit an annual report of the number of public housing rooms; P.A. 07-217 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 14-122 made technical changes in Subsec. (b).

See Sec. 12-18a re grants to towns for property tax relief based on population.

Cited. 163 C. 537.

Sec. 8-160. Capital improvement programs. Definitions. As used in sections 8-160 to 8-162, inclusive, “capital improvement program” means a priority schedule of any and all necessary municipal capital improvements projected for a period of not less than six years and so prepared as to show the general description, location and estimated cost of each individual capital improvement and including the proposed method of financing; “capital improvement” means a major improvement or betterment of a nonrecurring nature to the physical plant of the municipality as differentiated from ordinary repairs or maintenance of a recurring nature, and “municipality” shall include a city, town or borough.

(March, 1958, P.A. 18, S. 1.)

Sec. 8-161. Commissioner to assist. State payments toward preparation of program. The Commissioner of Housing is authorized to make available technical assistance to any municipality for the purpose of preparing a capital improvement program for such municipality. The commissioner shall adopt rules of procedures and methods of providing such technical assistance. Such assistance shall be rendered upon contractual agreement between the commissioner and the contracting agency of the municipality. Within the limitations of the amounts appropriated, the commissioner may provide up to three thousand dollars for the state's share of any such contractual agreement to any one municipality but in no case shall the commissioner provide more than fifty per cent of the total cost of preparation of such capital improvement program.

(March, 1958, P.A. 18, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: 1967 act substituted commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing, effective June 19, 2013.

Sec. 8-162. Procedure for obtaining technical assistance. Any municipality may receive technical assistance from the Commissioner of Housing for the preparation of a capital improvement program. The legislative body of the municipality by resolution shall designate an appropriate agency of the municipality to prepare the capital improvement program, appropriate the necessary matching funds and authorize such agency to contract with the commissioner for technical assistance therefor as herein provided. If such municipality has a planning commission operating under the general statutes or special act, such planning commission shall be designated to be the contracting agency for such purposes.

(March, 1958, P.A. 18, S. 3; 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: 1967 act substituted commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing, effective June 19, 2013.

PART V

FEDERAL AID

Sec. 8-163. Definitions. As used in this part:

(a) “Redevelopment area” means those areas of this state designated as redevelopment areas by the Secretary of Commerce acting pursuant to Public Law 136 of the 89th Congress of the United States;

(b) “Municipality” means any town, city or borough of this state;

(c) The “Public Works and Economic Development Act” means Public Law 136 of the 89th Congress of the United States, as amended;

(d) “Small Business Investment Act” means Public Law 699 of the 85th Congress of the United States, as amended;

(e) “Overall economic development program” means the overall program for the economic development of an area designated as a “redevelopment area” in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works and Economic Development Act and all administrative regulations and determinations promulgated thereto;

(f) “Regional council of governments” means the regional council of governments created under section 4-124j;

(g) “Municipal economic development commissions” and “regional economic development commissions” means those commissions established under sections 7-136 and 7-137;

(h) “Small business” means a concern which is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operations, as provided in the Small Business Investment Act;

(i) “State and local development companies” means those enterprises operated under state or local law with the authority to promote and assist the growth and development of business concerns in the areas covered by their operations, as defined in Sections 501 and 502 of the Small Business Investment Act;

(j) “Industrial or business project” means any and all projects which qualify for assistance under the provisions of either the Public Works and Economic Development Act or the Small Business Investment Act, or both;

(k) “Nonfederal share” means that portion of the excess of the net cost of the project, as determined by the Department of Economic and Community Development, over either the federal loan or grant-in-aid thereof, or the federal guaranteed loan as provided for in either the Public Works and Economic Development Act or the Small Business Investment Act, or both; and

(l) “Small business development center” means that local agency or organization as defined or designated by the Small Business Administration or other appropriate federal agency or, in the absence of such federal designation, that agency or organization designated by the legislative body of the municipality and approved by the Department of Economic and Community Development, which has as its function in whole or in part the developing of local entrepreneurship through rendering of consultive, technical, educational and financial assistance and will serve to seek qualified applicants for loans and other assistance from federal, state, local, public and private agencies in furtherance of the objective of establishing and stimulating the growth of small business enterprises particularly as related to the low-income groups within the community. Such center may be a municipal or regional economic development commission, a municipal bureau or agency, a local or regional development corporation or an appropriate private agency.

(1961, P.A. 602, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 619, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 223, S. 1; 522, S. 8; 524, S. 1; P.A. 73-599, S. 36; P.A. 75-175, S. 1, 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 80-21, S. 4, 5; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-247, S. 282.)

History: 1965 act amended Subsec. (c) to change reference to “act” to “Area Redevelopment Act,” amended Subsec. (g) to change “municipal development and industrial commissions” to “municipal economic development commissions” and added Subsecs. (h) to (k), defining “small business”, “state and local development companies”, “industrial or business project” and “nonfederal share”; 1967 acts substituted Public Works and Economic Development Act for Area Redevelopment Act and commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission and added Subsec. (l) defining “small business development center”; P.A. 73-599 substituted department of commerce for Connecticut development commission, implying that name change called for by 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8 was never enacted; P.A. 75-175 redefined “nonfederal share” to include federal guaranteed loans in “federal” share; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for department of commerce, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-598 substituted department of housing for department of economic development; P.A. 80-21 substituted department of economic development for department of housing; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (f) by substituting definition of “regional council of governments” for definition of “regional planning agency”, effective January 1, 2015.

Sec. 8-164. Authority to participate in federal act. Any board, commission, agency or department of this state, any municipality or political subdivision of this state, individually or with any other municipality or political subdivision, any regional council of governments, or any municipal economic development commission or any regional economic development commission, state or local development company, any corporation or any individual, in addition to any other powers possessed by them and notwithstanding the provisions of any section of the general statutes, any special act or any certificate of incorporation, is authorized:

(1) To make application for any loans, grants or assistance under either the Public Works and Economic Development Act or the Small Business Investment Act;

(2) To enter into any agreements, contracts and assistance agreements necessary or desirable pursuant to the provisions of said acts;

(3) To accept loans, grants and assistance offered by the federal government under said acts;

(4) To make appropriations and to issue bonds, notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness for loans received pursuant to the provisions of said acts or for defraying the cost of the nonfederal share of industrial or business projects;

(5) To make appropriations and loans to state or local development companies for industrial or business projects;

(6) To accept any advantage and to do anything necessary or desirable for as full and complete a participation under the provisions of said acts as is allowed under said acts or under regulations promulgated by the administrator of any program established pursuant to said acts.

(1961, P.A. 602, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 556; February, 1965, P.A. 619, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 223, S. 2; P.A. 13-247, S. 312.)

History: 1963 act added authority to make appropriations to Subdiv. (4); 1965 act included regional planning agencies, municipal and regional economic development commissions, and state or local development companies, amended Subdiv. (1) to refer to the “Area Redevelopment Act or the Small Business Investment Act” instead of the “federal act,” amended Subdiv. (4) to authorize the issuance of bonds and to provide for defraying the cost of the nonfederal share of industrial or business projects, and added Subdiv. (5); 1967 act substituted Public Works and Economic Development Act for Area Redevelopment Act; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “regional planning agency” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “regional council of governments”, effective January 1, 2015.

Sec. 8-165. Overall economic development program. In furtherance of the requirement of the federal act for an overall economic development program, the municipal economic development commission, if a redevelopment area consists of a single town or city within this state, shall be charged with the preparation and implementation of an overall economic development program. If a redevelopment area includes two or more towns or cities, the regional economic development commission including the several towns and cities defined in such an area shall prepare and implement an overall economic development program. In the preparation of such overall economic development program, the regional council of governments of which the municipality or several municipalities included within the redevelopment area are members shall submit recommendations and comments upon such overall economic development program to the municipal or regional economic development commission submitting such program. In any such redevelopment area in which there is no municipal or regional economic development commission that has submitted such an overall economic development program within one hundred twenty days after designation of the area as a redevelopment area by the Secretary of Commerce, the regional council of governments shall prepare and submit an overall economic development program for such area. This shall not preclude the preparation and submission of an overall economic development program by any private or nonprofit organization or association representing the redevelopment area or any part thereof. Municipalities, municipal and regional economic development commissions and regional councils of governments may accept federal grants and aid for preparation of such overall economic development programs.

(1961, P.A. 602, S. 3; P.A. 13-247, S. 283.)

History: P.A. 13-247 substituted “council of governments” for “planning agency” and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2015.

Sec. 8-166. Application for federal aid. (a) An application under the provisions of either the Public Works and Economic Development Act or the Small Business Investment Act may be made on behalf of the state by a department, board, commission or agency, after prior written approval of such application has been given by the Department of Economic and Community Development. Written request for such approval shall be made to the Department of Economic and Community Development and the department shall, within thirty days of receipt of such request, either approve or disapprove of either the entire application or a part thereof.

(b) An application under the provisions of either of the federal acts may be made on behalf of any municipality by its chief executive officer after prior written approval of such application has been given by the legislative body of such municipality. Written request for such approval shall be made by such chief executive officer and such legislative body shall, within thirty days after receipt of such request, either approve or disapprove of either the entire application or a part thereof. If such legislative body does not disapprove of all or any part of such application within thirty days from the receipt of such written request, it shall be deemed to have approved the application.

(c) Individual persons or small businesses or regional councils of governments or municipal economic development commissions or state or local development companies in this state may participate in any part of the program offered by the federal government under said acts. Any corporation may make application and participate in any programs established under said acts in the manner and to the extent authorized by vote of its board of directors.

(1961, P.A. 602, S. 4–6; February, 1965, P.A. 619, S. 3; 1967, P.A. 223, S. 3; 522, S. 8; P.A. 73-599, S. 36; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 80-21, S. 4, 5; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-247, S. 312.)

History: 1965 act amended Subsec. (a) to change reference to “federal act” to “either the Area Redevelopment Act or the Small Business Investment Act,” and to eliminate requirement governor approve applications, substituting approval by Connecticut development commission, and amended Subsec. (c) to include small businesses, regional planning agencies, municipal economic development commissions and state or local development companies; 1967 acts amended Subsec. (a) to substitute Public Works and Economic Development Act for Area Redevelopment Act and substituted commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission; P.A. 73-599 substituted department of commerce for Connecticut development commission, implying that name change called for in 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8 was never enacted; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for department of commerce, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-598 substituted department of housing for department of economic development; P.A. 80-21 substituted department of economic development for department of housing; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “regional planning agencies” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “regional councils of governments” in Subsec. (c), effective January 1, 2015.

Sec. 8-167. Department of Economic and Community Development to act for state. Reimbursement of small business development centers. (a) The Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized on behalf of the state to make any determination or certification required by the provisions of either of said acts or regulations promulgated under the provisions thereof.

(b) The Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized, on behalf of the state, to reimburse small business development centers in amounts up to one-half the nonfederal share of the cost of providing applicants for Small Business Administration and business loan programs of other federal agencies, particularly economic opportunity loans and Section 502 loans, with necessary technical, advisory, management or other counseling assistance up to a maximum amount of ten thousand dollars per annum. If no federal support is available, the Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized on behalf of the state to reimburse each of such small business development centers for up to one-half of the cost of providing the above-described services, in amounts not exceeding ten thousand dollars per annum. Any small business development center receiving such state assistance shall apply to the Department of Economic and Community Development for such reimbursement with all appropriate documentation needed to support such application.

(1961, P.A. 602, S. 7; 1967, P.A. 522, S. 8; 524, S. 2; P.A. 73-599, S. 36; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 80-21, S. 4, 5; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

History: 1967 acts added Subsec. (b) re reimbursements to small business development centers and substituted commissioner of community affairs for Connecticut development commission; P.A. 73-599 substituted department of commerce for Connecticut development commission, implying that name change called for in 1967 act was never enacted; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for department of commerce, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-598 substituted department of housing for department of economic development; P.A. 80-21 substituted department of economic development for department of housing; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.

Sec. 8-168. State loans for industrial or business projects. Section 8-168 is repealed.

(February, 1965, P.A. 619, S. 4; 1967, P.A. 223, S. 4; 522, S. 8; 1969, P.A. 742, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 225, S. 1; P.A. 73-190, S. 1; 73-599, S. 36; P.A. 75-175, S. 2, 3; 75-606, S. 1, 4; P.A. 77-370, S. 12, 13; 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-68, S. 1–3; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 80-21, S. 4, 5; 80-264, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-416, S. 6, 24; P.A. 88-265, S. 35, 36.)

Sec. 8-168a. Funds transferred to the Connecticut Growth Fund. Effective July 1, 1988, funds from the repayment of loans made pursuant to section 8-168, revision of 1958, revised to 1987 and in effect on June 30, 1988, shall be transferred to the Connecticut Growth Fund established under section 32-23v, and all payments received by the state on account thereof shall be credited or deposited to the Connecticut Growth Fund established under said section. Any and all funds appropriated or bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to section 8-169, revision of 1958, revised to 1987 and in effect on June 30, 1988, shall be credited or deposited to the Connecticut Growth Fund.

(P.A. 88-265, S. 29, 36.)

Sec. 8-169. Bond issue. Section 8-169 is repealed.

(February, 1965, P.A. 619, S. 5; 1969, P.A. 742, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 225, S. 2; P.A. 73-190, S. 2; P.A. 75-606, S. 2, 4; P.A. 77-370, S. 5, 13; P.A. 88-265, S. 35, 36.)

PART VI*

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

*Cited. 183 C. 523.

Sec. 8-169a. Declaration of policy. It is found and declared that the state's cities, towns and smaller urban communities face critical, social, economic and environmental problems; that the future welfare of the state and well being of its citizens depends upon the establishment and maintenance of viable urban communities as social, economic and political entities; that the Congress of the United States has enacted Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, P.L. 93-383, as from time to time amended, for the primary objective of developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income; that the federal government has curtailed or eliminated many categorical grant-in-aid programs such as urban renewal, model cities and open space which have provided financial assistance to many of the municipalities of the state; that this part is needed for the purpose of enabling the cities and towns of this state to initiate and implement programs funded by the federal government under the provisions of Title I of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, to assist the municipalities in carrying out community development programs, to secure public and private rights to ease the transition from previous categorical grant-in-aid programs in the community development field to programs financed under Title I of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, and to secure and complete state and local programs initiated under federally-assisted categorical grant-in-aid programs in the community development field; that the provisions of this part are necessary to protect public and private commitments made under previous categorical grant-in-aid programs; and that the provisions of this part are declared to be in the public interest.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 1, 15; P.A. 78-373, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 78-373 added phrase “as from time to time amended” to references to “Housing and Community Development Act of 1974”.

