WRA Wethersfield Redevelopment Agency CGS statutes Connecticut

Sec. 8-125 Definitions.
(a) "Redevelopment" means improvement by the rehabilitation or demolition of structures, by the construction of new structures, improvements or facilities, by the location or relocation of streets, parks and utilities, by replanning or by two or more of these methods;

(b) "Redevelopment area" means an area within the state which is deteriorated, deteriorating, substandard or detrimental to the safety, health, morals or welfare of the community. An area may consist partly or wholly of vacant or unimproved land or of land with structures and improvements thereon, and may include structures not in themselves substandard or insanitary which are found to be essential to complete an adequate unit of development, if the redevelopment area is deteriorated, deteriorating, substandard or detrimental. An area may include properties not contiguous to each other. An area may include all or part of the territorial limits of any fire district, sewer district, fire and sewer district, lighting district, village, beach or improvement association or any other district or association, wholly within a town and having the power to make appropriations or to levy taxes, whether or not such entity is chartered by the General Assembly;

(c) A "redevelopment plan" shall include: (1) A description of the redevelopment area and the condition, type and use of the structures therein; (2) the location and extent of the land uses proposed for and within the area, such as housing, recreation, business, industry, schools, civic activities, open spaces or other categories of public and private uses; (3) the location and extent of streets and other public utilities, facilities and works within the area; (4) schedules showing the number of families displaced by the proposed improvement, the method of temporary relocation of such families and the availability of sufficient suitable living accommodations at prices and rentals within the financial reach of such families and located within a reasonable distance of the area from which they are displaced; (5) present and proposed zoning regulations in the redevelopment area; (6) any other detail including financial aspects of redevelopment which, in the judgment of the redevelopment agency authorized herein, is necessary to give it adequate information;

(d) "Planning agency" means the existing city or town plan commission or, if such agency does not exist or is not created, the legislative body or agency designated by it;

(e) "Redeveloper" means any individual, group of individuals or corporation or any municipality or other public agency including any housing authority established pursuant to chapter 128;

(f) "Real property" means land, subterranean or subsurface rights, structures, any and all easements, air rights and franchises and every estate, right or interest therein. Top

Sec. 8-126 Redevelopment agency.
Sec.8-126. Redevelopment agency.
(a) The legislative body of any municipality may designate as a redevelopment agency the housing authority of the municipality or the Connecticut Housing Authority, or may create a new redevelopment agency to consist of electors resident therein. The members of any redevelopment agency so created shall be appointed by the chief executive of a city or borough or by the board of selectmen of a town with the approval of the legislative body. Any person appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the person or body authorized to make the appointment. Those first appointed shall be designated to serve for one, two, three, four and five years, respectively, and thereafter members shall be appointed annually to serve for five years. Each member shall serve until his successor is appointed and has qualified and any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. Action by any redevelopment agency shall be taken only on the majority vote of all the members. A redevelopment agency shall select from among its members a chairman and a vice-chairman, and may employ a secretary and such other officers, agents, technical consultants, legal counsel and employees as it requires. The members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

(b) The legislative body of any municipality may dissolve an agency authorized under subsection (a) of this section upon determination that such action would facilitate receipt and processing of federal funds and promote the purposes of this chapter. Upon dissolution, the legislative body may designate or create a new redevelopment agency in accordance with the procedure set forth in said subsection (a). Top

Sec. 8-126a Agency employees not to promote political parties or members.
Sec.8-126a. Agency employees not to promote political parties or members. No person shall cause any employee of a redevelopment agency to serve in any capacity for the purpose of promoting a political party or any member thereof. Top

