Substitute Senate Bill No. 1313 aims to promote housing development within a half-mile radius of public transit stations by mandating that municipalities allow housing projects with a minimum density of 15 dwelling units per acre to be approved "as of right," meaning without public hearings or special permits. The bill establishes specific parking requirements for these developments and outlines exemptions for certain lands, such as roadways and wetlands. It also sets a deadline of October 1, 2026, for municipalities to adopt or amend their regulations to comply with these new provisions. Key changes include the prohibition of fixed caps on the number of multifamily housing units and restrictions on excessive parking requirements for certain dwelling types.

Additionally, the bill repeals and replaces subsection (d) of section 8-2 of the general statutes, which previously outlined restrictions on zoning regulations. The new language prohibits municipalities from imposing unreasonable costs or delays on housing developments and ensures that nonconforming uses can continue without special permits. It clarifies that conditions imposed on manufactured homes cannot differ significantly from those applied to single-family or multifamily dwellings. If local regulations do not align with the bill's requirements by the specified deadline, any noncompliant regulations will be deemed void, and municipalities must process applications based on the bill's standards until compliant regulations are adopted. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the housing development process in transit-oriented areas while maintaining protections for existing uses and structures.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 8-2
PD Joint Favorable: 8-2
File No. 255: 8-2