Sec.
8-2. Regulations. (a) The zoning
commission of each city, town or borough is authorized to regulate, within the
limits of such municipality, the height, number of stories and size of
buildings and other structures; the percentage of the area of the lot that may
be occupied; the size of yards, courts and other open spaces; the density of
population and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for
trade, industry, residence or other purposes, including water-dependent uses as
defined in section 22a-93, and the height, size and location of advertising
signs and billboards. Such bulk regulations may allow for cluster development
as defined in section 8-18. Such zoning commission may divide the municipality
into districts of such number, shape and area as may be best suited to carry
out the purposes of this chapter; and, within such districts, it may regulate
the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or use of buildings or
structures and the use of land. All such regulations shall be uniform for each
class or kind of buildings, structures or use of land throughout each district,
but the regulations in one district may differ from those in another district,
and may provide that certain classes or kinds of buildings, structures or uses
of land are permitted only after obtaining a special permit or special
exception from a zoning commission, planning commission, combined planning and
zoning commission or zoning board of appeals, whichever commission or board the
regulations may, notwithstanding any special act to the contrary, designate,
subject to standards set forth in the regulations and to conditions necessary
to protect the public health, safety, convenience and property values. Such
regulations shall be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan and in
adopting such regulations the commission shall consider the plan of
conservation and development prepared under section 8-23. Such regulations
shall be designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from
fire, panic, flood and other dangers; to promote health and the general
welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of
land; to avoid undue concentration of population and to facilitate the adequate
provision for transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public
requirements. Such regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration as
to the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for particular
uses and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the
most appropriate use of land throughout such municipality. Such regulations
may, to the extent consistent with soil types, terrain, infrastructure capacity
and the plan of conservation and development for the community, provide for
cluster development, as defined in section 8-18, in residential zones. Such
regulations shall also encourage the development of housing opportunities,
including opportunities for multifamily dwellings, consistent with soil types,
terrain and infrastructure capacity, for all residents of the municipality and
the planning region in which the municipality is located, as designated by the
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management under section 16a-4a. Such
regulations shall also promote housing choice and economic diversity in
housing, including housing for both low and moderate income households, and
shall encourage the development of housing which will meet the housing needs
identified in the housing plan prepared pursuant to section 8-37t and in the
housing component and the other components of the state plan of conservation
and development prepared pursuant to section 16a-26. Zoning regulations shall
be made with reasonable consideration for their impact on agriculture. Zoning
regulations may be made with reasonable consideration for the protection of
historic factors and shall be made with reasonable consideration for the
protection of existing and potential public surface and ground drinking water
supplies. On and after July 1, 1985,
the regulations shall provide that proper provision be made for soil erosion
and sediment control pursuant to section 22a-329. Such regulations may also
encourage energy-efficient patterns of development, the use of solar and other
renewable forms of energy, and energy conservation. The regulations may also
provide for incentives for developers who use passive solar energy techniques,
as defined in subsection (b) of section 8-25, in planning a residential
subdivision development. The incentives may include, but not be limited to, cluster
development, higher density development and performance standards for roads,
sidewalks and underground facilities in the subdivision. Such regulations may
provide for a municipal system for the creation of development rights and the
permanent transfer of such development rights, which may include a system for
the variance of density limits in connection with any such transfer. Such
regulations may also provide for notice requirements in addition to those
required by this chapter. Such regulations may provide for conditions on
operations to collect spring water or well water, as defined in section
21a-150, including the time, place and manner of such operations. No such
regulations shall prohibit the operation of any family day care home or group
day care home in a residential zone. Such regulations shall not impose
conditions and requirements on manufactured homes having as their narrowest
dimension twenty-two feet or more and built in accordance with federal
manufactured home construction and safety standards or on lots containing such
manufactured homes which are substantially different from conditions and
requirements imposed on single-family dwellings and lots containing
single-family dwellings. Such regulations shall not impose conditions and requirements
on developments to be occupied by manufactured homes having as their narrowest
dimension twenty-two feet or more and built in accordance with federal
manufactured home construction and safety standards which are substantially
different from conditions and requirements imposed on multifamily dwellings,
lots containing multifamily dwellings, cluster developments or planned unit
developments. Such regulations shall not prohibit the continuance of any
nonconforming use, building or structure existing at the time of the adoption
of such regulations. Such regulations shall not provide for the termination of
any nonconforming use solely as a result of nonuse for a specified period of
time without regard to the intent of the property owner to maintain that use.