Sec. 8-169b. Definitions. As used in this part:

(a) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Housing.

(b) “Community development activity” means any activity authorized under section 8-169f.

(c) “Community development agency” means any authority, commission, department or agency of a municipality, including an economic development agency, harbor improvement agency, housing site development agency, human resource development agency, or redevelopment agency, required by state law or designated by the legislative body of such municipality to carry out one or more community development activities.

(d) “Community development plan” means a plan prepared and adopted pursuant to sections 8-169c and 8-169d.

(e) “Community development program” means a program which is developed by a municipality to give maximum feasible priority to activities which will benefit low or moderate income families or aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight and also means activities which are designed to meet other community development needs having a particular urgency.

(f) “Harbor improvement”, “harbor improvement agency”, “harbor improvement plan” and “harbor improvement project” have the same meanings as in section 13b-56.

(g) “Housing site development agency” has the same meaning as provided in section 8-216b.

(h) “Housing for low and moderate income families and persons” means housing, the construction, rehabilitation, occupancy, rental and purchase of which is assisted in any way by the state or federal government which housing is subject to regulation or supervision of rents, charges or sales prices and methods of operation by a governmental agency under a regulatory agreement or other instrument which restricts occupancy of such housing to persons or families whose income do not exceed prescribed limits.

(i) “Human resource development agency” and “human resource development program” have the same meanings as in section 17b-852.

(j) “Municipality” means any city, town or borough.

(k) “Nonentitlement municipality” means a municipality which is not entitled to receive a basic grant or a hold harmless grant under Section 106 of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended.

(l) “Program period” means the period covering the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 1975 and each year commencing on July first thereafter or such other period of time as may be defined by the state, acting by and through the commissioner. Any program period approved by the United States government, acting by and through the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, for a municipality undertaking a community development activity shall also be deemed a program period.

(m) “Redevelopment”, “redevelopment agency”, “redevelopment area”, “redevelopment plan” and “redevelopment project” have the same meanings as in section 8-125.

(n) “Urban renewal”, “urban renewal area”, “urban renewal plan” and “urban renewal project” have the same meanings as in section 8-141.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 2, 15; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; P.A. 88-280, S. 2; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-234, S. 2; P.A. 14-122, S. 78, 79.)

History: P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner for department; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; P.A. 88-280 made technical changes to Subdiv. (g); P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing in Subdiv. (a), effective June 19, 2013; P.A. 14-122 made technical changes in Subdivs. (e) and (g).

Sec. 8-169c. Preparation and content of a community development plan. (a) Any municipality may prepare, or cause to be prepared a community development plan for submission to the legislative body of such municipality for approval. Such plan shall include:

(1) A summary of a three-year community development program which identifies community development and housing needs, demonstrates a comprehensive strategy for meeting those needs and specifies both short-term and long-term community development objectives which have been prepared in accordance with the general plan of the municipality, area-wide development planning and state and national urban growth policies;

(2) A program which describes the activities to be undertaken and the resources expected to be made available to meet its community development needs and objectives, including activities designed to revitalize neighborhoods for the benefit of low and moderate income persons, together with the estimated costs and the general locations of such activities;

(3) A description of the environmental considerations taken into account in the preparation of the plan;

(4) A description of a program designed to (A) eliminate or prevent slums, blight and deterioration where such conditions or needs exist; (B) provide improved community facilities and public improvements, including the provision of supporting health, social and similar services where necessary and appropriate; and in a manner to insure fully the opportunity for participation by, and benefits to, persons with physical disabilities; and (C) improved conditions for low and moderate income persons residing in or expected to reside in the community and foster neighborhood development in order to induce higher income persons to remain in, or return to, the community;

(5) A description of a housing assistance plan which (A) accurately describes the conditions of the housing stock within the community, assesses the housing assistance needs of low and moderate income persons, including elderly persons, persons with disabilities, large families and persons displaced or to be displaced residing in or expected to reside in the community, and identifies housing stock which is in a deteriorated condition; (B) specifies a realistic goal during the program period for the number of dwelling units or persons to be assisted, including (i) the relative proportion of new, rehabilitated and existing dwelling units, (ii) the size and types of housing projects and assistance best suited to the needs of the low and moderate income families and persons and (iii), in the case of subsidized rehabilitation, adequate provisions to assure that a preponderance of persons assisted are of low and moderate income, and (C) indicates the general locations of proposed housing for low and moderate income families and persons with the objective of (i) furthering the revitalization of the community, including the restoration and rehabilitation of stable neighborhoods to the maximum extent possible, and the reclamation of the housing stock where feasible through the use of a broad range of techniques for housing restoration by local government, the private sector or community organizations, including provision of a reasonable opportunity for tenants displaced as a result of such activities to relocate in their immediate neighborhood, (ii) promoting greater choice of housing opportunities and avoiding undue concentration of assisted persons in areas containing a high proportion of low-income persons and (iii) assuring the availability of public facilities and services adequate to serve proposed housing projects.

(b) Where any community development activity proposed to be undertaken is to be undertaken in a development project area, harbor improvement project area, housing site development project area, redevelopment project area or urban renewal project area, the community development plan shall state whether the proposed activity is subject to the controls of an adopted plan for such project area and, if so, whether the activity conforms to the plan for such project area. If any such activity is not in conformance with the provisions of the plan for such project area, then the community development plan shall state in what respects the plan for such project area must be modified or amended.

(c) A community development plan may be based to the extent it is consistent with the provisions of this section upon a plan of conservation and development adopted under section 8-23 or a community development action plan. Any nonentitlement municipality may also use its adopted plan of conservation and development or community development action plan, to the extent such plans have been kept current, as determined by the commissioner, or the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in lieu of preparing a community development plan under this section for the purpose of receiving state financial assistance under section 8-169l.

(d) In the event the United States government, acting by and through the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, waives any requirement under the provisions of Section 104 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section affected by such waiver shall not be applicable to any municipality.

(e) The provisions of this section and section 8-169d shall not be applicable to any community development plan submitted to a legislative body of a municipality for approval prior to July 1, 1975.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 3, 15; P.A. 76-70, S. 1, 4, 5; P.A. 78-373, S. 2; P.A. 82-186, S. 1; 82-322, S. 5, 6; P.A. 88-280, S. 3; P.A. 95-335, S. 16, 26; P.A. 17-202, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 76-70 added Subsecs. (d) and (e) re exceptions to applicability of section; P.A. 78-373 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to include housing needs, Subsec. (a)(2) to include provision for revitalizing neighborhoods, Subsec. (a)(4) to include health and social services for physically disabled and to include provision for improvement of conditions for low and moderate-income persons via neighborhood development and required identification of deteriorated housing stock, assistance to low and moderate-income persons in order to obtain subsidized rehabilitation and reclamation of housing stock where possible and relocation assistance; P.A. 82-186 amended Subsec. (d) to exclude references to communities under 25,000 persons and to expand the possible scope of the waivers; P.A. 82-322 changed effective date of P.A. 82-186 from October 1, 1982, to July 1, 1982; P.A. 88-280 made technical change in Subsec. (c); (Revisor's note: In 1993 an obsolete reference in the first sentence in Subsec. (c) to “adopted pursuant to section 8-207” immediately following the reference to “a community development action plan” was deleted editorially by the Revisors since Sec. 8-207 is repealed); P.A. 95-335 amended Subsec. (c) to change “plan of development” to “plan of conservation and development”, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 17-202 amended Subsec. (a)(4)(B) by replacing “the physically disabled” with “persons with physical disabilities” and amended Subsec. (a)(5)(A) by replacing “elderly and handicapped persons” with “elderly persons, persons with disabilities,” and making technical changes.

Cited. 183 C. 523.

Sec. 8-169d. Adoption and implementation of community development plan. (a) A community development plan prepared by a municipality pursuant to subsection (a) of section 8-169c or a description of the activities the municipality contemplates undertaking pursuant to a community development plan, shall be filed at the office of the city clerk or similar office within the municipality for public inspection and transmitted to the legislative body at least forty-five days prior to the approval of the community development plan by the legislative body. Such plan shall simultaneously be referred to the planning agency of the municipality for its review and comment and the housing authority of the municipality for its review and comment on the housing assistance plan which may be required under subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 8-169c. Where said plan contemplates activities within a development project area, harbor improvement project area, housing site development project area, redevelopment project area or urban renewal project area, or if the plan contemplates human resources development activities, the plan shall likewise be simultaneously referred to the economic development agency, harbor improvement agency, housing site development agency, or redevelopment agency, or human resources development agency, as the case may be, for review and comment on the portion of the community development plan falling within the jurisdiction of the particular agency.

(b) Any agency to which a community development plan is referred, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall submit written comments to the legislative body not more than thirty days after receipt of the plan by such agency. Failure of the agency to comment within thirty days shall be deemed approval of such plan by such agency. Prior to the approval of a community development plan, at least one public hearing shall be held on such plan not less than thirty days after the community development plan has been filed for public inspection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Notice of such hearing shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. The first publication of notice for any such hearing shall be not less than two weeks before the date set for such hearing but may be published at any time after the filing of the community development plan for public inspection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(c) A community development plan may be approved by the legislative body if it determines that:

(1) The community development plan has been developed so as to give maximum feasible priority to activities which will benefit low or moderate income families and persons or aid in the prevention of slum or blight or that the activities contemplated in the plan, in whole or in part, are designed to meet other community development needs having a particular urgency which cannot otherwise be met.

(2) There has been (A) adequate information provided citizens of the municipality concerning the amount of funds available for activities proposed under the plan, the range of activities which may be undertaken and other important program requirements, (B) adequate opportunity for citizens to participate in the development of the plan and (C) adequate public hearings by the legislative body and by any other agency of the municipality designated to hold hearings on such plan to obtain the views of citizens on the community development and housing needs.

(3) The community development program shall be conducted and administered in compliance with the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968, P.L. 88-352 and P.L. 90-284, as from time to time amended, Section 109 of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, and sections 46a-58, 46a-59, 46a-60 and 46a-64.

(4) Where federal financial assistance is to be provided, the chief executive officer of the municipality has consented to make the certifications required under Subsection (h) of Section 104 of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended.

(5) In implementing its community development program the municipality shall comply with the provisions of chapter 135 and where federal financial assistance is to be provided, the municipality shall comply with the provisions of Titles II and III of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, P.L. 91-646, as from time to time amended.

(6) Where federal financial assistance is to be provided in the implementation of a community development program, all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on construction or rehabilitation work, except as provided under Section 110 of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, and part III of chapter 557 and part I of chapter 558, shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction within the locality, as determined by the United States Secretary of Labor under the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act, as from time to time amended, 40 USC, Sections 276a to 276a-5, inclusive, or by the Labor Commissioner under section 31-53, and all such persons shall receive overtime compensation in accordance with the provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, 40 USC, Sections 327 to 332, inclusive, and section 31-60, or where no such federal financial assistance is to be provided, then compliance with part III of chapter 557 and part I of chapter 558 shall be required.

(7) Where federal financial assistance is to be provided, the community development plan has or shall be submitted for review and comment to an area-wide agency pursuant to the provisions of Title II of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, P.L. 89-754, as from time to time amended, and Title IV of the Intergovernmental Relations Act of 1968, P.L. 90-557, as may from time to time be amended, and procedures established by the president thereunder. A municipality may submit its community development plan for such review and comment at any time subsequent to the filing of the community development plan for public review under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The provisions of this section and section 8-169c shall not be applicable to any community development plan submitted to a legislative body of a municipality for approval prior to July 1, 1975.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 4, 15; P.A. 76-70, S. 2, 4, 5; P.A. 78-373, S. 3; P.A. 82-186, S. 2; 82-322, S. 5, 6.)

History: P.A. 76-70 amended Subsec. (a) to include descriptions of activities pursuant to development plan, to require filing 45 days before approval of community development plan rather than 60 days before commencement of program, amended Subsec. (b) to require that one hearing be not less than 30 days after filing and clarified notice provision, amended Subdiv. (7) of Subsec. (c) to allow submission for review by area-wide agency after filing plan for public review and added Subsec. (d) re applicability; P.A. 78-373 added phrase “as from time to time amended” to references to “Housing and Community Development Act of 1974”; P.A. 82-186 provided that only one, rather than two, hearings would be mandatory; P.A. 82-322 changed effective date of P.A. 82-186 from October 1, 1982, to July 1, 1982.

Cited. 183 C. 523.

Sec. 8-169e. Modification of existing development plans. Acquisition of property. (a) No activity under a community development plan which is inconsistent with any development plan, harbor improvement plan, housing site development plan, redevelopment plan or urban renewal plan, or modification of such plan shall be undertaken until appropriate conforming amendments are adopted in accordance with the provisions of sections 8-136, 8-200 and 13b-56.

(b) (1) No activity under a community development plan or modification of such plan which would require the preparation and adoption of a new development plan, harbor improvement plan, housing site development plan, redevelopment plan or urban renewal plan shall be undertaken until such development, harbor improvement, housing site development, redevelopment or urban renewal plan is adopted pursuant to section 8-127, 8-191 or 13b-56.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, when the legislative body of a municipality finds that the acquisition of noncontiguous single parcels designated in the community development plan is necessary to prevent the spread of slum or blight, the municipality or a community development agency, acting in the name of the municipality, may acquire such parcels without the adoption of a development plan, harbor improvement plan, housing site development plan, redevelopment plan or urban renewal plan. Such acquisition may be undertaken in the manner provided for redevelopment agencies in sections 8-129 to 8-133, inclusive. The municipality may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any property so acquired in the manner provided for redevelopment agencies in section 8-137.