Sec. 8-127 Initiation and approval of redevelopment plan.
Sec.8-127. Initiation and approval of redevelopment plan. The redevelopment agency may prepare, or cause to be prepared, a redevelopment plan and any redeveloper may submit a redevelopment plan to the redevelopment agency, and such agency shall immediately transmit such plan to the planning agency of the municipality for its study. The planning agency may make a comprehensive or general plan of the entire municipality as a guide in the more detailed and precise planning of redevelopment areas. Such plan and any modifications and extensions thereof shall show the location of proposed redevelopment areas and the general location and extent of use of land for housing, business, industry, communications and transportation, recreation, public buildings and such other public and private uses as are deemed by the planning agency essential to the purpose of redevelopment. Appropriations by the municipality of any amount necessary are authorized to enable the planning agency to make such comprehensive or general plan. The redevelopment agency shall request the written opinion of the planning agency on all redevelopment plans prior to approving such redevelopment plans. Before approving any redevelopment plan, the redevelopment agency shall hold a public hearing thereon, notice of which shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality, the first publication of notice to be not less than two weeks before the date set for the hearing. The redevelopment agency may approve any such redevelopment plan if, following such hearing, it finds that:
(a) The area in which the proposed redevelopment is to be located is a redevelopment area;
(b) the carrying out of the redevelopment plan will result in materially improving conditions in such area;
(c) sufficient living accommodations are available within a reasonable distance of such area or are provided for in the redevelopment plan for families displaced by the proposed improvement, at prices or rentals within the financial reach of such families; and
(d) the redevelopment plan is satisfactory as to site planning, relation to the comprehensive or general plan of the municipality and, except when the redevelopment agency has prepared the redevelopment plan, the construction and financial ability of the redeveloper to carry it out.
No redevelopment plan for a project which consists predominantly of residential facilities shall be approved by the redevelopment agency in any municipality having a housing authority organized under the provisions of chapter 128 except with the approval of such housing authority. The approval of a redevelopment plan may be given by the legislative body or by such agency as it designates to act in its behalf. Top

Sec. 8-128 Acquisition or rental of real property in redevelopment areas.
Sec.8-128. Acquisition or rental of real property in redevelopment areas. Within a reasonable time after its approval of the redevelopment plan as hereinbefore provided, the redevelopment agency may proceed with the acquisition or rental of real property by purchase, lease, exchange or gift. The redevelopment agency may acquire real property by eminent domain with the approval of the legislative body of the municipality and in accordance with the provisions of sections 8-129 to 8-133, inclusive, and this section. The legislative body in its approval of a project under section 8-127 shall specify the time within which real property is to be acquired. The time for acquisition may be extended by the legislative body in accordance with section 48-6, upon request of the redevelopment agency, provided the owner of the real property consents to such request. Real property may be acquired previous to the adoption or approval of the project area redevelopment plan, provided the property acquired shall be located within an area designated on the general plan as an appropriate redevelopment area or within an area whose boundaries are defined by the planning commission as an appropriate area for a redevelopment project, and provided such acquisition shall be authorized by the legislative body. The redevelopment agency may clear, repair, operate or insure such property while it is in its possession or make site improvements essential to preparation for its use in accordance with the redevelopment plan. Top