Any city, town or borough which adopts the provisions of this chapter may, by
vote of its legislative body, exempt municipal property from the regulations
prescribed by the zoning commission of such city, town or borough; but unless
it is so voted municipal property shall be subject to such regulations.
(b) In any municipality that is contiguous
to Long Island Sound the regulations adopted under this section shall be made
with reasonable consideration for restoration and protection of the ecosystem
and habitat of Long Island Sound and shall be designed to reduce hypoxia,
pathogens, toxic contaminants and floatable debris in Long Island Sound. Such
regulations shall provide that the commission consider the environmental impact
on Long Island Sound of any proposal for development.
(c) In any municipality where a traprock
ridge, as defined in section 8-1aa, or an amphibolite ridge, as defined in
section 8-1aa, is located the regulations may provide for development
restrictions in ridgeline setback areas, as defined in said section. The
regulations may restrict quarrying and clear cutting, except that the following
operations and uses shall be permitted in ridgeline setback areas, as of right:
(1) Emergency work necessary to protect life and property; (2) any
nonconforming uses that were in existence and that were approved on or before
the effective date of regulations adopted under this section; and (3) selective
timbering, grazing of domesticated animals and passive recreation.
(1949 Rev., S.
837; November, 1955, S. N10; 1959, P.A. 614, S. 2; 661; 1961, P.A. 569; 1963,
P.A. 133; 1967, P.A. 801; P.A. 77-509, S. 1; P.A. 78-314, S. 1; P.A. 80-327, S.
1; P.A. 81-334, S. 2; P.A. 83-388, S. 6, 9; P.A. 84-263; P.A. 85-91, S. 2, 5;
85-279, S. 3; P.A. 87-215, S. 1, 7; 87-232; 87-474, S. 1; 87-490, S. 1; P.A.
88-105, S. 2; 88-203, S. 1; P.A. 89-277, S. 1; P.A. 91-170, S. 1; 91-392, S. 1;
91-395, S. 1, 11; P.A. 92-50; P.A. 93-385, S. 3; P.A. 95-239, S. 2; 95-335, S.
14, 26; P.A. 97-296, S. 2, 4; P.A. 98-105, S. 3.)
History: 1959
acts required that regulations be uniform for use of land in district and
authorized requirement of special permits or exceptions; 1961 act deleted
provision authorizing reconstruction of nonconforming structure destroyed or
damaged by fire or casualty provided cost be less than 50% of fair market value
of property and reconstruction be commenced within six months; 1963 act allowed
municipality to exempt municipal property from zoning regulations; 1967 act
specified that special acts contrary to provision re special permits or special
exceptions have no bearing; P.A. 77-509 allowed considerations of historic
factors, sedimentation control and erosion in zoning regulations; P.A. 78-314
allowed regulations to encourage energy-efficient development, energy
conservation and use of renewable forms of energy; P.A. 80-327 allowed
consideration of water supply protection; P.A. 81-334 authorized regulations to
provide for incentives for developers using passive solar energy techniques;
P.A. 83-388 required provision be made for soil erosion and sediment control,
effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 84-263 provided the regulations shall encourage
the development of housing opportunities for all citizens of the municipality
consistent with soil types, terrain and infrastructure capacity (Revisor's
note: P.A. 84-263, which took effect on October 1, 1984, incorporated the
amendment enacted by P.A. 83-388, but the Revisors are of the opinion that (1)
this in no way changed the July 1, 1985, effective date of the 1983 act, and
(2) the further amendment in the 1984 act took effect on October 1, 1984); P.A.
85-91 specified the date by which provision for soil erosion and sediment
control is required; P.A. 85-279 made consideration of the protection of surface
water and groundwater mandatory where before it had been discretionary; P.A.
