Sec. 13b-79ll. Bond issue for transit-oriented development pilot program. Projects. Grants. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 13b-79ll. Bond issue for transit-oriented development pilot program. Projects. Grants. (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate five million dollars.

      (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Transportation for the purpose of establishing a transit-oriented development pilot program.

      (c) The following projects have been designated as transit-oriented development pilot projects:

      (1) Station area development in all towns on the New Britain to Hartford busway corridor;

      (2) Station area development in Windsor and Meriden on the New Haven to Springfield rail line;

      (3) Station area development on the New Haven rail line from West Haven to Stratford; and

      (4) Station area development in New London on the Shore Line East rail line.

      (d) (1) Projects meeting the following criteria may also be designated as transit-oriented development pilot projects:

      (A) A strategic transportation project, as identified in section 13b-79p;

      (B) Projects which are substantially funded by state, local or federal governments; and

      (C) Projects where substantial planning is either underway or completed.

      (2) In addition to meeting the criteria described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, designated projects shall qualify for transit-oriented development pilot program funding of not less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars and not more than one million dollars each when participating towns conclude a memorandum of understanding involving one or more regional planning agencies.

      (e) As used in this section, any memorandum of understanding shall include:

      (1) A work plan;

      (2) A budget;

      (3) Anticipated work products;

      (4) Geographically defined transit-oriented development zones;

      (5) A time frame for completion;

      (6) The identity of the administering entity of the grant; and

      (7) The identity of the participating municipalities and regional planning agencies.

      (f) As used in this section, any memorandum of understanding shall propose to complete one or more of the following:

      (1) A transit-oriented development plan or station area plan of development;

      (2) Development or adoption of a transit-oriented development overlay zone;

      (3) Selection of a preferred development approach;

      (4) Implementation of a transit-oriented development plan;

      (5) Market assessment for transit-oriented development plan implementation;

      (6) Financial assessment and planning related to transit-oriented development plan implementation;

      (7) Preparation of detailed plans for environmental and brownfield remediation, if required; or

      (8) Preparation of development or joint development agreements.

      (g) A transit-oriented development planning grant program is established. Planning grants shall be available for (1) completion of a transit-oriented development plan or station area plan of development, (2) development or adoption of a transit-oriented development overlay zone, or (3) preparation of a development strategy and selection of a preferred development approach. Planning activities shall be limited to areas within one-half mile of any transit station.

      (h) A transit-oriented development facilitation grant program is established. Facilitation grants shall be available for transit-oriented development qualifying projects that have completed one or more of the following: (1) A transit-oriented development plan or station area plan of development, (2) development or adoption of a transit-oriented development overlay zone, or (3) preparation of a development strategy and selection of a preferred development approach. Facilitation activities shall be limited to areas within one-half mile of any transit station.

      (i) Transit-oriented development facilitation grants may be used for, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

      (1) Implementation of a transit-oriented development plan and overlay zone;

      (2) Market analysis to determine the economic viability of a project;

      (3) Financial planning;

      (4) Analysis of the economic benefits, revenue or expense projections of a project;

      (5) Preparation of environmental assessments and plans for brownfield remediation;

      (6) Preparation of infrastructure studies and surveys;

      (7) Preparation of requests for development proposals; or

      (8) Preparation of development or joint development agreements.

      (j) Memoranda of understanding, as used in this section, shall be submitted to the Office of Policy and Management for approval, and shall be reviewed for compliance by said office not later than sixty days after submission. The Office of Policy and Management shall inform the applicant of any deficiency in such memorandum of understanding and shall provide the applicant with another opportunity to apply. The Office of Policy and Management shall monitor the pilot program grants for compliance with the proposed memorandum of understanding and may assist any pilot program in securing funding or investments for such program.

      (k) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7, S. 67.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7 effective November 2, 2007.