Sec. 8-129 Agency to determine compensation and file with Superior Court and town clerks; notice to owners and interested parties. Possession of land. Certificate of taking.
Sec. 8-129. Agency to determine compensation and file with Superior Court and town clerks; notice to owners and interested parties. Possession of land. Certificate of taking. The redevelopment agency shall determine the compensation to be paid to the persons entitled thereto for such real property and shall file a statement of compensation, containing a description of the property to be taken and the names of all persons having a record interest therein and setting forth the amount of such compensation, and a deposit as provided in section 8-130, with the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which the property affected is located. Upon filing such statement of compensation and deposit, the redevelopment agency shall forthwith cause to be recorded, in the office of the town clerk of each town in which the property is located, a copy of such statement of compensation, such recording to have the same effect and to be treated the same as the recording of a lis pendens, and shall forthwith give notice, as provided in this section, to each person appearing of record as an owner of property affected thereby and to each person appearing of record as a holder of any mortgage, lien, assessment or other encumbrance on such property or interest therein (a) in the case of any such person found to be residing within this state, by causing a copy of such notice, with a copy of such statement of compensation, to be served upon each such person by a state marshal, constable or indifferent person, in the manner set forth in section 52-57 for the service of civil process, and (b) in the case of any such person who is a nonresident of this state at the time of the filing of such statement of compensation and deposit or of any such person whose whereabouts or existence is unknown, by mailing to each such person a copy of such notice and of such statement of compensation, by registered or certified mail, directed to his last-known address, and by publishing such notice and such statement of compensation at least twice in a newspaper published in the judicial district and having daily or weekly circulation in the town in which such property is located. Any such published notice shall state that it is notice to the widow or widower, heirs, representatives and creditors of the person holding such record interest, if such person is dead. If, after a reasonably diligent search, no last-known address can be found for any interested party, an affidavit stating such fact, and reciting the steps taken to locate such address, shall be filed with the clerk of the superior court and accepted in lieu of mailing to the last-known address. Not less than twelve days or more than ninety days after such notice and such statement of compensation have been so served or so mailed and first published, the redevelopment agency shall file with the clerk of the superior court a return of notice setting forth the notice given and, upon receipt of such return of notice, such clerk shall, without any delay or continuance of any kind, issue a certificate of taking setting forth the fact of such taking, a description of all the property so taken and the names of the owners and of all other persons having a record interest therein. The redevelopment agency shall cause such certificate of taking to be recorded in the office of the town clerk of each town in which such property is located. Upon the recording of such certificate, title to such property in fee simple shall vest in the municipality, and the right to just compensation shall vest in the persons entitled thereto. At any time after such certificate of taking has been so recorded, the redevelopment agency may repair, operate or insure such property and enter upon such property, and take any action that is proposed with regard to such property by the project area redevelopment plan.
The notice referred to above shall state that
(1) not less than twelve days or more than ninety days after service or mailing and first publication thereof, the redevelopment agency shall file, with the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which such property is located, a return setting forth the notice given,
(2) upon receipt of such return, such clerk shall issue a certificate for recording in the office of the town clerk of each town in which such property is located,
(3) upon the recording of such certificate, title to such property shall vest in the municipality, the right to just compensation shall vest in the persons entitled thereto and the redevelopment agency may repair, operate or insure such property and enter upon such property and take any action that may be proposed with regard thereto by the project area redevelopment plan, and
(4) such notice shall bind the widow or widower, heirs, representatives and creditors of each person named therein who then or thereafter may be dead.
When any redevelopment agency acting on behalf of any municipality has acquired or rented real property by purchase, lease, exchange or gift in accordance with the provisions of this section, or in exercising its right of eminent domain has filed a statement of compensation and deposit with the clerk of the superior court and has caused a certificate of taking to be recorded in the office of the town clerk of each town in which such property is located as provided in this section, any judge of such court may, upon application and proof of such acquisition or rental or such filing and deposit and such recording, order such clerk to issue an execution commanding a state marshal to put such municipality and the redevelopment agency, as its agent, into peaceable possession of the property so acquired, rented or condemned. The provisions of this section shall not be limited in any way by the provisions of chapter 832. Top

Sec. 8-129a. Apportionment and abatement of taxes on acquisition of property.
Sec.8-129a. Apportionment and abatement of taxes on acquisition of property. In any case where a redevelopment agency acquires real property, municipal taxes on such property may be apportioned in accordance with prevailing local practice in the transfer of property as of the date title vests in the grantee and the authority authorized under the provisions of section 12-124 to abate taxes in the municipality wherein such real property is situated may abate the taxes on such property from the date title so vests. Top

Sec. 8-130 Deposit filed with Superior Court clerk. Withdrawal of agency from proceeding.
Sec.8-130. Deposit filed with Superior Court clerk. Withdrawal of agency from proceeding. Whenever any redevelopment agency files a statement of compensation as provided for in section 8-129, it shall deposit with the clerk of the Superior Court a sum of money equal to the amount set forth in the statement of compensation to the use of the persons entitled thereto. The redevelopment agency, at any time prior to the issuance by the clerk of the Superior Court of a certificate of taking, as provided for in section 8-129, may withdraw any condemnation proceeding by filing with the clerk of the Superior Court a withdrawal, which shall state that all persons having a record interest therein have been given notice of the withdrawal in the same manner as provided in section 8-129 for giving notice of the filing of a statement of compensation. Upon the filing of such a withdrawal the clerk of the Superior Court shall return to the redevelopment agency any moneys deposited in court without charge of any fee. The redevelopment agency shall cause a copy of such withdrawal to be recorded in the office of the town clerk of each town in which the property which is the subject of the condemnation proceeding is located so as to remove the lis pendens as provided in section 8-129. If the amount of compensation is finally determined through the filing of an amended statement of compensation which is thereafter accepted by the owners and all other persons having a record interest therein as provided for in section 8-131, the redevelopment agency shall deposit with such amended statement an additional sum of money representing the excess over the amount appearing in the original statement of compensation. Interest shall not be allowed in any judgment on so much of the amount as has been deposited in court. Upon the application of any person claiming an interest therein the Superior Court, or any judge thereof, after determining the equity of the applicant in the deposit, shall order that the money so deposited or any part thereof be paid forthwith for or on account of the just compensation to be awarded in the proceeding. If the compensation finally awarded exceeds the total amount of money so deposited or received by any person or persons entitled thereto, the court shall enter judgment against the municipality for the amount of the deficiency. Top