87-215 authorized regulations to provide for additional notice requirements;
P.A. 87-232 provided that no regulations shall prohibit the operation of any
family day care home or group day care home in a residential zone; P.A. 87-474
clarified authority to regulate water-dependent uses; P.A. 87-490 inserted
provisions concerning creation and transfer of development rights; P.A. 88-105
required zoning regulations to be made with reasonable consideration for their
impact on agriculture; P.A. 88-203 added provisions re imposition of conditions
and requirements on certain manufactured homes and developments to be occupied
by certain manufactured homes; P.A. 89-277 added provision specifying that the
regulations shall not provide for the termination of a nonconforming use solely
as a result of nonuse without regard to intent; P.A. 91-170 designated existing
language as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re regulations in municipalities
contiguous to Long Island Sound; P.A. 91-392 required regulations to encourage
opportunities for multifamily dwellings for residents of municipality and
planning region, to promote housing choice and economic diversity in housing
and to encourage housing development consistent with the state housing plan and
the state plan of conservation and development; P.A. 91-395 authorized adoption
of regulations under this section to provide for cluster development; P.A.
92-50 amended Subsec. (a) to eliminate reference to adoption of regulations in
accordance with the comprehensive plan and substituted consideration of the
plan of development in lieu thereof; P.A. 93-385 amended Subsec. (a) by
requiring that regulations be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan;
P.A. 95-239 added Subsec. (c) re development restrictions in ridgeline setback
areas (Revisor's note: Uppercase alphabetic Subdiv. indicators were replaced
editorially by the Revisors with numeric indicators for consistency with
customary statutory usage); P.A. 95-335 amended Subsec. (a) to change
"plan of development" to "plan of conservation and
development", effective July 1, 1995;
P.A. 97-296 amended Subsec. (a) to allow regulations to provide for conditions
on operations to collect spring or well water, effective July 8, 1997; P.A. 98-105 amended Subsec. (c) to provide for
protection of amphibolite ridgelines.
Regulation
prohibiting in light industrial zone a use noxious by reason of odor, dust, gas
or smoke has rational relation to health and public welfare. 110 C. 102.
Exclusion from residential zones of buildings devoted to most business uses is
proper. Id., 138. "Farming" in regulation construed. 113
C. 53. Cited. 123 C. 264. Where change in regulations seriously affects value
of property of an individual. Id., 286. Cited. 126 C. 237. Not a violation of this section
to treat signs referring to business on property where signs stand differently
from signs not so related to such a business. 131 C. 304. What constitutes a
zoning regulation. Id., 647. Cited. 132 C. 216. Cited. 134 C. 293. To permit
business in small area within residential zone may fall within scope of a
"comprehensive plan", and unless it amounts to unreasonable or
arbitrary action, is not unlawful. 136 C. 89. Change of zone for small area can
be made only if it falls within requirements of comprehensive plan. Id., 452. Ordinance valid as meeting requirements of
enabling act if plan is comprehensive as to territory, public needs and time
and if it promotes public welfare. 138 C. 434. Action of commission was spot
zoning. 139 C. 59. Extension of industrial zone into residential area is proper
if in accord with comprehensive plan and general welfare. Id., 603. Requires zoning regulations be expressive of plan
which is comprehensive and promotes public welfare. 141 C. 349. Zoning
regulations shall be made in accordance with "a comprehensive plan"
which is general plan to control and direct use and development of property in
municipality or large part thereof by dividing it into districts according to
present and potential use of properties. 142 C. 265. Zoning regulations must be
made upon reasonable consideration of character of district and its peculiar
suitability for particular purposes and with view to conserving value of buildings
and encouraging most appropriate use of land throughout the town. Id., 580. Cited. 143 C. 280. Zoning commission and not town
meeting authorized to divide municipality into districts and to regulate
erection or use of buildings or structures and use of land. Id., 448. Power to determine what are needs of town with
reference to use of real property and to legislate in such manner that those
needs will be satisfied vests exclusively in zoning commission. Id., 542. Comprehensive plan in accordance with which zoning
regulations are to be adopted is such a plan as zoning commission devises. 144
C. 117. Permits change in zonal classification only when change is made in
accordance with comprehensive plan. Id., 160. Regulations should be made in accordance with comprehensive
plan. Id., 560. Elements of spot zoning. Id., 600. Spot zoning defined. 145 C. 26; 148 C. 97.
