Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06606 Compare Versions

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7+General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6606
8+January Session, 2021
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4-Substitute House Bill No. 6606
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6-Special Act No. 21-28
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9-AN ACT CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
10-DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITIES AND THE RENOVATION OF
11-HISTORIC MIXED-USE BUILDINGS.
14+AN ACT CONCERNING TH E COME HOME TO DOWNT OWN
15+PROGRAM, THE RENOVAT ION OF HISTORIC MIXED-USE
16+BUILDINGS IN THE STATE AND OUTDOOR DININ G.
1217 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1318 Assembly convened:
1419
15-Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Economic and
16-Community Development shall conduct a study relating to economic
17-development issues affecting distressed municipalities and opportunity
18-zones in the state. Not later than February 1, 2022, the commissioner
19-shall submit a report on the results of such study to the joint standing
20-committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
21-relating to commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a
22-of the general statutes.
23-Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to
24-study any impediments to the renovation of historic mixed-use
25-buildings located in municipalities, including, but not limited to,
26-distressed municipalities in the state. The task force shall (1) examine
27-any financing tools that may assist in the renovation of such buildings
28-and building safety codes that may be impediments to the renovation of
29-such buildings; and (2) consider whether the state should implement a
30-small real estate developer training program or a capacity building
31-program. Substitute House Bill No. 6606
20+Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Economic and 1
21+Community Development shall conduct a study relating to the 2
22+Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's Come Home to Downtown 3
23+program. Such study shall examine the scalability of such program. Not 4
24+later than February 1, 2022, the commissioner shall submit a report on 5
25+the results of such study to the joint standing committee of the General 6
26+Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce, in 7
27+accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 8
28+Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to 9
29+study any impediments to the renovation of historic mixed-use 10
30+buildings located in municipalities, including, but not limited to, 11
31+distressed municipalities in the state. The task force shall (1) examine 12
32+any financing tools that may assist in the renovation of such buildings 13
33+and building safety codes that may be impediments to the renovation of 14
34+such buildings; and (2) consider whether the state should implement a 15
35+small real estate developer training program or a capacity building 16
36+program. 17 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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33-Special Act No. 21-28 2 of 3
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35-(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
36-(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
37-(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
38-(3) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of
39-Representatives;
40-(4) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
41-(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of
42-Representatives;
43-(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
44-(7) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development,
45-or the commissioner's designee;
46-(8) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee;
47-(9) The Banking Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee;
48-(10) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, or the
49-commissioner's designee; and
50-(11) Three persons appointed by the Governor.
51-(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1),
52-(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member
53-of the General Assembly.
54-(d) Each member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1),
55-(2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (11) of subsection (b) of this section shall have
56-expertise in the architecture of historic properties, construction or
57-rehabilitation of historic properties, real estate financing, mortgage
58-lending, real estate development, real estate transactions or municipal Substitute House Bill No. 6606
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43+(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 18
44+(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; 19
45+(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 20
46+(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 21
47+Representatives; 22
48+(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; 23
49+(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 24
50+Representatives; 25
51+(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; 26
52+(7) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 27
53+or the commissioner's designee; 28
54+(8) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee; 29
55+(9) The Banking Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; 30
56+(10) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, or the 31
57+commissioner's designee; and 32
58+(11) Three persons appointed by the Governor. 33
59+(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), 34
60+(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 35
61+of the General Assembly. 36
62+(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 37
63+than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 38
64+be filled by the appointing authority. 39
65+(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 40
66+tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from 41
67+among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule 42 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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62-building codes.
63-(e) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later
64-than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall
65-be filled by the appointing authority.
66-(f) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro
67-tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from
68-among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule
69-the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty
70-days after the effective date of this section.
71-(g) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
72-General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce
73-shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
74-(h) Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report
75-on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of
76-the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
77-commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the
78-general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it
79-submits such report or January 1, 2022, whichever is later.