Sec. 8-131 Acceptances to be filed. Approval by judge or judge trial referee.
Sec.8-131. Acceptances to be filed. Approval by judge or judge trial referee. After the statement of compensation provided for in section 8-129 has been filed with the clerk of the Superior Court, the property owner affected and all other persons having a record interest therein may file with said clerk his or their written acceptance thereof. Said clerk shall thereupon notify the redevelopment agency of such acceptance. If the amount to be paid by the redevelopment agency or the municipality for such property does not exceed ten thousand dollars, said clerk shall send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and the acceptance thereof to the redevelopment agency, and the court shall order the deposit or any balance remaining thereon not disbursed by order of the court in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 8-130 to be paid to the persons entitled thereto in accordance with their equities upon application made by such persons. If the amount of such compensation exceeds ten thousand dollars, said clerk shall not certify the same until the compensation has been approved as reasonable in amount by a judge of the Superior Court or a judge trial referee. If such judge or judge trial referee approves such compensation, said clerk shall thereupon send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and the acceptance thereof to the redevelopment agency, and the court shall order the deposit or any such balance remaining on deposit to be paid to the persons entitled thereto in accordance with their equities upon application made by such persons. If such judge or judge trial referee does not approve such statement of compensation, said clerk shall notify the redevelopment agency and the latter may file an amended statement of compensation. Top

Sec. 8-132 Review of statement of compensation by judge trial referee or court.
Sec. 8-132. Review of statement of compensation by judge trial referee or court. (a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by the statement of compensation filed by the redevelopment agency may, at any time within six months after the same has been filed, apply to the superior court for the judicial district in which such property is situated for a review of such statement of compensation so far as the same affects such applicant. The court, after causing notice of the pendency of such application to be given to the redevelopment agency, may appoint a judge trial referee to make a review of the statement of compensation.

(b) If the court appoints a judge trial referee, the judge trial referee, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall hear the applicant and the redevelopment agency, shall view the property and take such testimony as the judge trial referee deems material and shall thereupon revise such statement of compensation in such manner as the judge trial referee deems proper and forthwith report to the court. Such report shall contain a detailed statement of findings by the judge trial referee, sufficient to enable the court to determine the considerations upon which the judge trial referee's conclusions are based. The report of the judge trial referee shall take into account any evidence relevant to the fair market value of the property, including evidence of environmental condition and required environmental remediation. The judge trial referee shall make a separate finding for remediation costs and the property owner shall be entitled to a set-off of such costs in any pending or subsequent action to recover remediation costs for the property. The court shall review the report, and may reject it for any irregular or improper conduct in the performance of the duties of the judge trial referee. If the report is rejected, the court may appoint another judge trial referee to make such review and report. If the report is accepted, its statement of compensation shall be conclusive upon such owner and the redevelopment agency.

(c) If the court does not appoint a judge trial referee, the court, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall hear the applicant and the redevelopment agency and take such testimony as it deems material, may view the subject property, and shall make a finding regarding the statement of compensation. The findings of the court shall take into account any evidence relevant to the fair market value of the property, including evidence of environmental condition and required environmental remediation. The court shall make a separate finding for remediation costs and the property owner shall be entitled to a set-off of such costs in any pending or subsequent action to recover remediation costs for the property. The findings of the court shall be conclusive upon such owner and the redevelopment agency.

