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Model Zoning Regulations in response to PA 25-1 (Nov. Special Session)

Mixed-Use Developments:1

Where Mixed-Use Developments, as defined in Conn. Gen. Stats. §8-13m, are permitted by summary review in accordance with Section 16 of Public Act 25-1 (Nov. Special Session), the following standards shall apply:

  1. For developments that result in the development of ten or more dwelling units, there shall be no residential uses on the ground floor of any building that is located in a non-residential zoning district.2
  2. Buildings shall conform to the height, yard, and other bulk requirements of the underlying zoning district.
  3. The building and landscaping design standards of Section [transit community middle housing development] shall apply.

 

Transit Community Middle Housing Developments:3

Where Transit Community Middle Housing Developments, as defined in Section 11 of Public Act 25-1 (Nov. Special Session), are permitted by summary review in accordance with Section 16 of Public Act 25-1 (Nov. Special Session), the following standards shall apply:

  1. Building Design
    1. Roof Design:
      1. The roof of any building shall be peaked at a pitch of -, and may include gambrel or hip roof designs. Flat roofs are prohibited.
      2. Each roof shall have at least two (2) gables, shed dormers, or similar features, which features shall include a window or ventilation louvres.
      3. Roofs shall be surfaced with shingles or standing-seam metal. Tarpaper roofing shall be prohibited.
      4. All roofs shall project beyond the wall of the line below them by at least – feet.
    2. Wall and exterior design:
      1. No wall shall be longer than – feet, measured at the foundation, without a horizontal break in plane at least – feet in depth.
      2. Wall surfaces shall be brick, stone, clapboard siding (wood or faux material), shingle (wood or faux material), or board-and-batten. EFI, plywood, stucco, or panelized surfaces shall be prohibited; concrete (painted or nonpainted) shall be prohibited except for exposed foundations of no more than – feet in height.
      3. Each building shall have at least one (1) bay, box, or bow window.
      4. Each building shall have an open-air porch at least – feet in depth, and having a width equal to the width of any one side of the building. Said porch may be screened, but not enclosed.
      5. Windows shall include dividers, and shall be designed as 6 over 1, 6 over 6, or 4 over 4.
  2. Landscaping
    1. Foundation Plantings. Each building shall include foundation plantings as follows:  at least 6 shrubs per – lineal feet of wall length, except at stairways, handicapped ramps, or access walkways.  Shrubs shall include at least – percent evergreens and – percent flowering shrubs. All shrubs shall be at least – gallon size at time of planting and shall be guaranteed for one (1) year after planting.
    2. Trees. Each building shall have at least one (1) tree between the building and any adjacent street.  Such tree may be deciduous or evergreen. Deciduous trees shall be at least – inches caliper at time of planting and evergreen trees shall be at least – feet in height at time of planting.  All trees shall be guaranteed for one (1) year after planting.
    3. Parking areas. Parking lots shall contain at least one (1) landscaped island for every – parking spaces.  Such landscaped island shall be equal to the dimensions of a parking space as specified in these regulations.  Each landscaped island shall include one (1) deciduous shade tree at least ^ inches in caliper at time of planting, and shall be guaranteed for one year. All parking areas shall be set back at least – feet from the property line, and such setback area shall be landscaped with at least – shrubs per lineal foot; and being a minimum of – gallons at time of planting; and be guaranteed for one (1) year after planting.
    4. Ground Areas. All unpaved ground areas shall be landscaped with grass or groundcover. Gravel, pea-stone, or mulch shall not be permitted except within tree or shrub planting beds, which beds shall extend no more than – feet from the adjacent trees or shrubs.
  3. Lighting
    1. Dark-Sky Lighting. All lighting shall be dark-sky compliant. Building-mounted floodlights are prohibited.
    2. Entranceway Lighting. Each building shall have at least one (1) decorative light at each entrance doorway, and one post light no higher than – feet between the building and any occupant parking lot and any adjacent street.
    3. Parking Area Lighting. Parking areas shall be illuminated using dark-sky compliant fixtures mounted on poles no higher than – feet.
    4. Signs. Signs shall conform to the size, height, number, and other requirements of the underlying zone.  Signs shall not be internally illuminated.

 

Zoning Map Amendment

Creation of up to two “conservation and traffic mitigation districts” as overlay zones, per Section 19(d) of the Act.  New zoning district designation:

Conservation and traffic mitigation district:  An overlay district in accordance with Section 19(d) of Public Act 25-1 (Nov. Special Session), which shall be subject to approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management in accordance with subsection (e ) of such Act.4

 

  1. Defined in CGS 8-13m: ““Mixed-use development” means a development containing one or more multifamily or single-family dwelling units and one or more commercial, public, institutional, retail, office or industrial uses.”
  2. See Section 11( e )(3) of the Act.
  3. Defined as: “”Transit community middle housing development” means a residential building containing not less than two dwelling units but not more than nine such units, including, but not limited to, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, perfect sixes and cottage clusters.”
  4. The Act specifies that there can be no more than 2 such districts; they can be contiguous; each one shall be equal to no more than 4% of the municipality’s land area; and must be approved by the Secretary of OPM. Within the district, the municipality may require parking for residential developments of more than 16 units, but must also allow the developer to provide a parking needs assessment. Regardless of the assessment, the municipality cannot require more than 1 parking space for each studio or one-bedroom unit or 2 spaces for each two or more bedroom unit, or the parking spaces found by the assessment, whichever is less.