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| 74 | + | the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty 43 |
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| 75 | + | days after the effective date of this section. 44 |
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| 76 | + | (f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 45 |
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| 77 | + | General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce 46 |
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| 78 | + | shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 47 |
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| 79 | + | (g) Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report 48 |
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| 80 | + | on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 49 |
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| 81 | + | the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 50 |
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| 82 | + | commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 51 |
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| 83 | + | general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it 52 |
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| 84 | + | submits such report or January 1, 2022, whichever is later. 53 |
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| 85 | + | Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section: 54 |
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| 86 | + | (1) "Applicable laws of the state" means chapters 14, 97a, 98, 124, 126, 55 |
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| 87 | + | 242 and 541 of the general statutes, section 22a-27j of the general statutes 56 |
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| 88 | + | and any special act, municipal charter, ordinance, resolution or 57 |
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| 89 | + | regulation; 58 |
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| 90 | + | (2) "COVID-19" means the respiratory disease designated by the 59 |
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| 91 | + | World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, 60 |
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| 92 | + | and any related mutation thereof recognized by the World Health 61 |
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| 93 | + | Organization as a communicable respiratory disease; 62 |
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| 94 | + | (3) "COVID-19 signage" means any outdoor, noninternally 63 |
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| 95 | + | illuminated, nonanimated signage that is not more than fifteen square 64 |
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| 96 | + | feet in size and contains directions, social distancing instructions or 65 |
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| 97 | + | other signage that may customarily be displayed within a building, 66 |
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| 98 | + | including, but not limited to, menus or specials; 67 |
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| 99 | + | (4) "Food establishment" means a food establishment that is licensed 68 |
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| 100 | + | or permitted to operate pursuant to section 19a-36i of the general 69 |
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| 101 | + | statutes; 70 |
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| 102 | + | (5) "Local enforcement official" means a zoning administrator, or such 71 Substitute Bill No. 6606 |
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| 103 | + | |
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| 104 | + | |
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| 108 | + | |
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| 109 | + | administrator's designee, or building code official, or such official's 72 |
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| 110 | + | designee; 73 |
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| 111 | + | (6) "Municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 8-1a 74 |
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| 112 | + | of the general statutes; and 75 |
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| 113 | + | (7) "Outdoor activities" means outdoor food and beverage service or 76 |
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| 114 | + | outdoor displays of goods, which activities end at eleven o'clock p.m. or 77 |
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| 115 | + | earlier on Friday and Saturday nights and end at nine o'clock p.m. or 78 |
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| 116 | + | earlier on all other days of the week, or the display of COVID-19 79 |
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| 117 | + | signage, but does not mean live entertainment. 80 |
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| 118 | + | (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8-3b of the general 81 |
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| 119 | + | statutes, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 82 |
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| 120 | + | section and ending June 30, 2022, if a zoning administrator, chairperson 83 |
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| 121 | + | of a zoning commission or planning and zoning commission or chief 84 |
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| 122 | + | elected official finds that a proposal is necessary to respond to the 85 |
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| 123 | + | COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, making changes to 86 |
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| 124 | + | permit outdoor activities, such zoning administrator, chairperson or 87 |
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| 125 | + | chief elected official may place such proposal or cause such proposal to 88 |
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| 126 | + | be placed on the public hearing agenda of a zoning commission or a 89 |
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| 127 | + | planning and zoning commission, as applicable, and such commission 90 |
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| 128 | + | shall conduct a public hearing and act on such proposal without 91 |
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| 129 | + | complying with the requirements of section 8-3b of the general statutes. 92 |
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| 130 | + | (c) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 93 |
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| 131 | + | for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 94 |
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| 132 | + | and ending June 30, 2022, any permit application for outdoor activities 95 |
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| 133 | + | shall be made to a local enforcement official, who shall review and make 96 |
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| 134 | + | a determination on each such application. 97 |
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| 135 | + | (d) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 98 |
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| 136 | + | state, the zoning commission, planning and zoning commission or chief 99 |
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| 137 | + | elected official of each municipality, as applicable, shall allow any 100 |
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| 138 | + | licensee or permittee of a food establishment operating in such 101 |
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| 139 | + | municipality to engage in outdoor food and beverage service as an 102 Substitute Bill No. 6606 |