(d) If no appeal to the Appellate Court is filed within the time allowed by law, or if an appeal is filed and the proceedings have terminated in a final judgment finding the amount due the property owner, the clerk shall send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and of the judgment to the redevelopment agency, which shall, upon receipt thereof, pay such property owner the amount due as compensation. The pendency of any such application for review shall not prevent or delay any action that is proposed with regard to such property by the project area redevelopment plan. Top

Sec. 8-132a. Determination of equities of parties in deposit or compensation.
Sec.8-132a. Determination of equities of parties in deposit or compensation. (a) Any person making application for payment of moneys deposited in court as provided for by section 8-130 or claiming an interest in the compensation being determined in accordance with section 8-132 may make a motion to the superior court for the judicial district in which the property that is the subject of the proceedings referred to is located for a determination of the equity of the parties having an interest in such moneys. The court may appoint a judge trial referee to hear the facts and to make a determination of the equity of the parties in such moneys.

(b) If the court appoints a judge trial referee, such judge trial referee, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall hear the applicant and any parties interested, take such testimonies as such judge trial referee deems material and determine the equities of the parties having a record interest in such moneys and forthwith report to the court. Such report shall contain a detailed statement of findings by the judge trial referee, sufficient to enable the court to determine the considerations upon which the judge trial referee based his conclusions. The court shall review the report, and may reject it for any irregular or improper conduct in the performance of the duties of such judge trial referee. If the report is rejected, the court may appoint another judge trial referee to make such determination and report. If the report is accepted, such determination of the equities shall be conclusive upon all parties given notice of such hearing, subject to appeal to the Appellate Court.

(c) If the court does not appoint a judge trial referee, the court, after giving at least ten days' notice to the parties interested of the time and place of hearing, shall take such testimony as it deems material and determine the equities of the parties having a record interest in such moneys. The finding of the court and such determination of the equities shall be conclusive upon all parties given notice of such hearing, subject to appeal to the Appellate Court.

(d) If no appeal to the Appellate Court is filed within the time allowed by law, or if one is filed and the proceedings have terminated in a final judgment determining the amount due to each party, the clerk shall send a certified copy of the statement of compensation and of the judgment to the redevelopment agency, which shall, upon receipt thereof, pay such parties the amount due them as compensation. The pendency of any such application for review shall not prevent or delay whatever action is proposed with regard to such property by the project area redevelopment plan. Top

Sec. 8-133 Costs taxable against agency.
Sec. 8-133. Costs taxable against agency. If, as the result of any review under the provisions of section 8-132, the applicant obtains an award from the court greater than the amount determined as compensation by the redevelopment agency, costs of court, including such appraisal fees as the court determines to be reasonable, shall be awarded to the applicant and taxed against the redevelopment agency in addition to the amount fixed by the judgment. Top

Sec. 8-133b Payments in lieu of taxes.
Sec.8-133b. Payments in lieu of taxes. The redevelopment agency of a municipality shall make payments in lieu of taxes to such municipality on all property acquired by such agency in accordance with any redevelopment or urban renewal plan, to the extent that such payments qualify as part of the gross project cost as provided by the federal Housing Act of 1949, as amended and as it may be amended, except that any municipality, by ordinance, may provide for the use of tax credits instead of actual payments as permitted by said federal act. Top