Granting of change of zone within two months of refusal of similar application
and after private conference with applicants opens commission to criticism. 145
C. 237. Anything which weakens public confidence in commission and undermines
sense of security of individual's rights is against public policy. Id. Zoning
regulations are invalid if not made in accordance with comprehensive plan
(former statute). Id., 394. Deviation from comprehensive plan permissible.
Zone change which may increase traffic in area not necessarily barred. Id., 435. Interpretation of special act similar to this
section. Id., 476. Requisites to establish nonconforming use. Id., 682. Main, principal and dominant use of a building
determines its character. 146 C. 70. Change of zone increased rather than
lessened congestion in streets; action of commission held illegal. Id., 321. Maximum possible enrichment of developers is not
controlling purpose of zoning. Id., 531. Powers of zoning commission distinguished from
those of planning commission. Id., 570. Dicta that zoning regulations may in their
operation result in prohibition under some circumstances. Id., 697. One aim of zoning is elimination of nonconforming
uses. 147 C. 30. Provision re continuance of nonconforming uses not applicable
to regulations enacted prior to effective date of this amendment. Id., 358. Use held not to be permissible nonconforming use
because lot was not being used for such purpose when zoning regulations were
adopted. 148 C. 84. A proposed use cannot constitute an existing nonconforming
use. Id., 299. Conflict between public welfare and private gain
discussed. Id. An essential purpose of zoning is to stabilize use of
property. Id., 492. "Comprehensive plan" defined. Id.
Interpretation that regulation, prohibiting premises to be used for sale of
liquor if entrance to same was within 1,500 feet of entrance to other premises
used for such sale, prohibited certification of premises in question because
liquor outlet was located within 1,500 feet, although in another town, held
proper and did not give extraterritorial effect to regulation. 149 C. 292. Fact
that this section forbids zoning regulations affecting antecedent nonconforming
uses is no benefit to plaintiff who merely contemplates such a use. Id., 678. In order to attack constitutionality of
regulations, plaintiff must demonstrate that it is affected by them. Challenge
of unconstitutional delegation of legislative power is successfully met if
ordinance declares a legislative policy, establishes primary standards for
carrying it out or lays down an intelligible principle to which agency must
conform with proper regard for protection of public interest. Regulations
themselves are not unconstitutional because of failure to establish adequate
standards to meet constitutional requirement. In order to hold zoning
regulation unconstitutional as violative of due process of law or equal
protection clauses of state or federal constitution, it must appear that
provisions are clearly arbitrary and unreasonable, having no substantial
relation to public health, safety, morals or general welfare. Regulations did
no more than offer assurance of measure of supervision by responsible public
authority over conditions which affected public health, safety and general
welfare, and consequently they were a proper exercise of the police power. Id., 712. Question of power or authority of commission
either to hear or to decide application for change of zone must be decided
before further action is taken. Trial court should have determined the
question, it being basic to issue of validity of change of zone. Id., 746. Legislative history and purposes discussed. Zoning
commission can by regulation reserve to itself or delegate to any of the other
specified agencies power to grant a special permit or special exception.
Purpose of this section is to establish means by which special requirements
affecting particular property could be imposed whether they affected buildings
and structures or land. Provision that zoning regulations must conform to a
comprehensive plan is to prevent arbitrary, unreasonable and discriminatory
exercise of zoning power. Comprehensive plan of Ridgefield found in scheme of zoning regulations themselves. Courts
cannot substitute their discretion for wide and liberal discretion enjoyed by
local zoning agencies. Relief can be granted on appeal only when local
authority has acted arbitrarily or illegally and thus has abused discretion
vested in it. 150 C. 79. Change of zone for small area is open to suspicion as
spot zoning but can be sustained if it is in harmony with comprehensive plan.
Zoning commission may accept long-continued nonconforming use as permanent and
inevitable and find that change of zone which would render use conforming would
encourage most appropriate use of land in town. Id., 129. Cited. Id., 146. Nonconforming uses should be abolished or reduced
to conformity as speedily as fair interest of parties will permit, and in no
case should be allowed to increase. Id., 439. Power to stipulate restrictions re garden
apartments implied power to withhold approval entirely. Id., 672. Where zoning regulations excluded uses not
specifically permitted and made no provision for storing vehicles on vacant
lots in residential zone, plaintiff was in violation for doing so. 151 C. 46.
