(a) On and after January 1, 2023, each member of a municipal planning commission, zoning commission, combined planning and zoning commission and zoning board of appeals shall complete at least four hours of training. Any such member serving on any such commission or board as of January 1, 2023, shall complete such initial training by January 1, 2024, and shall complete any subsequent training every other year thereafter. Any such member not serving on any such commission or board as of January 1, 2023, shall complete such initial training not later than one year after such member's election or appointment to such commission or board and shall complete any subsequent training every other year thereafter. Such training shall include at least one hour concerning affordable and fair housing policies and may also consist of (1) process and procedural matters, including the conduct of effective meetings and public hearings and the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, (2) the interpretation of site plans, surveys, maps and architectural conventions, and (3) the impact of zoning on the environment, agriculture and historic resources.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall establish guidelines for such training in collaboration with land use training providers, including, but not limited to, the Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officials, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Land Use Academy at the Center for Land Use Education and Research at The University of Connecticut, the Connecticut Bar Association, regional councils of governments and other nonprofit or educational institutions that provide land use training, except that if the secretary fails to establish such guidelines, such land use training providers may create and administer appropriate training for members of commissions and boards described in subsection (a) of this section, which may be used by such members for the purpose of complying with the provisions of said subsection.
(c) Not later than March 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the planning commission, zoning commission, combined planning and zoning commission and zoning board of appeals, as applicable, in each municipality shall submit a statement to such municipality's legislative body or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, its board of selectmen, affirming compliance with the training requirement established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section by each member of such commission or board required to complete such training in the calendar year ending the preceding December thirty-first.
(P.A. 21-29, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 21-29 effective June 10, 2021.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 8 - Zoning, Planning, Housing and Economic and Community Development
Section 8-1. - Zoning commissions.
Section 8-1aa. - Ridgeline protection: Definitions.
Section 8-1b. - Alternate members of zoning commission or combined planning and zoning commission.
Section 8-1bb. - Temporary health care structures. Municipal permit required. Municipal opt-out.
Section 8-1c. - Fees for municipal land use applications.
Section 8-1d. - Hours for holding land use public hearings.
Section 8-2a. - Copies of zoning and subdivision regulations to be available.
Section 8-2b. - Use of maps of Soil Conservation Service as standard.
Section 8-2c. - Payment of a fee in lieu of parking requirements.
Section 8-2d. - Planned unit developments under former chapter 124a continue to be valid.
Section 8-2e. - Municipal agreements regarding development rights.
Section 8-2f. - Joint applications necessary for transfer of development rights.
Section 8-2g. - Special exemption from density limits for construction of affordable housing.
Section 8-2i. - Inclusionary zoning.
Section 8-2k. - Zoning regulations re construction near lakes.
Section 8-2l. - Zoning regulations re structures or uses located in floodplain.
Section 8-2m. - Floating and overlay zones and flexible zoning districts.
Section 8-2n. - Zoning regulations re crematories.
Section 8-2o. - Zoning regulations re accessory apartments. Municipal opt-out; exception.
Section 8-2p. - Municipal opt-out re dwelling unit parking space limitations.
Section 8-3b. - Notice to regional council of governments of proposed zone or zone use change.
Section 8-3g. - Regulation of community residences for mentally ill adults and UCONN 2000 projects.
Section 8-3h. - Notice to adjoining municipalities.
Section 8-3j. - Regulation of family child care homes.
Section 8-4. - Zoning commission may be designated as planning and zoning commission.
Section 8-4a. - Zoning or planning commission may be designated as planning and zoning commission.
Section 8-4b. - Change from combined commission to separate commissions.
Section 8-5. - Zoning board of appeals. Alternate members.
Section 8-5a. - Designation of alternate members to act.
Section 8-5b. - Ordinance may provide for appointment of alternate members.
Section 8-6. - Powers and duties of board of appeals.
Section 8-6a. - Appeal to be heard before variance when both joined.
Section 8-7b. - Notice to contiguous municipalities of variance applications.
Section 8-7c. - Disclosure of beneficiaries of real property held in trust.
Section 8-7e. - Notice to adjoining municipalities of applications or requests.
Section 8-8. - Appeal from board to court. Mediation. Review by Appellate Court.
Section 8-8a. - Process for mediation.
Section 8-10. - Appeals procedure to apply to all municipalities.
Section 8-11. - Disqualification of members of zoning authorities.
Section 8-11a. - Disqualification of board member as enforcement officer.
Section 8-12. - Procedure when regulations are violated.
Section 8-12a. - Establishment of municipal penalties for violations of regulations.
Section 8-13. - Controlling requirement in case of variation.
Section 8-13a. - Nonconforming buildings, structures and land uses.