Sec. 8-134 Bonds: Authorization; terms, security, payment. Issuance by Connecticut.
Sec.8-134. Bonds: Authorization; terms, security, payment. Issuance by Connecticut Development Authority or its subsidiary for specified project. For the purpose of carrying out or administering a redevelopment plan or other functions authorized under this chapter, a municipality, acting by and through its redevelopment agency, is hereby authorized, subject only to the limitations and procedures set forth in this section, to issue from time to time bonds of the municipality which are payable solely from and secured by: (a) A pledge of and lien upon any or all of the income, proceeds, revenues and property of redevelopment projects, including the proceeds of grants, loans, advances or contributions from the federal government, the state or other source, including financial assistance furnished by the municipality or any other public body pursuant to section 8-135; (b) taxes or payments in lieu of taxes, or both, in whole or in part, allocated to and paid into a special fund of the municipality pursuant to the provisions of section 8-134a; or (c) any combination of the methods in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. For the purposes of a specified project only, the Connecticut Development Authority may, upon a resolution with respect to such project adopted by the legislative body of the municipality, issue and administer bonds which are payable solely or in part from and secured by the pledge and security provided for in this section subject to the general terms and provisions of law applicable to the issuance of bonds by the Connecticut Development Authority, except that the provisions of subsection (b) of section 32-23j shall not apply. Any bonds payable and secured as provided in this section shall be authorized by a resolution adopted by the legislative body of the municipality, notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, local law or charter governing the authorization and issuance of bonds generally by the municipality. No such resolution shall be adopted until after a public hearing has been held upon such authorization. Notice of such hearing shall be published not less than five days prior to such hearing in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality. Such bonds shall be issued and sold in such manner; bear interest at such rate or rates, including variable rates to be determined in such manner as set forth in the proceedings authorizing the issuance of the bonds; provide for the payment of interest on such dates, whether before or at maturity; be issued at, above or below par; mature at such time or times not exceeding forty years from their date in the case of bonds issued to finance housing and facilities related thereto or thirty years from their date in all other cases; have such rank or priority; be payable in such medium of payment; be issued in such form, including, without limitation, registered or book-entry form, carry such registration and transfer privileges and be made subject to purchase or redemption before maturity at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions, including the condition that such bonds be subject to purchase or redemption on the demand of the owner thereof; and contain such other terms and particulars as the legislative body of the municipality or the officers delegated such authority by the legislative body of the municipality body shall determine.
The proceedings under which bonds are authorized to be issued may, subject to the provisions of the general statutes, contain any or all of the following:
(1) Provisions respecting custody of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds and any bond anticipation notes, including any requirements that such proceeds be held separate from or not be commingled with other funds of the municipality;
(2) provisions for the investment and reinvestment of bond proceeds until such proceeds are used to pay project costs and for the disposition of any excess bond proceeds or investment earnings thereon;
(3) provisions for the execution of reimbursement agreements, or similar agreements, in connection with credit facilities, including, but not limited to, letters of credit or policies of bond insurance, remarketing agreements and agreements for the purpose of moderating interest rate fluctuations;
(4) provisions for the collection, custody, investment, reinvestment and use of the pledged revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys pledged for payment of bonds as provided in this section;
(5) provisions regarding the establishment and maintenance of reserves, sinking funds and any other funds and accounts as shall be approved by the legislative body of the municipality in such amounts as may be established by the legislative body of the municipality and the regulation and disposition thereof, including requirements that any such funds and accounts be held separate from or not be commingled with other funds of the municipality;
(6) covenants for the establishment of maintenance requirements with respect to facilities and properties;
(7) provisions for the issuance of additional bonds on a parity with bonds issued prior to the issuance of such additional bonds, including establishment of coverage requirements with respect to such bonds as herein provided;
(8) provisions regarding the rights and remedies available to the bond owners, note owners or any trustee under any contract, loan agreement, document, instrument or trust indenture in case of a default, including the right to appoint a trustee to represent their interests upon occurrence of any event of default, as defined in any such default proceedings, provided that if any bonds or bond anticipation notes are secured by a trust indenture, the respective owners of such bonds or notes shall have no authority except as set forth in such trust indenture to appoint a separate trustee to represent them; and
(9) other provisions or covenants of like or different character from the foregoing which are consistent with this section and which the legislative body of the municipality determines in such proceedings are necessary, convenient or desirable in order to better secure the bonds or bond anticipation notes, or will tend to make the bonds or bond anticipation notes more marketable, and which are in the best interests of the municipality.
Any provisions which may be included in proceedings authorizing the issuance of bonds under this section may be included in an indenture of trust duly approved in accordance with this section which secures the bonds and any notes issued in anticipation thereof, and in such case the provisions of such indenture shall be deemed to be a part of such proceedings as though they were expressly included therein. Any pledge made by the municipality shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made, and any revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys so pledged and thereafter received by the municipality shall be subject immediately to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act. The lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the municipality, irrespective of whether such parties have notice of such lien. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded. The legislative body of the municipality may enter into a trust indenture by and between the municipality and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the municipality. Such trust indenture may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bond owners and note owners as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the municipality in relation to the exercise of its powers pursuant to this section and the custody, safeguarding and application of all moneys. The municipality may provide by such trust indenture for the payment of the pledged revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys to the trustee under such trust indenture or to any other depository, and for the method of disbursement thereof, with such safeguards and restrictions as it may determine. All expenses incurred in carrying out such trust indenture may be treated as project costs. Such bonds shall not be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality, provided, if such bonds are made payable, in whole or in part, from funds contracted to be advanced by the municipality, the aggregate amount of such funds not yet appropriated to such purpose shall be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality. As used in this section, "bonds" means any bonds, including refunding bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures or other obligations. For purposes of this section and section 8-134a, references to the Connecticut Development Authority shall include any subsidiary of the Connecticut Development Authority established pursuant to subsection (l) of section 32-11a. Top