(c) No property shall be acquired pursuant to a community development plan unless such acquisition is approved by the legislative body of the municipality (1) after a public hearing, notice of which has been published at least once not less than two weeks prior to such hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality and (2) the legislative body finds that adequate relocation resources are available. If such property was specifically identified for acquisition in the community development plan or the acquisition of such property is part of a development plan, harbor improvement plan, housing site development plan, redevelopment plan or urban renewal plan, no public hearing shall be required pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 5, 15; P.A. 88-280, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 88-280 made technical change in Subsecs. (a) and (b), deleting references to Sec. 8-213.

Cited. 183 C. 523.

Sec. 8-169f. Community development activities. (a) A municipality or community development agency is authorized to undertake any activity authorized under Section 105 of Title I of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, provided such activity (1) will be carried out in accordance with the general statutes and (2) has been approved and adopted in accordance with the provisions of sections 8-169b to 8-169e, inclusive.

(b) Any municipality may apply to the federal government for financial assistance pursuant to Section 107 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, in an amount not in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, without complying with the provisions of sections 8-169c and 8-169d, provided the legislative body approves the undertaking of the activities contemplated under said application prior to the execution of a contract for such financial assistance and provided further requirements of section 8-169e are satisfied.

(c) Any municipality or community development agency may apply to the federal government for one or more urban development action grants pursuant to Section 119 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977, as from time to time amended, and to undertake any activity authorized by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under said section, providing the legislative body approves the undertaking of the activities contemplated under such application or applications prior to execution of a contract or contracts for such financial assistance. Such application or applications may be incorporated as part of the community development plan prepared under sections 8-169c and 8-169d or may be applied for separately if the legislative body finds that the activities proposed to be undertaken are consistent with the municipality's community development program.

(d) The provisions of sections 8-169c and 8-169d shall not be applicable to any preliminary applications required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development by regulation or order promulgated under the provisions of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended.

(e) Any municipality or community development agency may, upon the adoption and approval of a community development plan by the legislative body of the municipality in accordance with the provisions of sections 8-169b to 8-169e, inclusive, authorizing such action, establish a default reserve fund to guarantee, up to the limit of the assets of said fund, loans to be made by private lenders for the purchase or rehabilitation of any owner-occupied residential real property containing not more than eight dwelling units, nonresidential or mixed-use property exclusive of any property for industrial purposes, located in an urban area as defined in subsection (v) of section 8-243, subject to the requirements in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 8-169d concerning community development plans. Moneys deposited in such default reserve fund may be used to discharge a municipality's obligations with respect to mortgage obligations guaranteed pursuant to this subsection and to pay costs incidental to such discharge. Amounts received by a municipality in connection with the foreclosure of such mortgages, including insurance proceeds, may be deposited into the municipality's default reserve fund and used to guarantee additional mortgage loans as authorized by this subsection without need for further action by the legislative body of the municipality. Moneys held in a default reserve fund which are not needed for immediate use or disbursement may be invested in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States of America or the state and in obligations which are legal investments for savings banks in this state and in time deposits or certificates of deposit or other similar banking arrangements secured in such manner as the municipality determines.

(f) To assist nonentitlement municipalities to obtain guarantees provided for in Section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, the state, acting by and through the Governor, whether directly or by delegation to any commissioner, officer or agency of the state, may (1) make the pledge of grants required by said Section 108 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and (2) take such other actions as are deemed necessary or appropriate to obtain such guarantees.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 6, 15; P.A. 76-70, S. 3, 5; P.A. 78-373, S. 4; P.A. 79-582, S. 1, 4; P.A. 94-82, S. 2, 5.)

History: P.A. 76-70 added Subsecs. (b) and (c) excluding applications to federal government under Sec. 107 of Title 1 of Housing and Community Development Act from provisions of Secs. 8-169c and 8-169d; P.A. 78-373 added phrase “as from time to time amended” to references to “Housing and Community Development Act of 1974” and inserted new Subsec. (c) re applications to federal government for urban development action grants, relettering former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d); P.A. 79-582 added Subsec. (e) re default reserve fund; P.A. 94-82 added Subsec. (f) authorizing the state to assist nonentitlement municipalities to obtain guarantees under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1954, effective May 25, 1994.

Cited. 183 C. 523.

Sec. 8-169g. Issuance of municipal bonds. For the purpose of carrying out or administering a community development plan, a municipality is hereby authorized to issue from time to time bonds of the municipality which are payable solely from and secured by a pledge of a lien upon any or all of the income, proceeds, revenues and property acquired pursuant to a community development plan, including the proceeds of grants, loans, advances or contributions from the federal government, the state or other source, including financial assistance furnished by the municipality or any other public body pursuant to section 8-169h. Bonds issued under this section shall be in such form, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be issued and sold in such manner, and contain such other terms, covenants and conditions as the legislative body by resolution determines. Such bonds shall be fully negotiable, shall not be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality and shall not be subject to the provisions of any other law or charter relating to the issuance or sale of bonds, provided, if such bonds are made payable, in whole or in part, from funds contracted to be advanced by the municipality, the aggregate amount of such funds not yet appropriated to such purpose shall be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality. As used in this section “bonds” means any bonds, including refunding bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures or other obligations.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 7, 15; P.A. 79-631, S. 19, 111.)

History: P.A. 79-631 made technical corrections.

Sec. 8-169h. Acceptance of financial assistance. Issuance of temporary notes. For the purpose of carrying out a community development program, a municipality or a community development agency may accept grants, advances, loans or other financial assistance from the federal government, the state or other source, and may do any and all things necessary or desirable to secure such financial aid. To assist any community development activity located in the area in which it is authorized to act, any public body, including the state, or any city, town, borough, authority, district, subdivision or agency of the state, may, upon such terms as it determines, furnish services or facilities, provide property, lend or contribute funds and take any other action of a character which it is authorized to perform for other purposes, including entering into a written agreement fixing the assessment of real estate to be used for a rental housing project to be constructed in a redevelopment or urban renewal area, pursuant to section 12-65. To obtain funds for the financing of any community development activity, a municipality may, in addition to other action authorized under this part or other law, levy taxes and issue and sell its temporary loan notes, bonds or other obligations. Such temporary loan notes shall be issued for a period of not more than three years, but notes issued for a shorter period of time may be renewed by the issue of other notes, provided the period from the date of the original notes to the maturity of the last notes issued in renewal thereof shall not exceed three years, and the provisions of section 7-373 shall be deemed to apply thereto. Any such bonds or other obligations issued by a municipality pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with such statutory and other legal requirements as govern the issuance of obligations generally by the municipality and shall be deemed to constitute debt for urban renewal projects pursuant to section 7-374.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 8, 15.)

Sec. 8-169i. Modification of a community development plan. A community development plan may be modified from time to time by resolution of the legislative body, provided, where the proposed modification substantially changes the community development plan, no such modification may be adopted until such modification is referred to the planning agency of the municipality. If the modification contemplates activities which affect a housing authority or the modification contemplates activities within a development project area, harbor improvement project area, housing site development project area, redevelopment or urban renewal project area, or if the modification contemplates human resource development activities, the modification shall likewise be simultaneously referred to the housing authority, the economic development agency, the harbor improvement agency, the housing site development agency, the human resources development agency or the development agency, as the case may be, for review and comment on the portion of the modification falling within the jurisdiction of the particular authority or agency. The agency shall submit written comments to the legislative body not more than two weeks after receipt of the plan by such agency. Failure of the agency to comment within fifteen days shall be deemed approval of such plan. Prior to the approval of the modification, the legislative body shall hold at least one public hearing on the modification, notice of which shall be not less than two weeks prior to such hearing.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 9, 15.)

Sec. 8-169j. Joint activity by two or more municipalities. Any two or more contiguous municipalities may enter into, and thereafter amend, an agreement for the purpose of jointly carrying out a community development activity in their respective municipalities. Such agreement may include provisions for furnishing services to, receiving consideration from, and sharing costs of and revenues, including property taxes and rental receipts, derived from community development activities. In furtherance of its obligations under such an agreement, each municipality which is a party thereto may make appropriations and levy taxes in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes and may issue bonds in accordance with sections 8-169g and 8-169h.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 10, 15; P.A. 88-364, S. 10, 123.)

History: P.A. 88-364 made a technical change.

Sec. 8-169k. State and federal assistance for community development projects. Section 8-169k is repealed.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 11, 15; P.A. 78-373, S. 5; P.A. 82-186, S. 3; 82-322, S. 5, 6; P.A. 88-280, S. 14.)

Sec. 8-169l. Discretionary funds. Planning advances. (a) The state, acting by the commissioner, may enter into a contract with a municipality for state financial assistance in order to assist such municipality to apply for discretionary funds provided under Title I of said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended. Such contract may provide advances in an amount not in excess of that amount which the commissioner deems sufficient for the preparation of plans and surveys specifically required by the United States government for application under said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as from time to time amended, and for the preparation of any other application for federal financial assistance. Such contract may be entered into only if, in the discretion of the commissioner, sufficient funds or noncash assistance for the purpose of this section are not otherwise readily available.

(b) Advances provided pursuant to this section shall be repayable to the state out of the grants received by it under said Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as a result of an application assisted under this section or out of grants-in-aid provided by the state pursuant to this section. The commissioner may, at his discretion, forego recovery of an advance under this section if no federal funds are obtained as a result of it by the municipality.

(c) The commissioner may set up a revolving fund for planning advances to be provided pursuant to this section. Such fund shall consist of any General Fund appropriations, bond authorizations, grants of federal funds, or grants from any other source received for the purpose of this section as well as any advances recovered pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 12, 15; P.A. 78-373, S. 6; P.A. 88-280, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 78-373 made provisions applicable to any municipality not just to “nonentitlement” municipalities and added phrase “as from time to time amended” to references to “Housing and Community Development Act of 1974”; P.A. 88-280 made technical change in Subsec. (b), deleting reference to repealed Sec. 8-169k.

Sec. 8-169m. Receipt of funds. Issuance of bonds. (a) The commissioner may receive and accept aid or contributions of funds from any source to be held, used and applied to carry out the purposes of section 8-169l and section 8-216b, subject to such terms and conditions as may have been imposed by the donor, including any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or the state.

(b) For the purposes of section 8-169l and section 8-216b, the State Bond Commission shall have power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts, not exceeding in the aggregate seven million five hundred thousand dollars. All provisions of section 3-20 or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this subsection. Such bonds shall be issued at such times and in such amounts as shall be determined by the State Bond Commission. Temporary notes and all renewals thereof in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and shall mature within three years from the date of the first of such notes to be issued. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization, which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this subsection shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 13, 15; P.A. 79-482, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-370, S. 10, 13; P.A. 86-396, S. 9, 25; P.A. 87-405, S. 6, 26; P.A. 88-280, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 79-482 replaced Subsec. (b) with more detailed provisions relating to the issuance of bonds; P.A. 81-370 increased the aggregate of bonds the bond commission may authorize for purposes of Secs. 8-169k and 8-169l from $2,000,000 to $3,500,000 and extended the time within which such bonds may be authorized to July 1, 1984; P.A. 86-396 removed July 1, 1984, deadline for issuance of bonds; P.A. 87-405 increased the bond authorization to $7,500,000; P.A. 88-280 made technical changes and deleted requirements for use of bond proceeds for grants to assist certain community development activities.

Sec. 8-169n. Regulations. Section 8-169n is repealed.

(P.A. 75-443, S. 14, 15; P.A. 88-280, S. 14.)

PART VII

URBAN HOMESTEADING

Sec. 8-169o. Declaration of policy. It is hereby found and declared that there exists within the municipalities of this state a large number of real properties containing vacant and abandoned buildings, that many of these vacant and abandoned buildings are located in areas which are blighted or dilapidated and that the existence of such vacant and abandoned buildings contributes to the further decline of such blighted or dilapidated areas. It is further found that the abandonment and forfeiture of real properties with structures thereon are adversely affecting the economic well being of the municipalities and are inimical to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of this state. It is further found that many of the vacant and abandoned buildings can be rehabilitated, reconstructed or reused so as to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing and ancillary commercial facilities and that such rehabilitation, reconstruction and reuse would eliminate, remedy and prevent the adverse conditions described above. It is further found that in blighted or dilapidated residential areas in municipalities of this state there are vacant municipally owned real properties where safe and sanitary housing could be constructed. It is further found that private enterprise has not been able to undertake and carry out the rehabilitation, reconstruction or reuse of abandoned and vacant buildings and the construction of housing on vacant municipally owned real properties within the blighted or dilapidated areas of the municipalities of this state and that the provisions of this part are necessary and in the public interest.

(P.A. 75-452, S. 1, 8; P.A. 86-405, S. 3, 12.)

History: P.A. 86-405 added findings re housing construction on vacant municipally owned real properties.

Sec. 8-169p. Definitions. As used in this part:

(a) “Abandoned property” means any real property on which there is a vacant structure and on which (1) real property taxes have been delinquent for one year or more and orders have been issued by the municipality's fire official, building official or health official and there has been no compliance with those orders within the prescribed time given by such official or within ninety days, whichever is longer, (2) the owner has declared in writing to the building official that his property is abandoned or (3) there has been a determination by the municipality in accordance with an ordinance adopted under subparagraph (H)(xv) of subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of section 7-148, that the vacant structure contributes to housing blight;

(b) “Building official” means the person appointed pursuant to section 29-260;

(c) “Health official” means the municipal official authorized to administer the provisions of chapter 368o or any local housing code;

(d) “Low or moderate income families” means families or individuals who lack the amount of income necessary to rent or purchase adequate housing without financial assistance, as defined by such income limits as may be adopted by an appropriate agency or instrumentality of the state or federal government for the purposes of determining eligibility under any programs aimed at providing housing for low and moderate income families or persons;

(e) “Municipality” means any city, town or borough;

(f) “Owner” means any holder, as appears in the land records of the municipality, of (1) title to real property and (2) any mortgage or other secured or equitable interest in such property;

(g) “Rehabilitation permit” and “demolition permit” mean those permits obtained from a local building official under the State Building Code for the purpose of rehabilitating or demolishing a structure;

(h) “Urban homesteader” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity to which urban homestead program property is conveyed;

(i) “Urban homesteading agency” means the agency designated by the legislative body of a municipality pursuant to section 8-169q;

(j) “Fire official” means the municipal official authorized to administer the provisions of the Fire Safety Code set out in part II of chapter 541 or any regulations adopted thereunder, or any local fire code.