Burden of proof as to whether commission acted improperly is on aggrieved
party. Id., 484. If any reason for action of commission in denying
a zone change is supported, subsequent appeal must fail. 152 C. 262. Cited. Id., 329. Word "school" used in zoning regulations
of Westport construed. Id., 559. Fact that zoning regulations were designated as
"interim" does not make them invalid. 153 C. 187. Where zoning
regulations imposed restrictions on lot size, the placement of building on
property and minimum living areas of residential property, with exceptions for
seasonal properties within 500 feet of the high-water mark of any body of
water, held that a "comprehensive" plan was established, even though
no restriction was placed on the particular uses which might be made of the
property since the community was small, rural and almost entirely residential
and since, because the zoning commission is clothed with liberal discretion in
enacting the regulations, a court is not justified in upsetting its decision
merely because it feels a different classification might have been preferable. Id., 191. It is not required that zoning regulations divide
town into districts as long as every owner of property located in the town can
ascertain with reasonable certainty what uses he may legally make of any
portion of his property. Id. Cited. Id., 310. Where the plaintiff's application to the board
does not make it clear whether a permit under the zoning ordinance or an
approval under the statutes is requested, the board must decide each issue
separately and the required number of votes for each must be met in order for
the application to be approved. 154 C. 32, 36. In the absence of standards set
up by the local zoning ordinance, the power to grant a special permit under
this statute is denied despite the fact that the statute itself provides for
certain standards. Id., 156, 161. Cited. Id., 210. Zoning commission's refusal of a change of zone as
to plaintiff's property shown by the record as not arbitrary or an abuse of
discretion but for the general welfare of the community. Id., 309. Standards used for special exceptions for hospital
found sufficiently definite. 154 C. 399, 403. Zoning authority acts as a
legislative body in making zoning changes. Commission acted reasonably in
rezoning a central area to meet the changing conditions of the town. Id., 463. Amendment adopted by zoning commission involved a
debatable question within its legislative capacity to resolve. Courts are
cautious about disturbing commission's decisions. Id., 470. Record does not show town plan and zoning
commission acted illegally, arbitrarily or in abuse of its discretion in
upgrading zone of an undeveloped residential area, particularly when change of
zone was made in accordance with comprehensive plan lately adopted. Id., 638. Although commission should not ordinarily alter
classification of area in absence of changed conditions, rule being a restriction
on legislative discretion will be applied only when zoning amendment is
patently arbitrary. 155 C. 209. Spot zoning defined. Id., 210. Change of zone predicated on interest in providing
housing for persons displaced by redevelopment project, if otherwise consistent
with accepted zoning principles, is reasonable exercise of board's
discretionary powers. Id. Cited. Id., 563; 156 C. 102, 287, 300. Zoning board of appeals
upheld where it granted exception to town to locate sanitary landfill operation
as record showed public welfare was served thereby and neighboring property not
substantially injured. 157 C. 106. Responsibility and authority for zoning
rests with zoning commission and unless its action is clearly contrary to a
rational development of the town's comprehensive plan, courts will not
interfere with commission's decisions. Id., 434. Regulation requiring signature of owner on future
developer's petition for change was waived by lack of timely objection and its
omission did not affect jurisdiction of commission. Id., 520. Change of zone enacted by commission substantially
not in accordance with comprehensive plan of zoning of town held arbitrary,
illegal and in abuse of its discretion. 158 C. 78. Only in cases where zoning
authority has acted arbitrarily or illegally will courts reverse such
authority's disapproval of reclassification. Id., 111. Zoning commission's delegation of power to grant
exception to zoning board of appeals was invalid as no criteria were given and
delegation of power was too broad. Id., 196. Denial of plaintiff's application for change of
zone for property he owned not unreasonable merely on ground zoning authority
had approved the same changes the previous year. Id., 301. Where plaintiff's filling station was an existing
use which predated zoning ordinance and ordinance provided for filling stations
as exceptional use in his area, the use was not a nonconforming but a permitted
use. Id., 516. Language herein is sufficiently broad to permit
creation of floating zones. 159 C. 192; 197. Section does not militate against
change in general zoning classification that is reasonable and in community
interest. Id., 192. Cited. 160 C. 120, 121. Zoning commissions may
grant special building permits subject to certain conditions to protect public
health, safety, convenience and property values. Id., 295. Although zoning commission has wide discretion it
must predicate its decisions on fair and proper motives and follow legislative
direction of the statute. Id., 397. Cited. 161 C. 32; Id., 182; Id., 430. Cited. 162 C. 23. Cited. 163 C. 49, 190. Power to
vary ordinance in zoning board of appeals. Id., 453. "Congestion in the streets" means
density of traffic, not overall volume. 164 C. 215. Cited. 165 C. 533. Cited.
