Sec. 8-13m. Definitions.
Sec. 8-13m. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive:
(1) "Approved incentive housing zone" means an overlay zone that has been
adopted by a zoning commission and for which a letter of final eligibility has been issued
by the secretary under section 8-13q.
(2) "Building permit payment" means the one-time payment, made pursuant to section 8-13s, for each qualified housing unit located within an incentive housing development for which a building permit has been issued by the municipality.
(3) "Developable land" means the area within the boundaries of an approved incentive housing zone that feasibly can be developed into residential or mixed uses consistent
with the provisions of this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive, not including:
(A) Land already committed to a public use or purpose, whether publicly or privately
owned; (B) existing parks, recreation areas and open space that is dedicated to the public
or subject to a recorded conservation easement; (C) land otherwise subject to an enforceable restriction on or prohibition of development; (D) wetlands or watercourses as defined in chapter 440; and (E) areas exceeding one-half or more acres of contiguous land
that are unsuitable for development due to topographic features, such as steep slopes.
(4) "Duplex" means a residential building containing two units.
(5) "Eligible location" means: (A) An area near a transit station, including rapid
transit, commuter rail, bus terminal, or ferry terminal; (B) an area of concentrated development such as a commercial center, existing residential or commercial district, or village district established pursuant to section 8-2j; or (C) an area that, because of existing,
planned or proposed infrastructure, transportation access or underutilized facilities or
location, is suitable for development as an incentive housing zone.
(6) "Historic district" means an historic district established pursuant to chapter 97a.
(7) "Incentive housing development" means a residential or mixed-use development (A) that is proposed or located within an approved incentive housing zone; (B)
that is eligible for financial incentive payments set forth in this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive; and (C) in which not less than twenty per cent of the dwelling
units will be conveyed subject to an incentive housing restriction requiring that, for at
least thirty years after the initial occupancy of the development, such dwelling units
shall be sold or rented at, or below, prices which will preserve the units as housing for
which persons pay thirty per cent or less of their annual income, where such income is
less than or equal to eighty per cent or less of the median income.
(8) "Incentive housing restriction" means a deed restriction, covenant, zoning regulation, site plan approval condition, subdivision approval condition, or affordability plan
constituting an obligation with respect to the restrictions on household income, sale or
resale price, rent and housing costs required by this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x,
inclusive, enforceable for thirty years as required by said sections, and recorded on the
land records of the municipality where the housing is located.
(9) "Incentive housing zone" means a zone adopted by a zoning commission pursuant to this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive, as an overlay to one or more
existing zones, in an eligible location.
(10) "Incentive housing zone certificate of compliance" means a written certificate
issued by the secretary in accordance with this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x,
inclusive.
(11) "Letter of eligibility" means a preliminary or final letter issued to a municipality
by the secretary pursuant to section 8-13q.
(12) "Median income" means, after adjustments for household size, the area median
income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the municipality in which an approved incentive housing zone or development
is located.
(13) "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.
(14) "Multifamily housing" means a building that contains or will contain three or
more residential dwelling units.
(15) "Open space" means land or a permanent interest in land that is used for or
satisfies one or more of the criteria listed in subsection (b) of section 7-131d.
(16) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or
the designee of the secretary.
(17) "Townhouse housing" means a residential building consisting of a single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units, in which each
unit extends from foundation to roof and has open space on at least two sides.
(18) "Zone adoption payment" means a one-time payment, made pursuant to section
8-13s.
(19) "Zoning commission" means a municipal agency designated or authorized to
exercise zoning powers under chapter 124 or a special act, and includes an agency that
exercises both planning and zoning authority.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 38.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.