(P.A. 75-452, S. 2, 8; P.A. 79-279; P.A. 83-286; P.A. 84-546, S. 16, 173; P.A. 86-405, S. 4, 12; P.A. 87-371, S. 1, 5; P.A. 87-417, S. 1, 10; P.A. 90-334, S. 2; P.A. 95-79, S. 14, 189.)

History: P.A. 79-279 redefined “abandoned property” to include property on which taxes are owed for two years or more and which is not in compliance with orders issued by fire building or health official, replacing former provisions concerning noncompliance with rehabilitation or demolition orders and added Subdiv. (j) defining “fire official”; P.A. 83-286 reduced the term of years for which taxes must be due on abandoned property from two years to one year; P.A. 84-546 made technical change in Subdiv. (b) substituting reference to Sec. 29-260 for reference to Sec. 29-261; P.A. 86-405 added Subsec. (k), defining “limited equity cooperative”; P.A. 87-371 amended definition of “abandoned property” to clarify that taxes must have been delinquent for one year and to provide a ninety-day minimum period for compliance with orders; P.A. 87-417 deleted Subsec. (k) defining “limited equity cooperative”, effective July 1, 1988; P.A. 90-334 redefined “abandoned property” to include property determined by a municipality to contribute to housing blight; P.A. 95-79 redefined “urban homesteader” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995.

Cited. 194 C. 129.

Sec. 8-169q. Designation of urban homesteading agency. Any municipality may, by ordinance, establish an urban homesteading program and may authorize any existing board, commission, department or agency, including a housing authority, redevelopment agency or any nonprofit community housing development corporation complying with the provisions of section 8-217, to be the urban homesteading agency or may, by ordinance, establish a new board, commission, department or agency to act as the urban homesteading agency. Such new urban homesteading agency shall be composed of not less than three nor more than nine members, all of whom shall be residents of the municipality appointed by the chief elected official with the approval of the legislative body or the board of selectmen in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting. Those first appointed shall be designated to serve one, two and three years respectively and thereafter members shall be appointed annually to serve for three years. Each member shall serve until his successor is appointed and has qualified. Action by such an urban homesteading agency shall be taken by majority vote of members present, provided no action may be taken unless at least fifty per cent of the members are present. An urban homesteading agency created pursuant to this section shall select a secretary, who may be a member of the agency and may elect or employ such other officers, agents, technical consultants, legal counsel and employees as the agency requires. The members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(P.A. 75-452, S. 3, 8; P.A. 94-59, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 94-59 added provision that appointments be made by the board of selectmen in the case of a municipality in the legislative body is a town meeting.

Sec. 8-169r. Acquisition of abandoned property by urban homesteading agency. Certification of vacant municipally owned property. (a) In any municipality adopting an ordinance pursuant to section 8-169q, the building official shall certify to the urban homesteading agency (1) all properties which are abandoned, together with a statement as to which structures are suitable for rehabilitation, and (2) all municipally owned properties which are vacant, together with a statement as to which properties are suitable for construction. At least quarterly thereafter the building official shall certify to the urban homesteading agency any changes in the number or condition of the abandoned properties or the vacant municipally owned properties.

(b) Upon receipt of the list of the abandoned properties pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, the urban homesteading agency shall serve notice to each owner of such properties by mailing to the owner by certified mail to the last-known address of such owner or in the case of the owner who cannot be identified or whose address is unknown by publishing a copy of such notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality, stating such property has been determined to be abandoned and setting a date for a hearing before the urban homesteading agency, or any hearing examiner appointed by the urban homesteading agency, for the purpose of determining whether the owner is willing and able to rehabilitate or demolish the vacant structure on such abandoned property within a reasonable time. At such hearing the owner may contest the designation of such property as abandoned and such hearing shall be held in the same manner as under sections 4-176e to 4-181, inclusive. A decision rendered by a hearing examiner after such hearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with the urban homesteading agency for its final decision. All decisions of the urban homesteading agency shall be in writing and shall be mailed, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to each owner and to all parties to the proceedings. A decision of the urban homesteading agency may be appealed to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

(c) In the event that an owner fails to appear, either personally or by an attorney, on the date set for the hearing or any adjourned date of such hearing, or in the event the urban homesteading agency, after holding the hearing pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, determines that the owner of such property is not willing or able to rehabilitate or demolish such property within a reasonable time, the urban homesteading agency may recommend to (1) the legislative body of the municipality that the urban homesteading agency be authorized to acquire the property, either by purchase of the property free and clear of any liens for an amount not in excess of fair market value of the land and any improvements thereon as determined by the urban homesteading agency, or by eminent domain, provided all eminent domain proceedings instituted under this part shall be undertaken by the urban homesteading agency in the same manner as under sections 8-129 to 8-133, inclusive, and title to all property acquired pursuant to this subsection shall be held in the name of the municipality; or (2) the building official that he order the structure demolished; or (3) the tax collector, if any liens for real property taxes are due to the municipality against the abandoned property, that he institute tax foreclosure proceedings under chapter 205.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section an urban homesteading agency may at any time, with the concurrence of the legislative body, accept free and clear title to an abandoned property upon which exists a structure deemed rehabilitable by a building official for such consideration not in excess of fair market value of the land and any improvements on such land as determined by the urban homesteading agency.

(P.A. 75-452, S. 4, 8; P.A. 77-452, S. 48, 72; P.A. 86-405, S. 5, 12; P.A. 88-108, S. 1, 2; 88-317, S. 51, 107.)

History: P.A. 77-452 substituted superior court for court of common pleas in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 86-405 added Subsec. (a)(2), requiring certification of vacant municipally owned properties; P.A. 88-108 amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) to provide that urban homesteading agencies may acquire property for an amount not in excess of the fair market value of the land and any improvements thereon, where previously improvements were expressly excluded; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-177 to 4-181 in Subsec. (b) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date.

Sec. 8-169s. Disposition of property by urban homesteading agency. (a)(1) Upon acquisition of real property by the urban homesteading agency under section 8-169r or (2) upon certification by the building official of vacant municipally owned property under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of said section and approval of the legislative body of the municipality, the urban homesteading agency shall publish at least twice a notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality that such property is available. Such notice shall include the estimated purchase price, the qualifications of the applicant, procedures for bidding on the property and the closing date for such bidding. The second notice shall be published not less than two weeks before such closing date.

(b) Within thirty days after the closing date for bidding, the urban homesteading agency shall recommend to the legislative body the transfer of such property to a qualified applicant under such terms and conditions as are determined by the agency, provided the applicant shall be selected in accordance with priorities established under section 8-169t.

(c) The legislative body may, by resolution, vote to transfer the urban homesteading property with or without compensation to the applicant selected pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Such transfer shall be made pursuant to a contract of sale and rehabilitation or construction which shall provide among other things that (1) the property transferred be rehabilitated or constructed predominantly for residential use and be brought into and maintained in conformity with applicable health, housing and building code standard; (2) the rehabilitation or construction shall commence and be completed within a period of time as determined by the urban homesteading agency; (3) prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the building official no transfer of the property or any interest therein, except a transfer to a bona fide mortgagee or similar lien holder, may be made by the homesteader without the approval of the urban homesteading agency, provided any such transfer may only be made for a consideration not in excess of the cost of the property to the homesteader together with the costs of any improvements made or construction thereon by the homesteader; (4) in the sale or rental of the property, or any portion of such property, no person shall be discriminated against because of such person's race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, or national origin; and (5) representatives of the urban homesteading agency, the municipality, and where state or federal assistance is involved, representatives of the federal and state governments, shall have access to the property during normal business hours for the purpose of inspecting compliance with the provisions of this subsection.

(P.A. 75-452, S. 5, 8; P.A. 86-403, S. 17, 132; 86-405, S. 6, 12; P.A. 11-55, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 86-403 made technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 86-405 applied provisions of section to vacant municipally owned property certified by building official under Sec. 8-169r(a)(2) and approved by legislative body of municipality and added references to “construction” and made other technical changes in Subsec. (c); P.A. 11-55 amended Subsec. (c)(4) to prohibit discrimination on basis of gender identity or expression.

Sec. 8-169t. Selection of urban homesteaders. The urban homesteading agency shall select from among applicants for urban homestead program property those applicants who in the determination of the agency can acquire the necessary financial and technical resources to rehabilitate or construct, own and manage urban homestead program property. Such property shall be offered to such qualified applicants in accordance with the following priorities: (1) Persons displaced by governmental activities declaring in writing their intent to occupy the property for a period of not less than two years; (2) low and moderate income families declaring in writing their intent to occupy the property for a period of not less than two years; (3) families or persons declaring in writing their intent to occupy the property for a period of not less than two years; (4) nonprofit community housing development corporations; (5) any other qualified applicant, provided the urban homesteading agency has certified that no qualified urban homesteaders of higher priority have applied.

(P.A. 75-452, S. 6, 8; P.A. 86-405, S. 7, 12; P.A. 87-417, S. 2, 10.)

History: P.A. 86-405 added reference to “construction” of urban homestead program property and amended Subdiv. (4) to authorize offering of property to limited equity cooperatives; P.A. 87-417 amended Subdiv. (4) by deleting provisions re limited equity cooperatives, effective July 1, 1988.

Sec. 8-169u. Financial assistance. Abatement of real property taxes. (a) An urban homesteading agency may provide financial assistance to urban homesteaders for the purchase and rehabilitation of, or construction on, urban homestead program property. Such financial assistance may be in the form of grants, loans or deferred loans for the community housing development corporation chartered under section 8-218f and in the form of loans for other urban homesteaders. All such loans or deferred loans, if made by the urban homesteading agency, shall be secured by a mortgage naming the municipality as the mortgagee, provided if any such loans are made from funds provided by the state or federal government or any other public or private entity, the state or federal government or the public or private agency may be the mortgagee, and provided further that a municipality may assign any such mortgage to another entity. In the case of a deferred loan, the contract shall require that payments on interest are due immediately but that payments on principal may be made at a later time.

(b) An urban homesteading agency may utilize federal, state or other public or private financial assistance, provided that any such assistance requiring local financial participation shall be first approved by the legislative body of the municipality.

(c) An urban homesteading agency may recommend to the legislative body the abatement in whole or in part of real property taxes due on urban homestead program property conveyed to an urban homesteader pursuant to sections 8-169s and 8-169t, or the deferral of such taxes for a period not to exceed ten years. Such legislative body may, by resolution, authorize such abatement. All urban homestead program property conveyed to an urban homesteader may be designated by the legislative body of a municipality as property eligible for deferral of increased assessment under the provisions of sections 12-65c to 12-65f, inclusive.

(P.A. 75-452, S. 7, 8; P.A. 76-57, S. 1, 3; P.A. 86-405, S. 8, 12; P.A. 87-417, S. 3, 10; P.A. 92-166, S. 8, 31.)

History: P.A. 76-57 substituted “resolution” for “ordinance”; P.A. 86-405 authorized urban homesteading agency to provide financial assistance for construction on urban homestead program property and allowed financial assistance to be in form of grants or loans for limited equity cooperatives and community housing development corporation chartered under Sec. 8-218e and in form of loans for other urban homesteaders; P.A. 87-417 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re assistance to limited equity cooperatives, effective July 1, 1988; P.A. 92-166 amended Subsec. (a) by making deferred loans a form of financial assistance available under the section and providing that payments on interest are due immediately but that payments on principal may be made at a later time.

Sec. 8-169v. Acceptance of real property from United States government. Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 8-169o to 8-169u, inclusive, an urban homesteading agency may accept, on behalf of the municipality, any real property tendered to it without payment by the United States of America, acting by and through the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, pursuant to the provisions of Section 810 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383). Upon acquisition of real property by the urban homesteading agency under this section, the urban homesteading agency shall publish at least twice a notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality that such property is available. Such notice shall include the estimated purchase price, the qualifications of the applicant, procedures for bidding on the property and the closing date for such bidding. The second notice shall be published not less than two weeks before such closing date. In addition, thereto, the legislative body of a municipality may, upon recommendation of the urban homesteading agency, authorize conveyance of such real property to an urban homesteader meeting the requirements of Subsection (b)(3) of Section 810 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 in accordance with the requirements and procedures set forth in Section 810 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and any regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(P.A. 76-57, S. 2, 3.)

Sec. 8-169w. Urban Homesteading Fund created. Regulations. Bond authorization. (a) A fund to be known as the “Urban Homesteading Fund” is hereby created. Said fund shall be used (1) on a revolving basis to aid any urban homesteading agency in accordance with section 8-169q, in providing financial assistance to urban homesteaders in the form of loans or deferred loans for the purchase and rehabilitation of, or construction on, urban homestead program property and (2) to aid any urban homesteading agency in accordance with section 8-169q, in providing financial assistance to the community housing development corporation chartered under section 8-218f in the form of grants for the purchase and rehabilitation of, or construction on, urban homestead program property. The Commissioner of Housing may authorize loans or deferred loans under subdivision (1) of this subsection from said fund as requested and approved by the urban homesteading agency in such municipality, subject to the applicable provisions of section 8-169u. In the case of a deferred loan, the contract shall require that payments on interest are due immediately but that payments on principal may be made at a later time. Such fund shall also be used on a revolving basis to aid any nonprofit corporation incorporated pursuant to chapter 602 or any predecessor statutes thereto, having as one of its purposes the construction, rehabilitation, ownership or operation of housing and having articles of incorporation approved by the Commissioner of Housing, which is an urban homesteader as defined in section 8-169p. A nonprofit corporation shall notify the chief elected official of the municipality in which it is located at the time a loan or deferred loan application is submitted to the Department of Housing in accordance with this section. The commissioner may charge the fund for any necessary costs of administering such loan or deferred loan programs.