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| 140 | + | |
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| 145 | + | |
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| 146 | + | accessory use of such food establishment's permitted use until June 30, 103 |
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| 147 | + | 2022. Such accessory use shall be allowed as of right, subject only to any 104 |
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| 148 | + | required administrative site plan review to determine conformance with 105 |
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| 149 | + | zoning requirements not contemplated by this section. 106 |
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| 150 | + | (2) Any such licensee or permittee may engage in outdoor food and 107 |
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| 151 | + | beverage service (A) on public sidewalks and other pedestrian 108 |
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| 152 | + | pathways abutting the area permitted for principal use and on which 109 |
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| 153 | + | vehicular access is not allowed, (i) provided a pathway (I) constructed 110 |
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| 154 | + | in compliance with physical accessibility guidelines, as applicable, 111 |
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| 155 | + | under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USC 12101, et seq., 112 |
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| 156 | + | as amended from time to time, and (II) the length of the lot upon which 113 |
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| 157 | + | the area permitted for principal use is located, and not less than six feet 114 |
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| 158 | + | in width, not including any area on a street or highway, shall remain 115 |
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| 159 | + | unobstructed for pedestrian use, and (ii) subject to reasonable 116 |
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| 160 | + | conditions imposed by the municipal official or agency that issues right-117 |
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| 161 | + | of-way or obstruction permits; (B) on off-street parking spaces 118 |
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| 162 | + | associated with the permitted use, notwithstanding any municipal 119 |
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| 163 | + | ordinance establishing minimum requirements for off-street parking; 120 |
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| 164 | + | (C) on any lot, yard, court or open space abutting the area permitted for 121 |
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| 165 | + | principal use, provided (i) such lot, yard, court or open space is located 122 |
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| 166 | + | in a zoning district where the operation of food establishments is 123 |
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| 167 | + | permitted, and (ii) the licensee or permittee obtains written 124 |
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| 168 | + | authorization to engage in such service from the owner of such lot, yard, 125 |
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| 169 | + | court or open space and provides a copy of such authorization to the 126 |
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| 170 | + | zoning commission; and (D) until nine o'clock p.m., or a time established 127 |
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| 171 | + | by the zoning regulations of the municipality, whichever is later. 128 |
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| 172 | + | (3) Nothing in this subsection shall require a municipality or local 129 |
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| 173 | + | enforcement official to (A) permit the sale or service of alcoholic 130 |
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| 174 | + | beverages by any licensee or permittee of a food establishment 131 |
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| 175 | + | operating in such municipality as a principal or accessory use anywhere 132 |
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| 176 | + | that such activity is not permitted as a principal or accessory use, or (B) 133 |
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| 177 | + | permit any licensee or permittee of a food establishment operating in 134 |
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| 178 | + | such municipality to operate an outdoor bar. 135 Substitute Bill No. 6606 |
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| 179 | + | |
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| 184 | + | |
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| 185 | + | (e) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 136 |
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| 186 | + | state, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 137 |
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| 187 | + | section and ending June 30, 2022, any person who submits an 138 |
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| 188 | + | application to engage in outdoor activities in accordance with 139 |
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| 189 | + | subsection (c) of this section shall not be required to submit (A) plans 140 |
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| 190 | + | stamped by a licensed engineer, landscape architect or architect, (B) a 141 |
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| 191 | + | site survey, (C) a parking plan, (D) a traffic study or plan, (E) a sign plan, 142 |
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| 192 | + | (F) a soil erosion and sediment control plan, (G) a photometric lighting 143 |
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| 193 | + | plan, or (H) a stormwater management plan, provided such person 144 |
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| 194 | + | submits, at a minimum, a drawing or illustration, roughly to scale or 145 |
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| 195 | + | dimensioned and depicting with reasonable accuracy the outdoor area 146 |
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| 196 | + | that is proposed to be used and what is proposed to be placed, built or 147 |
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| 197 | + | erected in the outdoor area and a narrative that details any noise, waste 148 |
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| 198 | + | management, odor, light pollution and environmental impacts expected 149 |
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| 199 | + | for such outdoor area and an explanation regarding how such impacts 150 |
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| 200 | + | will be mitigated. The local enforcement official reviewing such 151 |
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| 201 | + | application may require an applicant to submit additional information 152 |
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| 202 | + | that he or she deems necessary to protect public health, safety or the 153 |
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| 203 | + | environment, provided such official shall consider the need for 154 |
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| 204 | + | expedited review of such applications. 155 |
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| 205 | + | (2) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 156 |
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| 206 | + | for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 157 |
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| 207 | + | and ending June 30, 2022, each local enforcement official shall approve, 158 |