Sec. 8-135 Acceptance of funds. Financing.
Sec.8-135. Acceptance of funds. Financing. For the purpose of carrying out or administering a redevelopment plan or other functions authorized under this chapter, a municipality, acting by and through its redevelopment agency, may accept grants, advances, loans or other financial assistance from the federal government, the state or other source, and may do any and all things necessary or desirable to secure such financial aid. To assist any redevelopment project located in the area in which it is authorized to act, any public body, including the state, or any city, town, borough, authority, district, subdivision or agency of the state, may, upon such terms as it determines, furnish service or facilities, provide property, lend or contribute funds, and take any other action of a character which it is authorized to perform for other purposes, to include entering into a written agreement fixing the assessment of real estate to be used for a rental housing project to be constructed in a redevelopment or urban renewal area, pursuant to section 12-65. To obtain funds for the temporary and definitive financing of any redevelopment project, a municipality may, in addition to other action authorized under this chapter or other law, levy taxes and issue and sell its temporary loan notes, bonds or other obligations. Such temporary loan notes shall be issued for a period of not more than three years, but notes issued for a shorter period of time may be renewed by the issue of other notes, provided the period from the date of the original notes to the maturity of the last notes issued in renewal thereof shall not exceed three years, and the provisions of section 7-373 shall be deemed to apply thereto. Any such bonds or other obligations issued by a municipality pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with such statutory and other legal requirements as govern the issuance of obligations generally by the municipality. Top

Sec. 8-136 Modification of redevelopment plan.
Sec.8-136. Modification of redevelopment plan. A redevelopment plan may be modified at any time by the redevelopment agency, provided, if modified after the lease or sale of real property in the redevelopment project area, the modification must be consented to by the redeveloper or redevelopers of such real property or his successor or their successors in interest affected by the proposed modification. Where the proposed modification will substantially change the redevelopment plan as previously approved by the legislative body, the modification must similarly be approved by the legislative body. Top

