Today's circumvention of political processes has come to the forefront of the debate of local control, home rule, and the basic protections of personal private property. Governors Bill 6851. AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT TRANSIT CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, was introduced by State Representatives Sharkey, Aresimowicz,and Senators Looney and Duff. This particular piece of legislation was apparently drafted to strongarm municipalities into developing their town centers in accordance with state desires. The bill illustrates what great lengths some officials will go to to implement an agenda against the will of the people they are elected to represent. Representative Gail Lavielle testified on March 6th that this bill would give,"absolute authority to a board of appointees to decide what would be built in your town within a half mile radius of any train or bus station.", providing the power of eminent domain to this new state authority in "consultation, not approval" of municipal leaders. As Lavielle stated ,this bill could have been drafted in a manner to include municipalities in the process,but it was not. The bill is described as "scary" by Rep. Dubitsky in the March 6th CTN Planning and Development Committee video.
According to Lavielle, if this bill passes, the newly formed State Authority could essentially do whatever it wants within this transit corridor . The effect of this legislation is that it could potentially transform a city like Bristol into an inner-city environment complete with high-rise "affordable housing" units near the planned development hub in Bristol's downtown.
The Connecticut Council of Municipalities submitted testimony against hb 6851, calling it "highly problematic". The CCM represents 156 towns and 96% of the state's population. Their testimony states the bill, "appears to remove or limit local control and input on any or all proposed Authority development projects."
DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith testified in favor of the state usurpation of municipal development authority. The purposes of the program and the goals of the corsortium are hilighted in her submitted testimony.
To the dismay of a great many residents and the surprise of State Representative and ranking member of the P&D Committee in the state capitol,Newington Council Marjority leader Terry Borjeson publicly testified in favor of granting authority to the State of Connecticut to take control of it's downtown development. If the bill were to pass,the newly formed State Authority would have the authority to use eminent domain and essentially do whatever it wants within this transit corridor .
Newington residents were not pleased to say the least.
Now is the time for the advocates of these plans for downtown to consider the fact that they have opened a proverbial Pandora's box and they must reassess the downtown plan in consideration of the current political environment.
You can view the Governor's Bill by clicking here
The Connecticut Council of Municipalities submitted testimony against hb 6851, calling it "highly problematic". The CCM represents 156 towns and 96% of the state's population. Their testimony states the bill, "appears to remove or limit local control and input on any or all proposed Authority development projects."
DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith testified in favor of the state usurpation of municipal development authority. The purposes of the program and the goals of the corsortium are hilighted in her submitted testimony.
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| Click here to read the entire testimony document |
To the dismay of a great many residents and the surprise of State Representative and ranking member of the P&D Committee in the state capitol,Newington Council Marjority leader Terry Borjeson publicly testified in favor of granting authority to the State of Connecticut to take control of it's downtown development. If the bill were to pass,the newly formed State Authority would have the authority to use eminent domain and essentially do whatever it wants within this transit corridor .
Newington residents were not pleased to say the least.
Now is the time for the advocates of these plans for downtown to consider the fact that they have opened a proverbial Pandora's box and they must reassess the downtown plan in consideration of the current political environment.
You can view the Governor's Bill by clicking here
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