This week, the CT Legislature failed to act on two smart growth bills that would have helped reduce sprawling development in the state.

House bill # 6640 would attempt to establish a state smart growth policy by requiring state and local development plans to illustrate geographic areas (or state-designated Priority Funding Areas) where transit friendly mixed-use development should be encouraged. These areas would be given priority funding for state redevelopment grants. The bill would also set guidelines for evaluating state, regional, and local plans to measure how well they are conforming to the overall state growth plan.

Another smart growth bill basically "dead" in the House is SB 6605, which would make it harder for developers to get permission to build in areas that are not designated for growth according to a town’s 10 year master plan. Currently, town plans don’t have "teeth"— towns are able to approve development projects even if they are not consistent with the local master plan. Under the new bill, municipalities must change their master plan – which requires public hearings and legislative approval before they can approve development that does fit in with their plan.

There is still a slight chance that the bills will be heard in the special session or during the fall, but budget negotiations and other matters will likely dominate the rest of the legislative year.

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