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| 208 | + | approve with conditions or reject any application for outdoor activities 159 |
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| 209 | + | and notify each applicant of such decision in a manner prescribed by the 160 |
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| 210 | + | local enforcement official not later than (A) ten days after the receipt of 161 |
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| 211 | + | such application, or (B) ten days after the receipt of any additional 162 |
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| 212 | + | information requested by the local enforcement official pursuant to 163 |
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| 213 | + | subdivision (1) of this subsection. The failure of any local enforcement 164 |
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| 214 | + | official to provide such notice shall be deemed to be an approval of such 165 |
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| 215 | + | application. 166 |
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| 216 | + | (3) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 167 |
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| 217 | + | if a local enforcement official approves with conditions or rejects an 168 Substitute Bill No. 6606 |
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| 218 | + | |
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| 223 | + | |
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| 224 | + | application pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the applicant 169 |
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| 225 | + | may appeal such decision, not later than seven days after the receipt of 170 |
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| 226 | + | notice of such decision, to the zoning commission, planning and zoning 171 |
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| 227 | + | commission or chief elected official of the municipality, as applicable. A 172 |
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| 228 | + | public hearing shall not be required for any such appeal. 173 |
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| 229 | + | (4) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 174 |
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| 230 | + | for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 175 |
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| 231 | + | and ending June 30, 2022, nothing in this subsection shall affect an 176 |
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| 232 | + | individual's right to submit a complaint to any relevant municipal 177 |
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| 233 | + | authority or the right of any such municipal authority to enforce 178 |
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| 234 | + | conditions associated with a permitted outdoor activity, impose fines or 179 |
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| 235 | + | issue a notice of violation or a cease and desist order. 180 |
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| 236 | + | (5) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 181 |
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| 237 | + | for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 182 |
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| 238 | + | and ending June 30, 2022, no fees shall be imposed for the filing of any 183 |
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| 239 | + | application to engage in outdoor activities. 184 |
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| 240 | + | (f) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 185 |
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| 241 | + | for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 186 |
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| 242 | + | and ending June 30, 2022, the zoning commission, planning and zoning 187 |
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| 243 | + | commission or chief elected official of each municipality shall allow any 188 |
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| 244 | + | licensee or permittee of a food establishment operating in such 189 |
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| 245 | + | municipality to engage in outdoor food and beverage service on any 190 |
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| 246 | + | nearby lot, zoning lot, street face or yard, provided the owner of any 191 |
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| 247 | + | such lot, street face or yard on which such outdoor activity is proposed 192 |
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| 248 | + | to take place provides written permission for such outdoor activity to 193 |
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| 249 | + | the local enforcement official and such lot, street face or yard is zoned 194 |
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| 250 | + | for commercial use or located in a commercial zoning district. 195 |
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| 251 | + | (g) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 196 |
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| 252 | + | state, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 197 |
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| 253 | + | section and ending June 30, 2022, the zoning commission, planning and 198 |
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| 254 | + | zoning commission or chief elected official of each municipality shall 199 |
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| 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 |
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| 263 | + | other nonvehicular public rights-of-way, provided a six-foot clearance 202 |
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| 264 | + | for pedestrian passage is maintained and such food establishment 203 |
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| 265 | + | complies with any other reasonable restrictions imposed by the 204 |
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| 266 | + | municipal department with jurisdiction over sidewalk obstruction 205 |
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| 267 | + | permits. 206 |
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| 268 | + | (2) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 207 |
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| 269 | + | for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 208 |
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| 270 | + | and ending June 30, 2022, the Department of Transportation may allow 209 |
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| 271 | + | any licensee or permittee of a food establishment to engage in outdoor 210 |
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| 272 | + | activities on a nonvehicular portion of a state highway right-of-way, 211 |
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| 273 | + | provided the department may establish any conditions on such use, as 212 |
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| 274 | + | deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Transportation. 213 |
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| 275 | + | (h) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the 214 |
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| 276 | + | state, for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this 215 |
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| 277 | + | section and ending June 30, 2022, any municipal official having 216 |
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| 278 | + | jurisdiction over local roads, in consultation with each municipality's 217 |
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| 279 | + | local traffic authority, may close a local road to permit outdoor activities 218 |
