Sec. 7-147c. Historic district commission.
Sec. 7-147c. Historic district commission. (a) Once an historic district has been
established, the historic district study committee shall cease to exist and thereafter an
historic district commission shall perform all the functions of the committee relative to
the new district and to administering the provisions of this part.
(b) The historic district commission may from time to time, by following the procedure for creation of an historic district provided for in section 7-147b, suggest that an
historic district be enlarged or that additional districts be created. Where additional
property is to be included within an existing district, the owners of such additional
property shall vote pursuant to subsection (g) of section 7-147b.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-147b, the legislative body of the
municipality may enact amendments to the ordinance or ordinances of an historic district
established pursuant to this part if such amendments do not involve changing district
boundaries or the creation of new districts. No amendment shall be enacted until the
substance of such amendment has first been submitted to the historic district commission
having jurisdiction over the district affected for its comments and recommendations
and either its comments and recommendations have been received or sixty-five days
have elapsed without receipt of such comments and recommendations. The historic
district commission may suggest amendments to the legislative body.
(d) The historic district commission established under the provisions of this part
shall consist of five regular and three alternate members, who shall be electors of the
municipality in which the district is situated holding no salaried municipal office. The
ordinance shall provide that one or more of the members or alternates of the historic
district commission shall reside in an historic district under the jurisdiction of the commission, if any persons reside in any such district and are willing to serve on such
commission. Such alternate members shall, when seated as provided in this section,
have all powers and duties of a member of the commission. If a regular member of said
commission is absent or has a conflict of interest, the chairman of the commission shall
designate an alternate to so act, choosing alternates in rotation so that they shall act as
nearly equal a number of times as possible. If any alternate is not available in accordance
with such rotation, such fact shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The method
of appointment shall be fixed by ordinance. The appointments to membership in the
commission shall be so arranged that the term of at least one member shall expire each
year, and their successors shall be appointed in like manner for terms of five years.
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term and in the same manner as the original
appointment. The commission shall elect annually a chairman, a vice-chairman and a
clerk from its own number. Each member and alternate shall continue in office until his
successor is duly appointed. All members and alternates shall serve without compensation. Any member or alternate may be appointed for another term or terms.
(e) The historic district commission shall adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent
with the provisions of this part. The commission may adopt regulations not inconsistent
with the provisions of this part to provide guidance to property owners as to factors to
be considered in preparing an application for a certificate of appropriateness.
(f) The historic district commission shall keep a permanent record of its resolutions,
transactions and determinations and of the vote of each member participating therein.
(g) A copy of any ordinance creating an historic district adopted under authority of
this part, amendments to any such ordinance, maps of any districts created under this
part, annual reports and other publications of the historic district commission and the
roster of membership of such commission shall be transmitted to the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. The historic district commission shall also file with
the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism at least once every year a brief
summary of its actions during that year, including a statement of the number and nature
of certificates of appropriateness issued, any changes in the membership of the commission and any other information deemed appropriate by the historic district commission.
(h) The historic district commission may accept grants and gifts, employ clerical
and technical assistance or consultants and incur other expenses appropriate to the carrying on of its work, subject to appropriation by the municipality or receipt of such
grants or gifts and may expend the same for such purposes.
(i) A municipality which has more than one historic district may establish more
than one historic district commission if the districts are not contiguous.
(j) Any historic district commission established under this section may, unless prohibited by charter, ordinance or special act: (1) Make periodic reports to the legislative
body; (2) provide information to property owners and others involving the preservation
of the district; (3) suggest pertinent legislation; (4) initiate planning and zoning proposals; (5) cooperate with other regulatory agencies and civic organizations and groups
interested in historic preservation; (6) comment on all applications for zoning variances
and special exceptions where they affect historic districts; (7) render advice on sidewalk
construction and repair, tree planting, street improvements and the erection or alteration
of public buildings not otherwise under its control where they affect historic districts; (8)
furnish information and assistance in connection with any capital improvement program
involving historic districts; (9) consult with groups of experts.
(1961, P.A. 430, S. 3; P.A. 77-338, S. 2; P.A. 80-314, S. 3; P.A. 86-105, S. 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 210(e);
P.A. 04-20, S. 3; 04-205, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 30.)
History: P.A. 77-338 added Subsec. (b) re procedure for inclusion of individual's property in district after its establishment; P.A. 80-314 deleted previous Subsec. (b), inserted new material concerning enlarging districts or creating new ones
and ordinance amendments as Subsecs. (b) and (c), placed provisions for commission membership, appointments, etc. in
Subsec. (d) rather than Subsec. (a) as previously, amending provisions for alternate members and adding provision concerning vacancies and reappointments, placed provision for adopting rules in Subsec. (e) rather than Subsec. (a) and added
provision concerning regulations providing guidance for property owners in preparing applications, added Subsecs. (f)
and (g) re permanent records and information required to be sent to the state historical commission, amended provision re
acceptance of grants and gifts and employment of personnel, formerly in Subsec. (a), and designated it as Subsec. (h) and
added Subsecs. (i) and (j) re multiple commissions and further powers; P.A. 86-105 amended Subsec. (d) to require that
one or more residents of historic district be included on commission as members or alternates; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-20 replaced the Connecticut Historical Commission with the Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism,
Culture, History and Film, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-205, effective June 3, 2004, and May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2,
effective May 12, 2004, both replaced Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film with Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.
Cited. 153 C. 160. Cited. 171 C. 199. Cited. 189 C. 727.
Subsec. (j):
Cited. 227 C. 71.