166 C. 305. Cited. 168 C. 358. Cited. 172 C. 306. Cited. 173 C. 23. Cited. 174
C. 212. Cited. 176 C. 479; Id., 581.
Cited. 177 C. 420. Cited. 178 C. 657. Cited. 179 C. 650. Cited. 181 C. 230.
Cited. 185 C. 135; Id., 294. Cited. 186 C. 106. Commission was justified in
considering drainage, historical and rural factors although these factors not
specifically incorporated in the municipal regulations. 189 C. 261. Cited. 193
C. 506. Moratorium was not beyond the powers delegated by this statute. 194 C.
152. Cited. 199 C. 575. Cited. 201 C. 700. Cited. 205 C. 703. Includes
"... the power to terminate nonconforming uses solely because of nonuse
for a specified period." 206 C. 595. Cited. 208 C. 146. Minimum floor area
requirements held not to be rationally related to any legitimate purpose of
zoning under the section. Id., 267. "... statute has not delegated to
municipalities the power to regulate colors in a sign." Id., 480. Cited. 212 C. 570. Cited. 213 C. 604. Cited. 214
C. 400. Cited. 217 C. 103; Id., 447.
Cited. 220 C. 61; Id., 527; Id., 584; Id., 556. Cited. 222 C. 216; Id., 607. Cited. 224 C. 124; Id., 823. Cited. 225 C. 731. Cited. 227 C. 71. Cited. 232 C.
122; Id., 419. Cited. 234 C. 221; Id., 498. Decision by zoning commission re historic overlay
zone not a decision on floating zone and is an administrative function,
requiring substantial supporting evidence. 258 C. 205.
Cited. 6 CA 237. Violation of uniformity
requirement of statute by creation of a buffer area discussed. Id., 686. Cited. 7 CA 684. Cited. 10 CA 190. Cited. 12 CA
90. Cited. 13 CA 159; Id., 448; Id., 699. Cited. 15 CA 110. Cited. 16 CA 303. Zoning power
"to regulate" under Sec. 8-2 does not include power "to
prohibit" unless prohibition is supported by a rational relation to
purposes of zoning. 17 CA 17; judgment reversed, see 212 C. 570. Cited. 19 CA
334. Cited. 21 CA 538. Cited. 24 CA 5; Id., 526. Cited. 25 CA 375; Id., 392; judgment reversed, see 222 C. 607. Cited. 26 CA
212. Cited. 28 CA 314. Cited. 30 CA 627. Cited. 31 CA 643. Cited. 35 CA 594; Id., 820. Cited. 36 CA 98. Cited. 37 CA 303. Cited. 40 CA
501. Reiterated previous holdings that regulation of uses of land, like
regulations for classes of buildings and structures, must be uniform and use of
special exceptions authorized. 85 CA 820. Planned development district under
special act not authorized under statute since no uniform standards for
applications. Id. Test of the commission's action is twofold: (1) The zone
change must be in accord with a comprehensive plan and (2) it must be
reasonably related to normal police power purposes enumerated in section. Only
where local zoning authority has acted arbitrarily or illegally and thus abused
the discretion vested in it can courts grant relief on appeal. 99 CA 768.