Sec. 8-137 Transfer, sale or lease of real property in a redevelopment area.
Sec.8-137. Transfer, sale or lease of real property in a redevelopment area. The redevelopment agency, for the purpose of this chapter, may sell, lease or otherwise transfer for such sums as are agreed upon the whole or any part of the real property within a redevelopment area to the redeveloper or, if the real property is to be used for public purposes, to an appropriate public agency. Such sale, lease or transfer may include easements or other interests in, above or below any street, highway or other public right-of-way, existing or proposed, to the centerline thereof, other than the right-of-way of a state highway as defined in section 13a-1; provided adequate provision is made for the safe and convenient public use of the street, highway or other public right-of-way and for the protection of adjacent land users; and provided further, such sale, lease or transfer is made to or with the consent of the owner of the real property abutting that portion of the street, highway or other public right-of-way in, above or below which such easements or other interests are sold, leased or transferred unless the right or interest of the owner of such abutting real property in or to the easements or other interests in, above or below such street or other public right-of-way has been acquired by the municipality, or unless the owner of such abutting real property has no real property interest in or to such street, highway or other public right-of-way. The sale, lease or transfer of easements or other interests in, above or below the portion of a street, highway or other public right-of-way lying to one side of the centerline thereof, shall not prevent the sale, lease or transfer of easements or other interests in, above or below the portion lying on the other side of such centerline, unless the terms of the initial sale, lease or transfer so provide. The consideration paid for the sale, lease or other transfer of the real property shall be determined by the redevelopment agency, provided, if the cost or carrying charges of such real property to the redevelopment agency are greater than such consideration, the redevelopment agency shall first have specific authorization from the legislative body of the municipality for the sale, lease or other transfer at any lesser consideration, and the municipality may appropriate and authorize the expenditure of money to compensate for any portion of the difference between the acquisition cost of such real property and such sale, lease or other transfer price of such real property at a lesser consideration to a redeveloper, but in no case shall such sale, lease or other transfer price be lower than the use value of such real property. Each contract for sale, lease or other transfer to a redeveloper shall provide, among other things, (a) that the real property transferred shall be developed and used in accordance with the redevelopment plan or such plan as modified with the approval of the redevelopment agency; (b) that the building of the improvements shall begin within a period of time which the redevelopment agency fixes as reasonable; and (c) that all transfers of real property by the redeveloper shall, until the original construction thereon is completed and approved by the redevelopment agency, be subject to the consent of the redevelopment agency; except that the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c) above may be waived by the redevelopment agency with respect to any bona fide mortgage placed upon the real property by the redeveloper in order to obtain financing for the project. Any such mortgage, with the approval of the agency, shall be free of the requirements of said subdivisions (b) and (c). Any contract for sale, lease or other transfer shall be approved by the legislative body before its final approval by the redevelopment agency. Any contract for sale, lease or other transfer to a redeveloper may provide, among other things, (a) that the real property in the redevelopment area shall be maintained in accordance with the redevelopment plan; (b) that the redevelopment agency shall have the right of inspection; (c) that the redeveloper, as security for its fulfillment of the contract, shall make a cash deposit or give a bond with such surety as the contract may provide or make such other guarantee as the redevelopment agency deems necessary in the public interest; and that, if the redevelopment agency finds that the real property in the redevelopment area is not being maintained in accordance with the contract terms and conditions, it shall notify the redeveloper or its successor in title in writing of the work which shall be done to meet the standards of maintenance agreed upon. Unless the redeveloper or its successor in title complies within ninety days with the requirements of the redevelopment agency as stated in such notice, the redevelopment agency may cause such work to be done, and the cost of the work shall be paid by the redevelopment agency out of the deposit herein provided for; and that, if a redevelopment agency, pursuant to this subsection, causes any work to be paid for out of such deposit, the redeveloper shall, within thirty days thereafter, pay an equivalent amount to the redevelopment agency in order to replenish the deposit; and that, if the redeveloper fails to make such payment within thirty days after being notified by the redevelopment agency to do so, it shall be liable to such agency in the penal sum of twice the amount of the cost of the work, which sum may be recovered in a civil action; (d) that any municipality may contract to retain or accept, close, relocate, construct, reconstruct and maintain specified streets, playgrounds, parks or other public facilities within the area of the proposed redevelopment. Upon consummation of the contract for sale, lease or other transfer of a site to a redeveloper, any municipality may provide for the extension of such streets, sidewalks and public utilities as are necessary to its use for residential, commercial or public purposes. Top

Sec. 8-137a. Other authority re transfer unaffected.
Sec.8-137a. Other authority re transfer unaffected. Nothing in section 8-137 shall be deemed to diminish or restrict in any way authority concerning the sale, lease or transfer of any easements or other interests in, above or below any street, highway or other public right-of-way which any municipality or redevelopment agency thereof may have by virtue of any special act or otherwise. Top

Sec. 8-138 Bonds and title to land to be in name of municipality.
Sec.8-138. Bonds and title to land to be in name of municipality. Any redevelopment agency shall exercise its powers in the name of the municipality, except that all bonds issued under section 8-134 shall be issued solely in the name of the municipality and that title to land taken for redevelopment purposes shall be solely in the name of the municipality. Top

[Editor's note: The above information has been gathered from the Connecticut General Assembly's website databases. This extract is not intended to be an official copy nor an exhaustive copy of the pertinent sections of the CGS but is offered here as a handy reference for an overview of the important elements concerning "Redevelopment Agency" in Connecticut.]

Dr.Ken Sokolowski
- Foot Health Services -
Wethersfield, CT, 06109 U.S.A.
Phone: (860) 529-6845

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Connecticut General Statutes - an unofficial summary * - of sections bearing directly on

A REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Connecticut General Statutes
- an unofficial summary * -
of sections bearing directly on