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| 280 | + | without conducting a public hearing, provided, if such local road is used 219 |
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| 281 | + | for public transportation routes, such official shall consult with the 220 |
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| 282 | + | Department of Transportation. 221 |
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| 283 | + | (2) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14-298-262 of the 222 |
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| 284 | + | regulations of Connecticut state agencies, for the period of time 223 |
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| 285 | + | commencing on the effective date of this section and ending June 30, 224 |
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| 286 | + | 2022, outdoor activities shall be considered a special event for the 225 |
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| 287 | + | purposes of said section. 226 |
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| 288 | + | (B) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 227 |
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| 289 | + | for the period of time commencing on the effective date of this section 228 |
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| 290 | + | and ending June 30, 2022, any municipality shall submit a request for a 229 |
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| 291 | + | special event permit to the Department of Transportation before closing 230 |
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| 292 | + | any part of a vehicular portion of a state highway right-of-way for 231 |
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| 293 | + | outdoor activities, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-298-232 Substitute Bill No. 6606 |
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| 294 | + | |
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| 300 | + | 262 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies. The Department of 233 |
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| 301 | + | Transportation shall expedite its review of any such request. 234 |
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| 302 | + | (i) Notwithstanding any provision of the applicable laws of the state, 235 |
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| 303 | + | nothing in this section shall not alter or affect a nonconforming use or 236 |
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| 304 | + | structure as provided in section 8-2 of the general statutes. 237 |
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| 305 | + | (j) Notwithstanding any provision of title 30 of the general statutes or 238 |
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| 306 | + | any provision of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, for the 239 |
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| 307 | + | period of time commencing on the effective date of this section and 240 |
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| 308 | + | ending June 30, 2022, no entity that is licensed to serve alcoholic 241 |
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| 309 | + | beverages shall be required to obtain a patio or extension of use permit 242 |
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| 310 | + | to engage in outdoor activities, provided such entity: (1) Complies with 243 |
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| 311 | + | the provisions of this section; (2) complies with any rules for outdoor 244 |
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| 312 | + | dining, including, but not limited to, social distancing requirements 245 |
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| 313 | + | issued by the Department of Economic and Community Development 246 |
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| 314 | + | in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) complies with any 247 |
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| 315 | + | municipal requirements related to outdoor dining or the sale of 248 |
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| 316 | + | alcoholic beverages that are consistent with the provisions of this 249 |
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| 317 | + | section; (4) complies with any provision of title 30 of the general statutes 250 |
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| 318 | + | or regulations of Connecticut state agencies regarding the prohibition of 251 |
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| 319 | + | the sale of alcohol to minors or intoxicated persons or regarding 252 |
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| 320 | + | restrictions on the times such entity may serve alcoholic beverages; (5) 253 |
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| 321 | + | only serves alcoholic beverages to customers who also consume food 254 |
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| 322 | + | prepared on such entity's premises or from a food truck located adjacent 255 |
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| 323 | + | to such entity's premises; (6) does not maintain an outdoor consumer 256 |
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| 324 | + | bar, as defined in section 30-62a of the general statutes; (7) does not 257 |
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| 325 | + | provide live entertainment, except that such entity may provide live 258 |
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| 326 | + | entertainment if such entertainment was previously permitted in such 259 |
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| 327 | + | entity's outdoor space or such entity obtains permission pursuant to this 260 |
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| 328 | + | section to provide outdoor entertainment and such entertainment 261 |
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| 329 | + | complies with any social distancing requirements issued by the 262 |
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| 330 | + | Department of Economic and Community Development in response to 263 |
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| 331 | + | the COVID-19 pandemic; and (8) if such entity is a caterer, only serves 264 |
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| 332 | + | alcoholic beverages at locations with on-premises permits for the service 265 Substitute Bill No. 6606 |
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| 333 | + | |
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| 338 | + | |
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| 339 | + | of alcoholic beverages. 266 |
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| 340 | + | (k) The provisions of this section shall be liberally construed to 267 |
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| 341 | + | promote the continuation of outdoor dining, as permitted by Executive 268 |
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| 342 | + | Order No. 7MM of Governor Ned Lamont. 269 |
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| 343 | + | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following |
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| 344 | + | sections: |
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| 345 | + | |
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| 346 | + | Section 1 from passage New section |
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| 347 | + | Sec. 2 from passage New section |
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| 348 | + | Sec. 3 from passage New section |
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| 349 | + | |
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| 350 | + | CE Joint Favorable Subst. |
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