Standards by which regulations are to be
scrutinized. 15 CS 485. Change of zone classification of large lot in center of
residential area to business is spot zoning. 16 CS 189. Cited. Id., 328. Where zoning ordinance attempted to zone by
individual pieces of property, held not in accordance with comprehensive plan. Id., 422. Power of zoning commission to fix minimum lot
sizes and minimum floor areas upheld. 19 CS 24. Cited. Id., 447. Omission of any direct mention of a mobile home
park as a permitted use of land anywhere in a town does not render zoning law
void or unconstitutional. 21 CS 275. In order to qualify as nonconforming use,
use must be in existence when ordinance goes into effect or in such a state of
preparation that it is naturally recognized in neighborhood as such a use. Id.
Restrictive covenant and zoning restrictions are two entirely separate and
unrelated limitations on use of property. Where deeds to all lots sold under
general development scheme contain same restrictive covenants, each grantee is
entitled to enforce them in absence of conduct on his part constituting laches,
waiver or abandonment. 22 CS 235. Nonconforming use may be increased in extent
by natural expansion and growth. 24 CS 221. Cited. 25 CS 277. Zoning commission
has no statutory power to enact ordinance limiting occupancy of certain areas
to elderly persons. 26 CS 128. To change nonconforming business use to
nonconforming liquor use is an increase in use and zoning board of appeals
acted arbitrarily, illegally and in abuse of discretion in denying plaintiff's
appeal. Id., 457. Refusal of zoning variance to permit use of
plaintiff's property as gasoline station, its claimed best use, was not an
unconstitutional confiscation of their property. Id., 475. Change of zone dependent for proper functioning on
action by other agencies over which zoning commission has no control cannot be
sustained unless action appears not a possibility but a probability. Id., 503. Community as a whole must benefit from commission
action. Id. Regulation of defendant zoning commission requiring gasoline
station sites to be 1500 feet apart is an exercise of police power which
plaintiff failed to prove unreasonable or confiscatory of his property's value.
27 CS 362. Cited. 30 CS 157, 164. Cited. 32 CS 217. Cited. 34 CS 177. Cited. 35
CS 246. Statute provides no authority to planning and zoning commissions to
modify statutes under which they acquire authority. 36 CS 281. Cited. 39 CS
436. Cited. 41 CS 196; Id., 593. Cited. 42 CS 256. Cited. 43 CS 373.
Subsec. (a):
Zoning commission amendment to town's
zoning regulations satisfied the uniformity requirements of Subsec. and was
reasonably related to balancing conservation and development. 259 C. 402. Soil
contamination issue not limited to review of site plan application but also relevant
to adoption of proposed text amendment because Subsec. requires regulations to
"promote health and general welfare". 271 C. 1. That this Subsec.
explicitly authorizes special permits demonstrates that legislature itself
recognized the need for exceptions to uniformity, and, therefore, complete
uniformity was not mandated. 281 C. 66. Subdivision of property into more than
30 residential lots that otherwise comply with applicable zoning regulations is
not a distinct "use of land" subject to special permit regulations
under this Subsec. 288 C. 730.
Implicitly requires uniform enforcement of
zoning regulations. 49 CA 669. Use of property as gasoline station was not a
preexisting, nonconforming use. 74 CA 622. Does not necessarily confer
authority in zoning commission to promulgate regulations re noise pollution and
does not contradict legislature's specific enactment in Sec. 22a-67 et seq. 76
CA 199.
Cited. 36 CS 98.
Sec.
8-2e. Municipal agreements regarding development rights. Any two or more municipalities which have adopted the
provisions of this chapter or chapter 125a or which are exercising zoning power
pursuant to any special act may, with the approval of the legislative body of
each municipality, execute an agreement providing for a system of development
rights and the transfer of development rights across the boundaries of the
municipalities which are parties to the agreement. Such system shall be
implemented in a manner approved by the legislative body of each municipality
and by the commission or other body which adopts zoning regulations of each
municipality.
(P.A. 87-490,
S. 2.)
Sec.
8-2f. Joint applications necessary for transfer of development rights. Any zoning regulations adopted pursuant to section 8-2
concerning development rights shall authorize the transfer of the development
rights to land only upon joint application of the transferor and transferee.
(P.A. 87-490,
S. 3.)