(b) The Commissioner of Housing shall charge and collect interest on each loan or deferred loan extended under this section at a rate to be determined in accordance with subsection (t) of section 3-20. Payments of principal and interest on such loans or deferred loans shall be paid to the Treasurer for deposit to the credit of the Housing Repayment and Revolving Loan Fund.

(c) The Commissioner of Housing shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of sections 8-169o to 8-169v, inclusive, and this section. Such regulations shall (1) establish loan procedures, repayment terms, security requirements, default and remedy provisions and such other terms and conditions for said loans as said commissioner shall deem appropriate and (2) establish procedures for the making of grants under section 8-169u and subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section.

(d) For the purposes of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate one million five hundred thousand dollars, the proceeds of the sale of which shall be used by the Department of Housing for the provision of financial assistance under section 8-169u and this section.

(e) All provisions of section 3-20 or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made and the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

(P.A. 82-369, S. 16, 28; P.A. 83-269; P.A. 86-107, S. 1, 19; 86-396, S. 10, 25; 86-405, S. 9, 12; P.A. 87-416, S. 7, 24; 87-417, S. 4, 10; P.A. 90-238, S. 17, 32; P.A. 92-166, S. 9, 31; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; 96-256, S. 173, 209; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 83-269 provided for direct aid to nonprofit corporations which are urban homesteaders; P.A. 86-107 removed reference to state treasurer as trustee of the fund under Subsec. (a); P.A. 86-396 increased bond authorization from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000; P.A. 86-405 changed name of Urban Homesteading Loan Fund to Urban Homesteading Fund and amended Subsec. (a) to authorize financial assistance to be provided for construction on urban homestead program property, to add Subdiv. (2) re grants to urban homesteaders which are limited equity cooperatives or to the community housing development corporation chartered under Sec. 8-218e and to add Subdiv. (3) re grants and loans for development of limited equity cooperatives and development by such cooperatives of property other than urban homestead program property, amended Subsec. (b) to require repaid loans to be used to provide additional financial assistance under Subsec. (a), instead of for loans, amended Subsec. (c) to require regulations to be adopted to carry out provisions of part VII of Ch. 130, instead of “this section” and to add Subdiv. (2) re grant procedures, Subdiv. (3) re financial assistance procedures and Subdiv. (4) re formula limiting amount that may be received by a unit owner of a limited equity cooperative receiving financial assistance under this section, and amended Subsec. (e) to require bond proceeds to be used for provision of financial assistance under Sec. 8-169u and this section instead of for loans to urban homesteaders; P.A. 87-416 provided that the interest rates on loans would be determined in accordance with Subsec. (t) of Sec. 3-20; P.A. 87-417 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by deleting provisions re assistance to limited equity cooperatives, effective July 1, 1988; P.A. 90-238 revised provisions re allocation of moneys to housing funds; P.A. 92-166 amended Subsec. (a) by making deferred loans a form of financial assistance available under the section and providing that payments on interest are due immediately but that payments on principal may be made at a later time and made technical changes to Subsecs. (b) and (c), consistent with changes in Subsec. (a); P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 96-256 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to “chapter 600” with “chapter 602 or any predecessor statutes thereto”, effective January 1, 1997; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, references to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and Department of Economic and Community Development were changed editorially by the Revisors to references to Commissioner of Housing and Department of Housing, respectively, effective June 19, 2013.

Secs. 8-169x to 8-169z. Reserved for future use.

PART VIII

ABANDONED AND BLIGHTED PROPERTY RECEIVERSHIP

Sec. 8-169aa. Appointment of receiver to rehabilitate abandoned and blighted property. Petition to superior court. Powers and duties of receivers. Disposition of property. Termination of receivership. Exceptions. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Abandoned property” means any building that meets the conditions described in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section;

(2) “Actively marketed” means (A) a sign has been placed on a property advertising sale of such property, (B) the owner of such property has (i) hired a real estate broker or salesperson, licensed pursuant to section 20-312, to include the property in the multiple listing service or to otherwise market the property, (ii) placed advertisements weekly, or more frequently, in print or electronic media, or (iii) distributed printed advertisements, and (C) such sign contains accurate contact information for such owner or real estate broker or salesperson;

(3) “Building” means a residential, commercial or industrial structure and the land appurtenant to such structure, including any vacant lot on which such structure was demolished;

(4) “Competent entity” means a person or entity, including a governmental unit, with experience in the rehabilitation of buildings and the ability to provide or obtain the necessary financing for such rehabilitation;

(5) “Costs of rehabilitation” means each expense for construction, stabilization, restoration, maintenance, operation or demolition of a building, or any action reasonably associated with the rehabilitation of a building, including, but not limited to, environmental remediation and architectural, engineering, legal, financing, permit and receiver's fees;

(6) “Development organization” means a nonprofit corporation established, in part, to carry out the purposes of blight remediation, community development, economic development, historic preservation or promotion or enhancement of affordable housing opportunities;

(7) “Historic property” means a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a contributing property in a national register historic district or a property located in an historic district established pursuant to section 7-147c;

(8) “Immediate family” means a parent, spouse, child or sibling;

(9) “Lienholder of record” means a lienholder owning a valid interest in the abandoned property, which interest is recorded in the land records of the municipality in which such abandoned property is located;

(10) “Municipal code” means any building, housing, blight, property maintenance, fire, health or other public safety ordinance enacted by a municipality;

(11) “Owner” means the holder or holders of title to, or of legal or equitable interest in, a building, and shall include, provided any such interest is a matter of public record, any heir, assignee, trustee, beneficiary or lessee of such building;

(12) “Party in interest” means any person or entity with a direct and immediate interest in a building, including (A) an owner of such building, (B) a lienholder or other secured creditor of such an owner, (C) a resident of or business owner in the municipality in which such building is located, provided such resident's residence or such owner's business is located less than one thousand feet from such building, (D) a development organization (i) in the municipality in which such building is located, and (ii) that has participated in a project in line with such organization's purpose within a five-mile radius of such building, or (E) the municipality in which such building is located;

(13) “Receiver” means any person or entity that takes possession of a building pursuant to the provisions of this section for the purpose of rehabilitating such building or otherwise disposing of such building; and

(14) “Substantial rehabilitation” means (A) the costs of any repair, replacement or improvement to a building exceed fifteen per cent of the value of such building after the completion of all such repairs, replacements or improvements, or (B) the replacement of two or more of the following: (i) Roof structures, (ii) ceilings, (iii) wall or floor structures, (iv) foundations, (v) plumbing systems, (vi) heating and air conditioning systems, or (vii) electrical systems.

(b) (1) In any municipality with a population of thirty-five thousand or more, a party in interest may file a petition for the appointment of a receiver to take possession and undertake rehabilitation of a building within such municipality, which petition shall be filed in the superior court for the judicial district in which such building is located. The proceeding on the petition shall constitute an action in rem.

(2) (A) The petition shall include a sworn statement of the petitioner that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the building meets the conditions described in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section on the date the petition is filed. The petition shall also include, to the extent available to the petitioner after his or her reasonable efforts to obtain the following information, (i) a copy of any citation or order charging the owner of the building with being in violation of municipal code requirements or determining the building to be a public nuisance, blighted or unfit for human occupancy or use, (ii) a recommendation for appointment as receiver for the building, (iii) a preliminary plan detailing (I) initial cost estimates of rehabilitation of the building for purposes of compliance with the applicable municipal code and plan for the area adopted by the municipality in which the building is located, and (II) anticipated funding sources, and (iv) a schedule of each mortgage, lien or other encumbrance on the building.

(B) The petition may include any other property adjacent to the building, provided (i) such other property is owned by the same owner as the building, and (ii) the building and each such property are used for a single or interrelated purpose.

(3) A true copy of the petition shall be served on the owner of the building and each lienholder of record, including any municipality, unless such municipality is the petitioner, in the manner provided by section 52-57. In addition, the petitioner shall record a notice of lis pendens with the clerk of such municipality, in the manner provided by section 52-325.

(c) (1) The court shall hold a hearing on the petition and issue a decision after completion of the hearing.

(2) The court may appoint a receiver for the building if the court finds that, on the date the petition was filed, each of the following conditions applied:

(A) The building has not been legally occupied for at least the twelve months immediately preceding the date of such filing;

(B) The owner fails to present compelling evidence, as determined by the court, that the owner has (i) actively marketed the building during the sixty days immediately preceding the date of such filing, and (ii) made a good faith effort to sell the building at a price reflective of circumstances and market conditions;

(C) The building is not subject to a pending foreclosure action by an individual or nongovernmental entity;

(D) The owner fails to present compelling evidence, as determined by the court, that the owner acquired the building during the twelve months immediately preceding the date of such filing, except that the provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply when ownership of such building is in dispute in any other legal proceeding. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “compelling evidence” does not include evidence that (i) the prior owner is a member of the immediate family of such owner, unless the change in ownership resulted from the death of the prior owner, and (ii) such owner or the prior owner is a corporation, partnership or other entity of which an interest in excess of five per cent is held by a principal, or a member of the immediate family of such principal, of such owner or the prior owner; and

(E) The court finds at least three of the following:

(i) The building is a public nuisance, blighted or unfit for human occupancy or use pursuant to the applicable municipal code;

(ii) The building requires substantial rehabilitation, and no effort to rehabilitate the building has been made during the twelve months immediately preceding the date of such filing;

(iii) The condition and any vacancy of the building materially increase the risk of fire to the building and any adjacent property;

(iv) The building is susceptible to unauthorized entry and resulting potential health and safety hazards, and (I) the owner has failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to secure the building, or (II) the municipality has secured the building as a result of the failure by the owner;

(v) The building is an attractive nuisance to children as a result of the presence of abandoned wells, shafts, basements, excavations and other unsafe structures;

(vi) The building is an attractive nuisance for illicit purposes, including, but not limited to, prostitution, drug use and vagrancy;

(vii) The presence of vermin or the accumulation of debris, uncut vegetation or physical deterioration of the building creates potential health and safety hazards, and the owner has failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to remove such hazards; or

(viii) The appearance or other condition of the building negatively impacts the economic well-being of residents or businesses in close proximity to the building, which impact may include decrease in property values or loss of business, and the owner has failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to remedy the appearance or other condition.

(3) (A) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, if the court determines that the building is an abandoned property and appoints a receiver pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the court shall certify the schedule of each mortgage, lien or other encumbrance on such abandoned property and may grant other relief as the court deems just and appropriate. Such certification shall be binding with respect to each mortgage, lien or other encumbrance, including any municipal lien, arising or attaching to the abandoned property prior to the date of such petition.

(B) The court shall give the most senior nongovernmental lienholder of record on the abandoned property first consideration for appointment as receiver.

(C) If such lienholder is found not competent or declines the appointment, the court may appoint a development organization or other competent entity as receiver, if such organization or entity agrees to serve as receiver. In appointing a receiver pursuant to this subparagraph, the court shall (i) consider any recommendation contained in the petition or otherwise presented by the petitioner or other party in interest, and (ii) give preference to a development organization or governmental unit over an individual.

(4) If the court determines that the building is an abandoned property and the owner represents that the conditions described in subdivision (2) of this subsection will be remedied in a reasonable period, the court may permit the owner to remedy the conditions by issuing an order that if the conditions are not remedied by the date set forth in the order, or if other specified remedial efforts have not occurred by the date or dates set forth in the order, the relief requested in the petition shall be granted.

(5) Upon a finding that the building is an abandoned property in accordance with subdivision (3) or (4) of this subsection, or that the owner is electing to sell the building, the owner shall reimburse the petitioner for all costs incurred in the preparation and filing of the petition as determined by the court.

(6) Upon appointment of the receiver by the court, the receiver (A) shall promptly take possession of the abandoned property and exercise the powers described in subsection (d) of this section, and (B) may file a lien against the abandoned property in an amount based on the costs incurred during the receivership, including, but not limited to, costs of rehabilitation, attorneys' fees and court costs, which amount may be adjusted as necessary.

(7) The court may remove the receiver at any time upon request of such receiver or showing by the petitioner or any party to such action that such receiver is not carrying out the duties described in subsection (d) of this section.

(d) (1) A receiver appointed pursuant to this section shall have all powers necessary and appropriate, as approved by the court, for the efficient operation, management and improvement of the abandoned property in order to bring the same into compliance with municipal code requirements and fulfill all duties described in this subsection. Subject to approval of the court, the powers and duties shall include, but not be limited to:

(A) Taking possession and control of the abandoned property and any personal property of the owner used with respect to the abandoned property;

(B) Collecting outstanding accounts receivable;

(C) Pursuing all claims or causes of action of the owner with respect to the property described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision;

(D) Contracting for the repair and maintenance of the abandoned property, provided the receiver shall make a reasonable effort to solicit three bids for any contract valued at more than twenty-five thousand dollars unless the contractor or developer provides or obtains financing for the receivership, and each of which contract shall be appropriately documented and included in the reports and accounting required to be submitted or filed by the receiver pursuant to this section;

(E) Borrowing money and incurring credit in accordance with subsection (f) of this section;

(F) Contracting and paying for the maintenance and restoration of utilities to the abandoned property;

(G) Purchasing materials, goods and supplies to repair and operate the abandoned property;

(H) Entering into a rental contract or lease for a period of time not to exceed twelve months, provided the court shall approve any such contract or lease;

(I) Affirming, renewing or entering into contracts providing for insurance coverage on the abandoned property;

(J) Engaging and paying legal, accounting, appraisal and other professionals to assist such receiver in such receivership;

(K) If such building was designated an historic property prior to determination by the court as an abandoned property, consulting with the municipality's historical commission or board of historical and architectural review, or a local historic preservation organization, for any recommendation on preserving the historic character of such abandoned property;

(L) Applying for and receiving public grants and loans;

(M) Selling the building in accordance with subsection (g) of this section; and

(N) Exercising any right a property owner would have to improve, maintain and otherwise manage such property, including to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(2) While in possession and control of the abandoned property, such receiver shall:

(A) Maintain, safeguard and insure such property;

(B) Apply all revenue generated from such property consistent with the provisions of this section;

(C) Develop a receiver's plan for abatement of the conditions described in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section or, if no such plan can feasibly be developed, a receiver's plan for alternatives such as the closing, sealing or demolition of all or part of the abandoned property, provided (i) if the building was designated an historic property prior to determination by the court as an abandoned property, the receiver's plan for abatement shall provide for the rehabilitation of architectural features that define the historic character of such property, and (ii) if demolition of an abandoned property located in an historic district is necessary, the receiver's plan for alternatives shall provide for the design of any replacement construction on the site of the demolition to comply with law;

(D) Implement the receiver's plan developed pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, provided the court shall approve such plan; and

(E) Annually, or more frequently if the court deems appropriate, submit a status report to the court and each party to the action, which report shall include (i) a copy of any contract entered into by the receiver regarding the rehabilitation of the abandoned property, (ii) an account of the disposition of all revenue generated from such property, (iii) an account of all expenses, repairs and improvements, (iv) the status of developing and implementing the receiver's plan described in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, and (v) a description of any proposed action to be taken in the six months following the date of submission of the status report to rehabilitate such property.

