(a) A zoning commission, at the time of and as part of its adoption of regulations for an incentive housing zone, may adopt design standards for incentive housing developments within such zone. Such design standards (1) may ensure that construction within the incentive housing zone is complementary to adjacent and neighboring buildings and structures, and consistent with the housing plan provided for in section 8-13p, and (2) may address the scale and proportions of buildings; site coverage; alignment, width and grade of streets and sidewalks; type and location of infrastructure; location of building and garage entrances; off-street parking; protection of significant natural site features; location and design of open spaces; signage; and setbacks and buffering from adjacent properties.

(b) A design standard shall not be adopted if such standard will unreasonably impair the economic or physical feasibility of constructing housing at the minimum densities and with the required incentive housing restriction set forth in sections 8-13m to 8-13x, inclusive. The Commissioner of Housing shall not approve a request for a letter of preliminary or final eligibility under section 8-13q if a proposed design standard will violate the provisions of this subsection.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 40; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing in Subsec. (b), effective June 19, 2013.