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74+the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty 43
75+days after the effective date of this section. 44
76+(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 45
77+General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce 46
78+shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 47
79+(g) Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report 48
80+on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 49
81+the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 50
82+commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 51
83+general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it 52
84+submits such report or January 1, 2022, whichever is later. 53
85+Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section: 54
86+(1) "Applicable laws of the state" means chapters 14, 97a, 98, 124, 126, 55
87+242 and 541 of the general statutes, section 22a-27j of the general statutes 56
88+and any special act, municipal charter, ordinance, resolution or 57
89+regulation; 58
90+(2) "COVID-19" means the respiratory disease designated by the 59
91+World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, 60
92+and any related mutation thereof recognized by the World Health 61
93+Organization as a communicable respiratory disease; 62
94+(3) "COVID-19 signage" means any outdoor, noninternally 63
95+illuminated, nonanimated signage that is not more than fifteen square 64
96+feet in size and contains directions, social distancing instructions or 65
97+other signage that may customarily be displayed within a building, 66
98+including, but not limited to, menus or specials; 67
99+(4) "Food establishment" means a food establishment that is licensed 68
100+or permitted to operate pursuant to section 19a-36i of the general 69
101+statutes; 70
102+(5) "Local enforcement official" means a zoning administrator, or such 71 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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109+administrator's designee, or building code official, or such official's 72
110+designee; 73
111+(6) "Municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 8-1a 74
112+of the general statutes; and 75
113+(7) "Outdoor activities" means outdoor food and beverage service or 76
114+outdoor displays of goods, which activities end at eleven o'clock p.m. or 77
115+earlier on Friday and Saturday nights and end at nine o'clock p.m. or 78
116+earlier on all other days of the week, or the display of COVID-19 79
117+signage, but does not mean live entertainment. 80
118+(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8-3b of the general 81
119+statutes, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 82
120+section and ending June 30, 2022, if a zoning administrator, chairperson 83
121+of a zoning commission or planning and zoning commission or chief 84
122+elected official finds that a proposal is necessary to respond to the 85
123+COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, making changes to 86
124+permit outdoor activities, such zoning administrator, chairperson or 87
125+chief elected official may place such proposal or cause such proposal to 88
126+be placed on the public hearing agenda of a zoning commission or a 89
127+planning and zoning commission, as applicable, and such commission 90
128+shall conduct a public hearing and act on such proposal without 91
129+complying with the requirements of section 8-3b of the general statutes. 92
130+(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 93
131+for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 94
132+and ending June 30, 2022, any permit application for outdoor activities 95
133+shall be made to a local enforcement official, who shall review and make 96
134+a determination on each such application. 97
135+(d) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 98
136+state, the zoning commission, planning and zoning commission or chief 99
137+elected official of each municipality, as applicable, shall allow any 100
138+licensee or permittee of a food establishment operating in such 101
139+municipality to engage in outdoor food and beverage service as an 102 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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146+accessory use of such food establishment's permitted use until June 30, 103
147+2022. Such accessory use shall be allowed as of right, subject only to any 104
148+required administrative site plan review to determine conformance with 105
149+zoning requirements not contemplated by this section. 106
150+(2) Any such licensee or permittee may engage in outdoor food and 107
151+beverage service (A) on public sidewalks and other pedestrian 108
152+pathways abutting the area permitted for principal use and on which 109
153+vehicular access is not allowed, (i) provided a pathway (I) constructed 110
154+in compliance with physical accessibility guidelines, as applicable, 111
155+under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USC 12101, et seq., 112
156+as amended from time to time, and (II) the length of the lot upon which 113
157+the area permitted for principal use is located, and not less than six feet 114
158+in width, not including any area on a street or highway, shall remain 115
159+unobstructed for pedestrian use, and (ii) subject to reasonable 116
160+conditions imposed by the municipal official or agency that issues right-117
161+of-way or obstruction permits; (B) on off-street parking spaces 118
162+associated with the permitted use, notwithstanding any municipal 119
163+ordinance establishing minimum requirements for off-street parking; 120
164+(C) on any lot, yard, court or open space abutting the area permitted for 121