(3) (A) At the time such court appoints a receiver pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, the receiver may present for the court's approval a receiver's plan described in subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of this subsection. If no such plan is presented, the hearing date on such plan shall be set not later than one hundred twenty days after the appointment and the receiver shall submit such plan to the court and each party to the action not later than thirty days prior to the hearing on such plan.

(B) Such plan shall (i) include a cost estimate, a financing plan and either (I) a description of the rehabilitation to be done for the abandoned property, or (II) if rehabilitation is not feasible, a proposal for the closing, sealing or demolition of such property, and (ii) conform with the applicable municipal code, plan for the area adopted by the municipality in which such building is located and historic preservation requirements.

(C) At the time of the hearing on the receiver's plan, each party to the action may comment on such plan and the court shall consider all comments when assessing the feasibility of such plan and proposed financing. In making its determination for approving such plan, the costs of such receivership or sale of the abandoned property, the court shall give reasonable regard to the receiver's assessment of the scope and necessity of work to be done for rehabilitation or demolition, as applicable, of the property.

(D) The court shall issue a decision approving such receiver's plan or requiring that such plan be amended, in which case another hearing date shall be set.

(4) Upon implementation of such receiver's plan approved by the court, the receiver shall file with the court a full accounting of all income and expenditures during the time from approval of the plan to such implementation.

(e) (1) The receiver appointed pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section shall be deemed to have powers and authority equivalent to ownership and legal control of the abandoned property for the purposes of filing plans with any public agency or board, seeking or obtaining construction permits or other approvals and submitting applications for financing or other assistance to public or private entities.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve the owner of a building that has been determined to be an abandoned property pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section of any civil or criminal liability or of any obligation to pay any tax, municipal lien or charge, mortgage, private lien or other fee or charge incurred before or after the appointment of the receiver, and no such liability shall transfer to the receiver.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the receiver shall not be liable for any environmental damage to a building that has been determined to be an abandoned property pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, which environmental damage existed prior to such determination and the appointment of such receiver. The owner of the building shall be held liable for the environmental damage.

(f) (1) The receiver may borrow money or incur indebtedness in order to cover the costs of rehabilitation or otherwise fulfill any duty described in subsection (d) of this section.

(2) For the purpose of facilitating the borrowing of moneys for the costs of rehabilitation, the court may grant priority status to a lien given to secure payment on a debt incurred for the purposes authorized under this section, provided (A) the receiver sought to obtain the necessary financing from the most senior, nongovernmental lienholder and such lienholder declined to provide financing on reasonable terms for any reasonable improvement or other costs of rehabilitation, and (B) lien priority is necessary to induce another lender to provide financing on reasonable terms.

(3) If the most senior, nongovernmental lienholder agrees to provide financing for the costs of rehabilitation, any moneys lent to cover such costs shall be deemed added to such lienholder's preexisting first lien.

(4) The court may approve financing for the costs of rehabilitation, the terms of which may include deferred repayment and use restrictions. Such terms may remain with the rehabilitated property after the termination of the receivership and be assumed by (A) the owner of the building that was determined to be an abandoned property pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, if such owner regains possession of the rehabilitated property, or (B) a purchaser of the rehabilitated property pursuant to subsection (g) of this section.

(g) (1) If an abandoned property is sold by the owner or foreclosed upon by any lienholder, or if any interest in such property is transferred, the sale, foreclosure or transfer shall be subject to the receivership.

(2) Upon application of the receiver, the court may order the sale of the abandoned property if the court finds that (A) notice and an opportunity to provide comment to the court was given to each record owner of such property and each lienholder of record, (B) the receiver has been in control of such property for more than three months and the owner has not successfully petitioned to terminate the receivership pursuant to subsection (h) of this section, and (C) the terms and conditions of the sale are acceptable to the court and the purchaser of such property is reasonably likely to maintain such property.

(3) The court may authorize the receiver to sell the abandoned property free and clear of any lien, claim and encumbrance, provided the proceeds of the sale are distributed at settlement pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection and such distribution is approved by the court. If the proceeds are insufficient to pay each lien, claim and encumbrance, the proceeds shall be distributed according to the priorities set forth in said subdivision and each unpaid lien, claim and encumbrance that has not been assumed pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (f) of this section shall be extinguished.

(4) The proceeds of any such sale approved by the court shall be distributed as follows, in order of priority:

(A) Court costs;

(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (G) of this subdivision, liens of the state, liens for unpaid property taxes and properly recorded municipal liens, except as to any such lien that has been sold or transferred;

(C) Costs and expenses of sale;

(D) Principal and interest on any borrowing or incurrence of indebtedness that was granted priority over existing liens and security interests pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of this section;

(E) Costs incurred by such petitioner in preparing and filing the petition in accordance with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section;

(F) Costs of rehabilitation and any fee or expense incurred by the receiver in connection with the sale or the safeguarding of the abandoned property for which the lien authorized under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (6) of subsection (c) of this section was filed;

(G) Liens of the state, liens for unpaid property taxes and properly recorded municipal liens that have been sold or transferred;

(H) Valid liens and security interests in accordance with the priority of the liens and interests;

(I) Unpaid obligations of the receiver; and

(J) The owner of the building that was determined to be an abandoned property pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section.

(5) If at the time of the distribution of the proceeds of the sale the owner cannot be located, the proceeds of the sale that belong to the owner shall be (A) presumed unclaimed and forfeited, (B) subject to the custody and control of the municipality in which the sold property is located, and (C) used for all associated costs to the municipality for the security and remediation of blight and enforcement of any regulation enacted pursuant to subparagraph (H)(xv) of subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of section 7-148.

(6) At the conclusion of any such sale and distribution of proceeds, the receiver shall draft a deed stating that recognizable and marketable title to such property is vested in the purchaser of such property and that any prior ownership interest in such abandoned property has been extinguished. Upon approval of such deed by the court and filing in the land records of the municipality in which such property is located, transfer of ownership of such property shall be deemed fully effectuated.

(h) Upon request of the receiver or any party in interest, the court may order the termination of a receivership of an abandoned property if the court finds:

(1) The purposes of the receivership have been fulfilled, such as the remediation or abatement of the conditions described in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section and the payment of or provision for each obligation, expense and improvement of the receivership, including any fee or expense incurred by the receiver;

(2) The owner, a mortgagee or a lienholder has requested the receivership be terminated and has provided adequate assurance to the court that the purposes of the receivership will be fulfilled, such as the remediation or abatement of the conditions described in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section and the payment of or provision for each obligation, expense and improvement of such receivership, including any fee or expense incurred by such receiver;

(3) The abandoned property has been sold by the receiver and the proceeds of the sale have been distributed in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (g) of this section; or

(4) The receiver has been unable, after diligent effort, to (A) develop a receiver's plan pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section for approval by the court, (B) implement any court-approved plan, or (C) fulfill the purposes of the receivership for any reason.

(i) The provisions of this section shall not apply (1) to any commercial or residential building, structure or land owned by or held in trust for the United States government and regulated under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended from time to time, and regulations promulgated under such act, and (2) if the owner of a building that would be determined by a court to be an abandoned property pursuant to this section has vacated such building to perform military service in time of war or armed conflict or to assist relief efforts during a declared federal or state emergency as a member of the United States armed forces or any reserve component of such armed forces.

(P.A. 19-92, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 19-92 effective January 1, 2020.

Secs. 8-169bb to 8-169gg. Reserved for future use.

PART IX

CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Sec. 8-169hh. Definitions. For purposes of this section and sections 8-169ii to 8-169ss, inclusive:

(1) “Authority” means the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority established in section 8-169ii;

(2) “Authority development project” means a project occurring within the boundaries of a Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority development district;

(3) “Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority development district” or “development district” means the area determined by a memorandum of agreement between the authority and the chief executive officer of the member municipality, or the chief executive officers of the municipalities constituting a joint member entity, as applicable, where such development district is located, provided such area shall be considered a downtown or does not exceed a one-half-mile radius of a transit station;

(4) “Designated tier III municipality” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-560;

(5) “Designated tier IV municipality” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-560;

(6) “Downtown” means a central business district or other commercial neighborhood area of a community that serves as a center of socioeconomic interaction in the community, characterized by a cohesive core of commercial and mixed-use buildings, often interspersed with civic, religious and residential buildings and public spaces, that are typically arranged along a main street and intersecting side streets and served by public infrastructure;

(7) “Member municipality” means (A) any municipality with a population of seventy thousand or more that opts to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority in accordance with section 8-169ll, or (B) any designated tier III or tier IV municipality. “Member municipality” does not include the city of Hartford or any municipality that is considered part of the capital region, as defined in section 32-600;

(8) “Joint member entity” means two or more municipalities with a combined population of seventy thousand or more that together opt to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority in accordance with section 8-169ll, provided no such municipality is considered part of the capital region, as defined in section 32-600;

(9) “Project” means any or all of the following: (A) The design and construction of transit-oriented development, as defined in section 13b-79kk; (B) the creation of housing units through rehabilitation or new construction; (C) the demolition or redevelopment of vacant buildings; and (D) development and redevelopment;

(10) State-wide transportation investment program” means the planning document developed and updated at least every four years by the Department of Transportation in compliance with the requirements of 23 USC 135, listing all transportation projects in the state expected to receive federal funding during the four-year period covered by the program; and

(11) “Transit station” means any passenger railroad station or bus rapid transit station that is operational, or for which the Department of Transportation has initiated planning or that is included in the state-wide transportation investment program, that is or will be located within the boundaries of a member municipality or the municipalities constituting a joint member entity.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 212.)

Sec. 8-169ii. Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority established. Board of directors; appointments; record of proceedings; action. Authority's procedures for conduct. Termination. (a) There is hereby established and created a body politic and corporate, constituting a public instrumentality and political subdivision of the state established and created for the performance of an essential public and governmental function, to be known as the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority. The authority shall not be construed to be a department, institution or agency of the state.

(b) The powers of the authority shall be vested in and exercised by a board of directors, which shall consist of the following members: (1) Two appointed jointly by the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be the chief executive officer of a member municipality in New Haven County; (2) two appointed jointly by the majority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, one of whom shall be the chief executive officer of a member municipality in Hartford County; (3) two appointed jointly by the minority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, one of whom shall be the chief executive officer of a member municipality in Fairfield County; (4) two appointed by the Governor; and (5) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Labor Commissioner and the Commissioners of Transportation, Housing and Economic and Community Development, or their designees, who shall serve as ex-officio, voting members of the board.

(c) The Governor shall designate the chairperson of the board from among the members. All initial appointments shall be made not later than sixty days after October 1, 2019. All members shall be appointed by the original appointing authority for four-year terms. Any member of the board shall be eligible for reappointment. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term. The appointing authority for any member may remove such member for misfeasance, malfeasance or wilful neglect of duty.

(d) Each member of the board, before commencing such member's duties, shall take and subscribe the oath or affirmation required by section 1 of article eleventh of the Constitution of the state. A record of each such oath shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the State.

(e) The board of directors shall maintain a record of its proceedings in such form as it determines, provided such record indicates attendance and all votes cast by each member. Any appointed member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the board. A majority of the members of the board then in office shall constitute a quorum, and an affirmative vote by a majority of the members present at a meeting of the board shall be sufficient for any action taken by the board. No vacancy in the membership of the board shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the board. Any action taken by the board may be authorized by resolution at any regular or special meeting and shall take effect immediately unless otherwise provided in the resolution. The board may delegate to three or more of its members, or its officers, agents or employees, such board powers and duties as it may deem proper.

(f) The board of directors shall annually elect one of its members as a vice-chairperson, and shall elect other of its members as officers, adopt a budget and bylaws, designate an executive committee, report semiannually to the appointing authorities with respect to operations, finances and achievement of its economic development objective, be accountable to and cooperate with the state whenever the state may audit the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority or an authority development project or at any other time as the state may inquire as to either, including allowing the state reasonable access to any such project and to the records of the authority.

(g) The chairperson of the board, with the approval of the members of the board of directors, shall appoint an executive director of the authority who shall be an employee of the authority and paid a salary prescribed by the members. The executive director shall be the chief administrative officer of the authority and shall supervise the administrative affairs and technical activities of the authority in accordance with the directives of the board. The executive director shall not be a member of the board.

(h) No member of the board of directors may receive compensation for the performance of such member's official duties.

(i) Each member of the board of directors of the authority and the executive director shall execute a surety bond in the penal sum of at least one hundred thousand dollars, or, in lieu thereof, the chairperson of the board shall execute a blanket position bond or procure an equivalent insurance product covering each member, the executive director and the employees of the authority. Each surety bond or equivalent insurance product shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the office or offices covered, issued by an insurance company authorized to transact business in this state for surety or such insurance product. The cost of each such bond or insurance product shall be paid by the authority.

(j) No board member, or member of his or her immediate family, as defined in section 1-91, shall have or acquire any financial interest in (1) any authority development project, or (2) any property included or planned to be included in any such project or in any contract or proposed contract for materials or services to be used in such project.

