Next Few Days Critical for Smart Growth Bills! Please Take Action!

Below is a list of the Smart Growth Bills with a short description and status updates. Most of the bills are moving ahead nicely. A few bills need your intervention today.

Please take the action in red. And let us know what feedback you receive. Thank you!

HB05267
AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF SMALL TOWN ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDS TO CONVERT PRIME FARMLAND TO NONAGRICULTURAL USE.
Would prohibit the use of STEAP grant funds on prime farmland soils.
02-23/Commerce Committee
03-17 - REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON ENV
Ask Environment Committee to vote “yes” before 3-20-09

HB06097
AN ACT CONCERNING BROWNFIELDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
Allows brownfield remediation and redevelopment of historic mills within the floodplain so long as the new development is within the existing footprint and residential units are above the floodplain. Establishes a timeframe for remediation and appropriates $200 million for brownfield clean up.
02-26/Commerce Committee
03-13 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06108
AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR VARIOUS STATE GRANT PROGRAMS.
Would authorize $52,500,000 for farmland, open spaces, historic preservation, affordable housing, brownfields.
01-27 - REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON ENV

HB06308
AN ACT CONCERNING SMART GROWTH MUNICIPAL AND REGIONAL PROVISIONS IN PLANS OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
Would require vertical consistency between plans.
01-29 - REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON PD
Ask Members of Planning and Development Committee to vote “yes” before Friday.

HB06387
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SMALL TOWN ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Would allow regional STEAP applications.
02-23/Planning and Development Committee
03-12 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06389
AN ACT PROMOTING REGIONALIZATION.
Creates two grant programs for towns to for regional incentives and to jointly purchase capital equipment
02-23/Planning and Development Committee
03-17 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06463
AN ACT CONCERNING MEMBERSHIP ON REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES.
Defines membership of regional planning agencies, must include municipal CEO or designee.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
03-12 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06464
AN ACT CONCERNING COORDINATED PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
Would require the Face of CT Steering Committee to screen projects against smart growth principles.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
02-26 - PUBLIC HEARING 0302
Ask Members of Planning and Development Committee to vote “yes” before 3-23-09

HB06465
AN ACT CONCERNING SMART GROWTH AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
Would require the Transportation Strategy Board to screen transportation projects against smart growth principles.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
02-26 - PUBLIC HEARING 0302
Ask Members of Planning and Development Committee to vote “yes” before 3-23-09

HB06466
AN ACT CONCERNING PROJECTS OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
Would define projects of regional significance and enable regions to conduct a voluntary regional project review of projects of regional significance.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
03-17 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06467
AN ACT CONCERNING SMART GROWTH AND PLANS OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
Defines smart growth and requires smart growth be integrated into the local, state and regional land use plans, the state economic development strategy, and the transportation strategy.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
02-26 - PUBLIC HEARING 0302
Ask Members of Planning and Development Committee to vote “yes” before 3-23-09

HB06504
AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FACE OF CONNECTICUT STEERING COMMITTEE.
Would authorize $20 million in bonds to be split 5 ways = brownfields, farmland, affordable housing, open space and historic preservation.
02-26/Commerce Committee
03-09 - FAV. CHG. OF REF., SEN. TO COMM. ON ENV
Ask Members of Planning and Development Committee to vote “yes” before 3-23-09

HB06585
AN ACT CONCERNING REGIONALISM.
Allows a portion of the sales tax to be shared on a regional basis so long as the regions meet specific criteria, including adopting a CEDS.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
03-17 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06586
AN ACT CONCERNING EXPEDITED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATION TEAMS.
Requires a quick turn around and specific reporting for economic development projects.
03-06/Planning and Development Committee
03-17 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06588
AN ACT CONCERNING TRAINING FOR LOCAL LAND USE COMMISSIONERS.
Would require CLEAR to develop a curriculum for land use commissioners and report on the curriculum to the General Assembly.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
03-12 - FILED WITH LCO

HB06589
AN ACT CONCERNING LAND USE APPEALS.
Would create a land use court in each jurisdiction.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
03-12 - FILED WITH LCO

SB00371
AN ACT CONCERNING INTERMUNICIPAL COOPERATION.
Would encourage regional revenue sharing, regional hotel tax, regional sales tax to regions that meet certain requirements.
03-02/Planning and Development Committee
02-26 - PUBLIC HEARING 0302

SB 379
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A LAND VALUE TAX PILOT PROGRAM
Would create a land value tax pilot in a town defined to apply to New London
Filed with LCO

SB00888
AN ACT CONCERNING REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Creates five economic development districts, would require regional economic development strategies.
02-19/Commerce Committee
03-11 - FILED WITH LCO
RB 1106

RB1106
An Act Concerning the Process of Remediation of Releases of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Substances
Agency brownfield bill -- 6-year timeframe.
3-16/Environment
Ask Members of Environment to vote “yes” before 3-20-09

SB01033
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TAX CREDIT FOR GREEN BUILDINGS.
Creates a tax credit for green buildings near transit.
03-06/Planning and Development Committee
03-17 - FILED WITH LCO