165+principal use, provided (i) such lot, yard, court or open space is located 122
166+in a zoning district where the operation of food establishments is 123
167+permitted, and (ii) the licensee or permittee obtains written 124
168+authorization to engage in such service from the owner of such lot, yard, 125
169+court or open space and provides a copy of such authorization to the 126
170+zoning commission; and (D) until nine o'clock p.m., or a time established 127
171+by the zoning regulations of the municipality, whichever is later. 128
172+(3) Nothing in this subsection shall require a municipality or local 129
173+enforcement official to (A) permit the sale or service of alcoholic 130
174+beverages by any licensee or permittee of a food establishment 131
175+operating in such municipality as a principal or accessory use anywhere 132
176+that such activity is not permitted as a principal or accessory use, or (B) 133
177+permit any licensee or permittee of a food establishment operating in 134
178+such municipality to operate an outdoor bar. 135 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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185+(e) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 136
186+state, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 137
187+section and ending June 30, 2022, any person who submits an 138
188+application to engage in outdoor activities in accordance with 139
189+subsection (c) of this section shall not be required to submit (A) plans 140
190+stamped by a licensed engineer, landscape architect or architect, (B) a 141
191+site survey, (C) a parking plan, (D) a traffic study or plan, (E) a sign plan, 142
192+(F) a soil erosion and sediment control plan, (G) a photometric lighting 143
193+plan, or (H) a stormwater management plan, provided such person 144
194+submits, at a minimum, a drawing or illustration, roughly to scale or 145
195+dimensioned and depicting with reasonable accuracy the outdoor area 146
196+that is proposed to be used and what is proposed to be placed, built or 147
197+erected in the outdoor area and a narrative that details any noise, waste 148
198+management, odor, light pollution and environmental impacts expected 149
199+for such outdoor area and an explanation regarding how such impacts 150
200+will be mitigated. The local enforcement official reviewing such 151
201+application may require an applicant to submit additional information 152
202+that he or she deems necessary to protect public health, safety or the 153
203+environment, provided such official shall consider the need for 154
204+expedited review of such applications. 155
205+(2) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 156
206+for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 157
207+and ending June 30, 2022, each local enforcement official shall approve, 158
208+approve with conditions or reject any application for outdoor activities 159
209+and notify each applicant of such decision in a manner prescribed by the 160
210+local enforcement official not later than (A) ten days after the receipt of 161
211+such application, or (B) ten days after the receipt of any additional 162
212+information requested by the local enforcement official pursuant to 163
213+subdivision (1) of this subsection. The failure of any local enforcement 164
214+official to provide such notice shall be deemed to be an approval of such 165
215+application. 166
216+(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 167
217+if a local enforcement official approves with conditions or rejects an 168 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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224+application pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the applicant 169
225+may appeal such decision, not later than seven days after the receipt of 170
226+notice of such decision, to the zoning commission, planning and zoning 171
227+commission or chief elected official of the municipality, as applicable. A 172
228+public hearing shall not be required for any such appeal. 173
229+(4) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 174
230+for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 175
231+and ending June 30, 2022, nothing in this subsection shall affect an 176
232+individual's right to submit a complaint to any relevant municipal 177
233+authority or the right of any such municipal authority to enforce 178
234+conditions associated with a permitted outdoor activity, impose fines or 179
235+issue a notice of violation or a cease and desist order. 180
236+(5) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 181
237+for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 182
238+and ending June 30, 2022, no fees shall be imposed for the filing of any 183
239+application to engage in outdoor activities. 184
240+(f) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 185
241+for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 186
242+and ending June 30, 2022, the zoning commission, planning and zoning 187
243+commission or chief elected official of each municipality shall allow any 188
244+licensee or permittee of a food establishment operating in such 189
245+municipality to engage in outdoor food and beverage service on any 190
246+nearby lot, zoning lot, street face or yard, provided the owner of any 191
247+such lot, street face or yard on which such outdoor activity is proposed 192
248+to take place provides written permission for such outdoor activity to 193
249+the local enforcement official and such lot, street face or yard is zoned 194
250+for commercial use or located in a commercial zoning district. 195
251+(g) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 196
252+state, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 197