(k) The authority shall have perpetual succession and shall adopt procedures for the conduct of its affairs in accordance with section 8-169kk. Such succession shall continue as long as the authority has bonds, notes or other obligations outstanding and until its existence is terminated by law, provided no such termination shall affect any outstanding contractual obligation of the authority and the state shall succeed to the obligations of the authority under any contract. Upon the termination of the existence of the authority, all its rights and properties shall pass to and be vested in the state.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 213.)

Sec. 8-169jj. Purposes of authority. Powers. (a) The purposes of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority shall be to: (1) Stimulate economic and transit-oriented development, as defined in section 13b-79kk, within Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority development districts; (2) encourage residential housing development within development districts; (3) manage facilities through contractual agreement or other legal instrument; (4) stimulate new investment within development districts and provide support for the creation of vibrant, multidimensional downtowns; (5) upon request of the legislative body of a member municipality, or the legislative bodies of the municipalities constituting a joint member entity, as applicable, in which a development district is located, work with such municipality or municipalities to assist in development and redevelopment efforts to stimulate the economy of such municipality or municipalities; (6) upon request of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and with the approval of the chief executive officer of a member municipality, or the chief executive officers of the municipalities constituting a joint member entity, as applicable, in which a development district is located, enter into an agreement to facilitate development or redevelopment within such development district; (7) encourage development and redevelopment of property within development districts; (8) engage residents of member municipalities, or municipalities constituting a joint member entity, as applicable, and other stakeholders in development and redevelopment efforts; and (9) market and develop development districts as vibrant and multidimensional.

(b) For the purposes enumerated in subsection (a) of this section, the authority is authorized and empowered to:

(1) Have perpetual succession as a body politic and corporate and to adopt procedures for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business, as provided in section 8-169kk;

(2) Adopt a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(3) Maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate;

(4) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded;

(5) Contract and be contracted with;

(6) (A) Employ such assistants, agents and other employees as may be necessary or desirable to carry out its purposes, which employees shall be exempt from the classified service and shall not be employees, as defined in subsection (b) of section 5-270; (B) establish all necessary or appropriate personnel practices and policies, including those relating to hiring, promotion, compensation, retirement and collective bargaining, which need not be in accordance with chapter 68. For the purposes of this subdivision, the authority shall not be an employer as defined in subsection (a) of section 5-270, and for the purposes of group welfare benefits and retirement, including, but not limited to, those provided under chapter 66 and sections 5-257 and 5-259, the officers and all other employees of the authority shall be state employees; and (C) engage consultants, attorneys and appraisers as may be necessary or desirable to carry out its purposes in accordance with sections 8-169ii to 8-169ss, inclusive;

(7) Acquire, lease, purchase, own, manage, hold and dispose of personal property, and lease, convey or deal in or enter into agreements with respect to such property on any terms necessary or incidental to carrying out the purposes set forth in this section;

(8) Procure insurance against any liability or loss in connection with its property and other assets, in such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable and procure insurance for employees;

(9) Invest any funds not needed for immediate use or disbursement in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States or the state, including the Short Term Investment Fund and the Tax-Exempt Proceeds Fund, and in other obligations that are legal investments for savings banks in this state, and in-time deposits or certificates of deposit or other similar banking arrangements secured in such manner as the authority determines;

(10) Enter into such memoranda of agreement as the authority deems appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under this section; and

(11) Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of, and the powers expressly granted by, this section.

(c) In addition to the powers enumerated in subsection (b) of this section, the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority shall have the following powers with respect to authority development projects:

(1) (A) To acquire by gift, purchase, lease or transfer, lands or rights-in-land and to sell and lease or sublease, as lessor or lessee or sublessor or sublessee, any portion of its real property rights, including air space above, and enter into related common area maintenance, easement, access, support and similar agreements, and own and operate facilities associated with authority development projects, provided such activity is consistent with all applicable federal tax covenants of the authority; (B) to transfer or dispose of any property or interest therein acquired by the authority at any time; and (C) to receive and accept aid or contributions from any source of money, labor, property or other thing of value, to be held, used and applied to carry out the purposes of this section, subject to the conditions upon which such grants and contributions are made, including, but not limited to, gifts or grants from any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or this state for any purpose consistent with this section, provided (i) the authority shall provide opportunity for public comment prior to any acquisition, transfer or disposal in accordance with this subdivision, and (ii) any land or right-in-land, aid or contribution received by the authority under this subdivision shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 10;

(2) To formulate plans for, acquire, finance and develop, lease, purchase, construct, reconstruct, repair, improve, expand, extend, operate, maintain and market facilities associated with authority development projects, provided such activities are consistent with all applicable federal tax covenants of the authority;

(3) To contract and be contracted with, provided if management, operating or promotional contracts or agreements or other contracts or agreements are entered into with nongovernmental parties with respect to property financed with the proceeds of obligations, the interest on which is excluded from gross income for federal income taxation, the board of directors shall ensure that such contracts or agreements are in compliance with the covenants of the authority upon which such tax exclusion is conditioned;

(4) To fix and revise, from time to time, and to charge and collect fees, rents and other charges for the use, occupancy or operation of authority development projects, and to establish and revise from time to time procedures concerning the use, operation and occupancy of facilities associated with such projects, including parking rates, rules and procedures, provided such arrangements are consistent with all applicable federal tax covenants of the authority, and to utilize net revenues received by the authority from the operation of such facilities, after allowance for operating expenses and other charges related to the ownership, operation or financing thereof, for other proper purposes of the authority, including, but not limited to, funding of operating deficiencies or operating or capital replacement reserves for such facilities and related parking facilities, as determined to be appropriate by the authority;

(5) To engage architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, consultants and such other independent professionals as may be necessary or desirable to carry out authority development projects;

(6) To contract for construction, development, concessions and the procurement of goods and services, and to establish and modify procurement procedures from time to time in accordance with the provisions of section 8-169kk to implement the foregoing;

(7) To borrow money and to issue bonds, notes and other obligations of the authority to the extent permitted under section 8-169oo, to fund and refund the same and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof and to secure the same by pledge of assets, revenues and notes;

(8) To do anything necessary and desirable, including executing reimbursement agreements or similar agreements in connection with credit facilities, including, but not limited to, letters of credit or policies of bond insurance, remarketing agreements and agreements for the purpose of moderating interest rate fluctuations, to render any bonds to be issued pursuant to section 8-169oo more marketable; and

(9) To engage in and contract for marketing and promotional activities for authority development projects under the operation or jurisdiction of the authority.

(d) The Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority and the Capital Region Development Authority, established pursuant to chapter 588x, may enter into a memorandum of agreement pursuant to which: (1) Administrative support and services, including all staff support necessary for the operations of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority may be provided by the Capital Region Development Authority, and (2) provision is made for the coordination of management and operational activities that may include: (A) Joint procurement and contracting; (B) the sharing of services and resources; (C) the coordination of promotional activities; and (D) other arrangements designed to enhance revenues, reduce operating costs or achieve operating efficiencies. The terms and conditions of such memorandum of agreement, including provisions with respect to the reimbursement by the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority to the Capital Region Development Authority of the costs of such administrative support and services, shall be as the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority and the Capital Region Development Authority determine to be appropriate.

(e) The authority shall have the power to negotiate, and, with the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, to enter into an agreement with any private developer, owner or lessee of any building or improvement located on land in a development district providing for payments to the authority in lieu of real property taxes. Such an agreement shall be made a condition of any private right of development within the development district, and shall include a requirement that such private developer, owner or lessee make good faith efforts to hire, or cause to be hired, available and qualified minority business enterprises, as defined in section 4a-60g, to provide construction services and materials for improvements to be constructed within the development district in an effort to achieve a minority business enterprise utilization goal of ten per cent of the total costs of construction services and materials for such improvements. Such payments to the authority in lieu of real property taxes shall have the same lien and priority, and may be enforced by the authority in the same manner, as provided for municipal real property taxes. Such payments as received by the authority shall be used to carry out the purposes of the authority set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(f) Nothing in sections 8-169ii to 8-169ss, inclusive, shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority to enter into agreements to facilitate development or redevelopment of municipal property or facilities.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 214.)

History: (Revisor's note: In codifying this section, an incorrect reference to “section 8 of this act” was deemed by the Revisors to be a reference to “section 219” and codified as section 8-169oo).

Sec. 8-169kk. Written procedures for conduct of board of directors. The board of directors of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority shall adopt written procedures, in accordance with the provisions of section 1-121, for: (1) Adopting an annual budget and plan of operations, which shall include a requirement of board approval before the budget or plan may take effect; (2) hiring, dismissing, promoting and compensating employees of the authority, which shall include an affirmative action policy and a requirement of board approval before a position may be created or a vacancy filled; (3) acquiring real and personal property and personal services, which shall include a requirement of board approval for any nonbudgeted expenditure in excess of ten thousand dollars; (4) contracting for financial, legal, bond underwriting and other professional services, including a requirement that the authority solicit proposals at least once every three years for each such service that it uses; (5) issuing and retiring bonds, notes and other obligations of the authority; (6) providing loans, grants and other financial assistance, which shall include eligibility criteria, the application process and the role played by the authority's staff and board of directors; and (7) the use of surplus funds.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 215.)

Sec. 8-169ll. Member municipalities; joint member entities. Appointment of local development board. (a)(1) Any municipality with a population of seventy thousand or more as determined by the most recent decennial census, except the city of Hartford or any municipality that is considered part of the capital region, as defined in section 32-600, may, by certified resolution of the legislative body of the municipality, opt to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority as a member municipality, provided such municipality holds a public hearing prior to any vote on such certified resolution. Any designated tier III or tier IV municipality, except the city of Hartford or any municipality that is considered part of the capital region as defined in section 32-600, shall be deemed a member municipality.

(2) The legislative body of each member municipality shall appoint a local development board to serve as liaison to the authority. Such board (A) shall include three individuals representing the municipality and the chief executive officer of such municipality, who shall serve as chairperson of the board, and (B) may include, but need not be limited to, representatives from local health or human services organizations, local housing organizations, a local school district or education organization, and a local business organization. Such board shall also include one member of the board of directors of the authority, chosen by the chairperson of the board of directors of the authority. Each legislative body shall make a good faith effort to appoint representatives of minority-owned businesses, advocates for walkable communities and members who are geographically, racially, socioeconomically and gender diverse.

(3) Any municipality that opts to join the authority as a member municipality or that is deemed a member municipality pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the authority for the establishment of one or more development districts.

(b) (1) Any two or more municipalities with a combined population of seventy thousand or more as determined by the most recent decennial census may, by certified concurrent resolutions of the legislative bodies of each such municipality, together opt to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority as a joint member entity, provided (A) no such municipality is considered part of the capital region, as defined in section 32-600, and (B) each such municipality holds a public hearing prior to any vote on the certified resolution from such municipality. The concurrent resolutions shall set forth an agreement of such municipalities as to authority for decisions concerning projects in development districts within such municipalities.

(2) The legislative bodies of the municipalities constituting a joint member entity shall jointly appoint a local development board to serve as liaison to the authority. Such board shall (A) include two individuals representing each such municipality and the chief executive officer of each such municipality, who shall serve as cochairperson of the board with the other chief executive officers, and (B) may include, but need not be limited to, representatives from local health or human services organizations, local housing organizations, a local school district or education organization and a local business organization. Such board shall also include one member of the board of directors of the authority, chosen by the chairperson of the board of directors of the authority. The legislative bodies of the municipalities constituting a joint member entity shall make a good faith effort to appoint representatives of minority-owned businesses, advocates for walkable communities and members who are geographically, racially, socioeconomically and gender diverse.

(3) Any two or more municipalities that together opt to join the authority as a joint member entity shall jointly enter into a memorandum of agreement with the authority for the establishment of one or more development districts.

(c) In consultation with the board of directors of the authority, a local development board appointed pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) or subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section shall have, with respect to authority development projects, all the powers enumerated in subdivision (8) of subsection (b) of section 8-169jj and in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (c) of said section.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 216.)

Sec. 8-169mm. Reports to the Governor, Auditors of Public Accounts and General Assembly. Annual compliance and independent financial audits. Contract compliance officer; report. (a) In lieu of the report required under section 1-123, within the first ninety days of each fiscal year of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, the board of directors of the authority shall submit a report to the Governor, the Auditors of Public Accounts and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A list of all bonds issued during the preceding fiscal year, including, for each such issue, the financial advisor and underwriters, whether the issue was competitive, negotiated or privately placed, and the issue's face value and net proceeds; (2) a description of each authority development project in which the authority is involved, its location and the amount of funds, if any, provided by the authority with respect to the construction of such project; (3) a list of all outside individuals and firms, including principal and other major stockholders, receiving in excess of five thousand dollars as payments for services; (4) a comprehensive annual financial report prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for governmental enterprises; (5) the cumulative value of all bonds issued, the value of outstanding bonds and the amount of the state's contingent liability; (6) the affirmative action policy adopted pursuant to section 8-169kk, a description of the composition of the workforce of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority by race, sex and occupation and a description of the affirmative action efforts of the authority; and (7) a description of planned activities for the current fiscal year.

(b) The board of directors of the authority shall annually contract with a person, firm or corporation for a compliance audit of the authority's activities during the preceding authority fiscal year. The audit shall determine whether the authority has complied with the authority's policies and procedures concerning affirmative action, personnel practices, the purchase of goods and services and the use of surplus funds. The board shall submit the audit report to the Governor, the Auditors of Public Accounts and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding.

(c) The board of directors of the authority shall annually contract with a firm of certified public accountants to undertake an independent financial audit of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The board shall submit the audit report to the Governor, the Auditors of Public Accounts and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding.

(d) The authority shall designate a contract compliance officer from its staff to monitor compliance of the operations of facilities and parking facilities associated with authority development projects that are under the management or control of the authority, with (1) the provisions of state law applicable to such operations, and (2) applicable requirements of contracts entered into by the authority relating to set-asides for small contractors and minority business enterprises and required efforts to hire available and qualified members of minorities, as defined in section 32-9n. Each year during the period of operations of facilities associated with authority development projects, such officer shall file a written report with the authority as to findings and recommendations regarding such compliance.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 217.)

