AN ACT CONCERNING REVIEW OF PROJECTS OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE BY REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS.

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

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) As used in this section:

(1) "Project of regional significance" means a project subject to review by the State Traffic Commission pursuant to section 14-311 of the general statutes,

(2) "Regional planning organization" means a regional council of governments organized under the provisions of sections 4-124i to 4-124p, inclusive, of the general statutes, a regional council of elected officials organized under the provisions of sections 4-124c to 4-124h, inclusive, of the general statutes, or a regional planning agency organized under the provisions of chapter 127 of the general statutes, and

(3) "Commission" means a zoning commission, planning and zoning commission, planning commission or zoning board of appeals.

(b) When an application, request or plan is filed with the zoning commission, planning and zoning commission, planning commission or zoning board of appeals of any municipality concerning any project of regional significance, the commission shall, before approving the application, request or plan, give written notice of such application, request or plan to the regional planning organization of the region in which the municipality is located. Such notice shall be made by certified mail, return receipt requested not later than thirty days before the public hearing to be held in relation to the project of regional significance. A regional planning organization receiving such notice shall, at or before the hearing, submit a report to the commission on its findings and recommendations concerning the project. Approval of the project by two-thirds of the members of the commission shall be required if such approval is inconsistent with the findings and recommendations of the regional planning organization.

Statement of Purpose:

To authorize regional planning organizations to review projects of regional significance.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]