253+section and ending June 30, 2022, the zoning commission, planning and 198
254+zoning commission or chief elected official of each municipality shall 199
255+allow any licensee or permittee of a food establishment operating in 200 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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262+such municipality to engage in outdoor activities on public sidewalks or 201
263+other nonvehicular public rights-of-way, provided a six-foot clearance 202
264+for pedestrian passage is maintained and such food establishment 203
265+complies with any other reasonable restrictions imposed by the 204
266+municipal department with jurisdiction over sidewalk obstruction 205
267+permits. 206
268+(2) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 207
269+for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 208
270+and ending June 30, 2022, the Department of Transportation may allow 209
271+any licensee or permittee of a food establishment to engage in outdoor 210
272+activities on a nonvehicular portion of a state highway right-of-way, 211
273+provided the department may establish any conditions on such use, as 212
274+deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Transportation. 213
275+(h) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 214
276+state, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 215
277+section and ending June 30, 2022, any municipal official having 216
278+jurisdiction over local roads, in consultation with each municipality's 217
279+local traffic authority, may close a local road to permit outdoor activities 218
280+without conducting a public hearing, provided, if such local road is used 219
281+for public transportation routes, such official shall consult with the 220
282+Department of Transportation. 221
283+(2) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14-298-262 of the 222
284+regulations of Connecticut state agencies, for the period of time 223
285+commencing on the effective date of this section and ending June 30, 224
286+2022, outdoor activities shall be considered a special event for the 225
287+purposes of said section. 226
288+(B) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 227
289+for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 228
290+and ending June 30, 2022, any municipality shall submit a request for a 229
291+special event permit to the Department of Transportation before closing 230
292+any part of a vehicular portion of a state highway right-of-way for 231
293+outdoor activities, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-298-232 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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300+262 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies. The Department of 233
301+Transportation shall expedite its review of any such request. 234
302+(i) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 235
303+nothing in this section shall not alter or affect a nonconforming use or 236
304+structure as provided in section 8-2 of the general statutes. 237
305+(j) Notwithstanding any provision of title 30 of the general statutes or 238
306+any provision of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, for the 239
307+period of time commencing on the effective date of this section and 240
308+ending June 30, 2022, no entity that is licensed to serve alcoholic 241
309+beverages shall be required to obtain a patio or extension of use permit 242
310+to engage in outdoor activities, provided such entity: (1) Complies with 243
311+the provisions of this section; (2) complies with any rules for outdoor 244
312+dining, including, but not limited to, social distancing requirements 245
313+issued by the Department of Economic and Community Development 246
314+in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) complies with any 247
315+municipal requirements related to outdoor dining or the sale of 248
316+alcoholic beverages that are consistent with the provisions of this 249
317+section; (4) complies with any provision of title 30 of the general statutes 250
318+or regulations of Connecticut state agencies regarding the prohibition of 251
319+the sale of alcohol to minors or intoxicated persons or regarding 252
320+restrictions on the times such entity may serve alcoholic beverages; (5) 253
321+only serves alcoholic beverages to customers who also consume food 254
322+prepared on such entity's premises or from a food truck located adjacent 255
323+to such entity's premises; (6) does not maintain an outdoor consumer 256
324+bar, as defined in section 30-62a of the general statutes; (7) does not 257
325+provide live entertainment, except that such entity may provide live 258
326+entertainment if such entertainment was previously permitted in such 259
327+entity's outdoor space or such entity obtains permission pursuant to this 260
328+section to provide outdoor entertainment and such entertainment 261
329+complies with any social distancing requirements issued by the 262
330+Department of Economic and Community Development in response to 263
331+the COVID-19 pandemic; and (8) if such entity is a caterer, only serves 264
332+alcoholic beverages at locations with on-premises permits for the service 265 Substitute Bill No. 6606
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340+(k) The provisions of this section shall be liberally construed to 267
341+promote the continuation of outdoor dining, as permitted by Executive 268
342+Order No. 7MM of Governor Ned Lamont. 269
343+This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
344+sections:
345+
346+Section 1 from passage New section
347+Sec. 2 from passage New section
348+Sec. 3 from passage New section
349+
350+CE Joint Favorable Subst.
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