Sec. 8-169nn. Application or request for funds re authority development project. Economic development statement. Expenditure of funds. Coordination of resources. (a) Any person, including, but not limited to, a state or municipal agency, requesting funds from the state, including, but not limited to, any authority created by the general statutes or any public or special act, with respect to any authority development project shall, at the time it makes such request for funds from the state, present a full and complete copy of its application or request along with any supporting documents or exhibits to the authority for its recommendation and to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. The Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority shall, not later than ninety days after receipt of such application or request, prepare and adopt an economic development statement summarizing its recommendations with respect to such application or request and deliver such statement to the state officer, official, employee or agent of the state or authority to whom such application or request was made. The recommendations in such statement shall include contract provisions regarding performance standards, including, but not limited to, project timelines.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, public or special acts, any regulation or procedure or any other law, no officer, official, employee or agent of the state or any authority created by the general statutes or any public or special act shall expend any funds on any authority development project, unless such officer, official, employee or agent has received an economic development statement prepared by the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except that if no such statement is received by the ninetieth day after the date of the initial application or request for such funds, such funds may be expended. If funds are expended pursuant to this subsection in a manner not consistent with the recommendations contained in an economic development statement for such expenditure, the officer, official, employee or agent of the state expending such funds shall respond in writing to the authority, providing an explanation of the decision with respect to such expenditure.

(c) The Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority shall coordinate the use of all state, municipal and quasi-public agency planning and financial resources that are made available for any authority development project in which the authority is involved, including any resources available from any quasi-public agency.

(d) All state agencies, departments, boards, commissions and councils and all quasi-public agencies shall cooperate with the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority in carrying out the purposes enumerated in section 8-169jj.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 218.)

Sec. 8-169oo. Bonds, notes and other obligations of the authority. (a) The board of directors of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority is authorized from time to time to issue its bonds, notes and other obligations in such principal amounts as in the opinion of the board shall be necessary to provide sufficient funds for carrying out the purposes set forth in section 8-169jj, including the payment, funding or refunding of the principal of, or interest or redemption premiums on, any bonds, notes and other obligations issued by it, whether the bonds, notes or other obligations or interest to be funded or refunded have or have not become due, the establishment of reserves to secure such bonds, notes and other obligations, loans made by the authority and all other expenditures of the authority incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes set forth in section 8-169jj.

(b) Every issue of bonds, notes or other obligations shall be a general obligation of the authority payable out of any moneys or revenues of the authority and subject only to any agreements with the holders of particular bonds, notes or other obligations pledging any particular moneys or revenues. Any such bonds, notes or other obligations may be additionally secured by any grant or contributions from any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or person or a pledge of any moneys, income or revenues of the authority from any source whatsoever.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of any law, any bonds, notes or other obligations issued by the authority pursuant to this section shall be fully negotiable within the meaning and for all purposes of title 42a. Any such bonds, notes or other obligations shall be legal investments for all trust companies, banks, investment companies, savings banks, building and loan associations, executors, administrators, guardians, conservators, trustees and other fiduciaries and pension, profit-sharing and retirement funds.

(d) Bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority shall be authorized by resolution of the board of directors of the authority and may be issued in one or more series and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, in the case of any such note, or any renewal thereof, not exceeding the term of years as the board shall determine from the date of the original issue of such notes, and, in the case of bonds, not exceeding thirty years from the date thereof, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable from such sources in such medium of payment at such place or places within or without this state, and be subject to such terms of redemption, with or without premium, as such resolution or resolutions may provide.

(e) Bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority may be sold at public or private sale at such price or prices as the board shall determine.

(f) Bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority may be refunded and renewed from time to time as may be determined by resolution of the board, provided any such refunding or renewal shall be in conformity with any rights of the holders of such bonds, notes or other obligations.

(g) Except as provided in section 8-169qq, bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority issued under the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to constitute a debt or liability of the state or of any political subdivision thereof other than the authority, or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or of any such political subdivision other than the authority, and shall not constitute bonds or notes issued or guaranteed by the state within the meaning of section 3-21, but shall be payable solely from the funds as provided in this section. All such bonds, notes or other obligations shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the effect that, unless otherwise provided by law, neither the state of Connecticut nor any political subdivision thereof other than the authority shall be obligated to pay the same or the interest thereof except from revenues or other funds of the authority and that neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state of Connecticut or of any political subdivision thereof other than the authority is pledged to the payment of the principal of, or the interest on, such bonds, notes or other obligations.

(h) Any resolution or resolutions authorizing the issuance of bonds, notes or other obligations may contain provisions, except as limited by existing agreements with the holders of bonds, notes or other obligations, which shall be a part of the contract with the holders thereof, as to the following: (1) The pledging of all or any part of the moneys received by the authority to secure the payment of the principal of and interest on any bonds, notes or other obligations or of any issue thereof; (2) the pledging of all or part of the assets of the authority to secure the payment of the principal and interest on any bonds, notes or other obligations or of any issue thereof; (3) the establishment of reserves or sinking funds, the making of charges and fees to provide for the same, and the regulation and disposition thereof; (4) limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of bonds, notes or other obligations may be applied and pledging such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds, notes or other obligations, or of any issues thereof; (5) limitations on the issuance of additional bonds, notes or other obligations, the terms upon which additional bonds, bond anticipation notes or other obligations may be issued and secured, the refunding or purchase of outstanding bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority; (6) the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with the holders of any bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds, notes or other obligations the holders of which must consent thereto and the manner in which such consent may be given; (7) limitations on the amount of moneys to be expended by the authority for operating, administrative or other expenses of the authority; (8) the vesting in a trustee or trustees of such property, rights, powers and duties in trust as the authority may determine, which may include any or all of the rights, powers and duties of any trustee appointed by the holders of any bonds, notes or other obligations and limiting or abrogating the right of the holders of any bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority to appoint a trustee or limiting the rights, powers and duties of such trustee; (9) provision for a trust agreement by and between the authority and a corporate trustee which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state, which agreement may provide for the pledging or assigning of any assets or income from assets to which or in which the authority has any rights or interest, and may further provide for such other rights and remedies exercisable by the trustee as may be proper for the protection of the holders of any bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority and not otherwise in violation of law. Such agreement may provide for the restriction of the rights of any individual holder of bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority. All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of such trust agreement may be treated as a part of the cost of operation of the authority. The trust agreement may contain any further provisions which are reasonable to delineate further the respective rights, duties, safeguards, responsibilities and liabilities of the authority, individual and collective holders of bonds, notes and other obligations of the authority and the trustees; (10) covenants to do or refrain from doing such acts and things as may be necessary or convenient or desirable in order to better secure any bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority, or which, in the discretion of the authority, will tend to make any bonds, notes or other obligations to be issued more marketable, notwithstanding that such covenants, acts or things may not be enumerated herein; and (11) any other matters of like or different character, which in any way affect the security or protection of the bonds, notes or other obligations.

(i) Any pledge made by the authority of income, revenues or other property shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made. The income, revenue, such state taxes as the authority shall be entitled to receive or other property so pledged and thereafter received by the authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the authority, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof.

(j) The board of directors of the authority is authorized and empowered to obtain from any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States any insurance or guarantee as to, or of or for the payment or repayment of, interest or principal or both, or any part thereof, on any bonds, notes or other obligations issued by the authority pursuant to the provisions of this section and, notwithstanding any other provisions of sections 8-169ii to 8-169ss, inclusive, to enter into any agreement, contract or any other instrument whatsoever with respect to any such insurance or guarantee except to the extent that such action would in any way impair or interfere with the authority's ability to perform and fulfill the terms of any agreement made with the holders of the bonds, bond anticipation notes or other obligations of the authority.

(k) Neither the members of the board of directors of the authority nor any person executing bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority issued pursuant to this section shall be liable personally on such bonds, notes or other obligations or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof, nor shall any director, officer or employee of the authority be personally liable for damage or injury caused in the performance of such director, officer or employee's duties and within the scope of employment or appointment as such director, officer or employee, provided the conduct of such director, officer or employee was found not to have been wanton, reckless, wilful or malicious. The authority shall protect, save harmless and indemnify its directors, officers or employees from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or alleged deprivation of any person's civil rights or any other act or omission resulting in damage or injury, if the director, officer or employee is found to have been acting in the discharge of his or her duties or within the scope of his or her employment and such act or omission is found not to have been wanton, reckless, wilful or malicious.

(l) The board of directors of the authority shall have power to purchase bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority out of any funds available for such purpose. The authority may hold, cancel or resell such bonds, notes or other obligations subject to and in accordance with agreements with holders of its bonds, notes and other obligations.

(m) All moneys received pursuant to the authority of this section, whether as proceeds from the sale of bonds or as revenues, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in this section. Any officer with whom, or any bank or trust company with which, such moneys shall be deposited shall act as trustee of such moneys and shall hold and apply the same for the purposes of section 8-169jj, and the resolution authorizing the bonds of any issue or the trust agreement securing such bonds may provide.

(n) Any holder of bonds, notes or other obligations issued under the provisions of this section, and the trustee or trustees under any trust agreement, except to the extent the rights herein given may be restricted by any resolution authorizing the issuance of or any such trust agreement securing such bonds, may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights under the laws of the state or granted under this section or under such resolution or trust agreement and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this section or by such resolution or trust agreement to be performed by the authority or by any officer, employee or agent of the authority, including the fixing, charging and collecting of the rates, rents, fees and charges herein authorized and required by the provisions of such resolution or trust agreement to be fixed, established and collected.

(o) The authority may make representations and agreements for the benefit of the holders of any bonds, notes or other obligations of the state which are necessary or appropriate to ensure the exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes of interest on bonds, notes or other obligations of the state from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, including agreement to pay rebates to the federal government of investment earnings derived from the investment of the proceeds of the bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority. Any such agreement may include: (1) A covenant to pay rebates to the federal government of investment earnings derived from the investment of the proceeds of the bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority; (2) a covenant that the authority will not limit or alter its rebate obligations until its obligations to the holders or owners of such bonds, notes or other obligations are finally met and discharged; and (3) provisions to (A) establish trust and other accounts which may be appropriate to carry out such representations and agreements, (B) retain fiscal agents as depositories for such funds and accounts, and (C) provide that such fiscal agents may act as trustee of such funds and accounts.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 219.)

Sec. 8-169pp. State's pledge to not limit or alter rights of authority or holders of bonds, notes and obligations or parties to contracts. The state of Connecticut does hereby pledge to and agree with the holders of any bonds, notes and other obligations issued under section 8-169oo and with those parties who may enter into contracts with the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority or its successor agency, that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in the authority or in the holders of any bonds, notes or other obligations of the authority to which contract assistance is pledged pursuant to this section until such bonds, notes or obligations, together with the interest thereon, are fully met and discharged and such contracts are fully performed on the part of the authority, provided nothing contained herein shall preclude such limitation or alteration if and when adequate provision shall be made by law for the protection of the holders of such bonds, notes and other obligations of the authority or those entering into contracts with the authority. The authority is authorized to include this pledge and undertaking for the state in such bonds, notes and other obligations or contracts.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 220.)

Sec. 8-169qq. State's protection of authority's directors, officers and employees from financial loss arising from claim. State's assumption of liability on debt authority unable to pay. (a) The state shall protect, save harmless and indemnify the directors, officers and employees of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority from financial loss and expenses, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment based upon any alleged act or omission of any such director, officer or employee in connection with, or any other legal challenge to, authority development projects within a Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority development district, provided any such director, officer or employee is found to have been acting in the discharge of such director, officer or employee's duties or within the scope of such director, officer or employee's employment and any such act or omission is found not to have been wanton, reckless, wilful or malicious.

(b) In the event any bond, note or other obligation of the authority cannot be paid by the authority, the state shall assume the liability of and make payment on such debt.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 221.)

Sec. 8-169rr. Economic development master plan. Development and submission to authority; review and approval. (a) For the purposes of this section, “economic development master plan” means (1) a comprehensive economic development plan that is designed to increase the tax base of a municipality, or the combined tax bases of two or more municipalities, as applicable, to a level that will allow the municipality or municipalities to provide an adequate level of municipal services, or (2) a comprehensive economic development plan developed pursuant to section 7-578.

(b) Prior to execution of a memorandum of agreement between the authority and the chief executive officer of a member municipality, or the chief executive officers of the municipalities constituting a joint member entity, as applicable, establishing a development district, the member municipality or joint member entity shall develop an economic development master plan and submit such plan for the authority's review and approval. Each member municipality or joint member entity shall provide for community and stakeholder input and a public comment process in the development of its economic development master plan, and such plan shall be approved by the legislative body of such member municipality or the legislative bodies of the municipalities constituting such joint member entity, as applicable.

(c) In determining whether to approve an economic development master plan developed under subsection (b) of this section, the authority shall consider whether such plan includes a clear and feasible path toward achieving as many of the purposes of the authority, as set forth in subsection (a) of section 8-169jj, as practical and appropriate in the context of the unique characteristics of a member municipality or the municipalities constituting a joint member entity, as applicable. The authority shall offer support to such municipality or municipalities in creating the economic development master plan, if requested by such municipality or municipalities.

(d) Any authority development project that receives support from the authority shall be consistent with (1) the economic development master plan of the member municipality, or the municipalities constituting the joint member entity, as applicable, in which such project is located, (2) the plan of conservation and development, adopted under section 8-23, of each such municipality, and (3) the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy prepared under section 32-742.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 222.)

Sec. 8-169ss. Encouragement to hire local employees. Office of Workforce Strategy assistance with training and recruitment. The authority, member municipalities and joint member entities shall encourage businesses, as appropriate, to hire local employees. Any business that receives financial assistance from the authority shall enter into an agreement with the Office of Workforce Strategy for assistance with the training and recruitment of workers.

(P.A. 19-117, S. 223; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 247.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 replaced reference to Workforce Training Authority with Office of Workforce Strategy, effective July 1, 2021.