228 Conn. 498 | Conn. | 1994
Lead Opinion
The principal issue in this appeal is whether the defendant, the West Hartford town council, acting in its capacity as the zoning authority for West Hartford,
The following facts are relevant to this appeal. The plaintiff is a private nonprofit organization composed of individuals from the West Hartford community and eleven local churches and synagogues, created for the purpose of “ ‘providing] entry level home ownership opportunities for individuals and families of low and moderate income.’ ” At all material times, the plaintiff held an option to purchase approximately one and one-fourth acres of undeveloped property at 2561 Albany Avenue, West Hartford.
On June 17 and June 27, 1991, the defendant held a public hearing on the plaintiff’s application. At the
Following the conclusion of the hearing, at an August 6, 1991 meeting, the defendant voted unanimously to deny the plaintiff’s application. In a letter dated August 8, 1991, the defendant informed the plaintiff of its decision. Although the deliberations concerning the application, reflected in the minutes of the defendant’s August 6 meeting, revealed various concerns relating to the plaintiff’s application, the letter failed to state any reasons for the defendant’s decision.
On August 30, 1991, the plaintiff appealed to the Superior Court from the defendant’s decision to deny its application. During the pendency of the appeal, the defendant filed a motion to dismiss, claiming that the proposed project was neither “assisted” nor deed restricted and, accordingly, did not constitute an “affordable housing development” as defined in § 8-30g (a) (1) (A) and (B). After receiving testimony and hearing oral argument on June 10,1992, the trial court denied the defendant’s motion.
I
The defendant first claims that the trial court improperly concluded, by implication, that the procedure governing the affordable housing land use appeals set forth in § 8-30g applied to the defendant’s legislative decision
In light of these factors, the defendant contends that § 8-30g does not apply to the plaintiffs first and separate request for a zone change on the subject property because such a request is not “in connection with” the plaintiff’s affordable housing development application, as required by § 8-30g (a) (2).
Although our examination of the record confirms that the defendant did not raise this claim below,
“Ordinarily, the construction and interpretation of a statute is a question of law for the courts . . . particularly where, as here, the statute has not previously been subjected to judicial scrutiny or time-tested agency interpretations.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Jutkowitz v. Department of Health Services, 220 Conn. 86, 106, 596 A.2d 374 (1991). “In construing a statute, we seek to ascertain and give effect to the apparent intent of the legislature.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Vaillancourt v. New Britain Machine/Litton, 224 Conn. 382, 390, 618 A.2d 1340 (1993). “In seeking to discern that intent, we look to the words of the
In construing § 8-30g, we must start with the language employed by the legislature. United Illuminating Co. v. Groppo, 220 Conn. 749, 756, 601 A.2d 1005 (1992). Generally, “when the language of a statute is plain and unambiguous, we need look no further than the words themselves because we assume that the language expresses the legislature’s intent.” American Universal Ins. Co. v.DelGreco, 205 Conn. 178, 193, 530 A.2d 171 (1987). Further, we must interpret a statute according to its plain and ordinary meaning: Mazur v. Blum, 184 Conn. 116, 118, 441 A.2d 65 (1981). “When the language of a statute is unclear, [however,] we may ascertain the intent of the legislature by looking beyond the language to the statute’s legislative history and the purpose that the statute was intended to serve.” Weinberg v. ARA Vending Co., 223 Conn. 336, 341, 612 A.2d 1203 (1992). “A statute . . . should not be interpreted to thwart its purpose.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Board of Education v. State Board of Labor Relations, 217 Conn. 110, 126-27, 584 A.2d 1172 (1991).
Applying these principles to our interpretation of § 8-30g, we conclude that the legislature intended the statute’s appeals procedure to apply to the defendant’s legislative decision to grant or deny a zone change. The plain and unambiguous language of § 8-30g supports this conclusion. Section 8-30g (a) (2) defines an “affordable housing application” as “any application made to a commission in connection with an affordable housing development by a person who proposes to develop such affordable housing.” (Emphasis added.) Apart from requiring that an application be made in connec
The circumstances surrounding the statute’s enactment and its legislative history further support our conclusion that the legislature intended § 8-30g to apply to legislative zone changes. First, the report of the “Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing,” which originally proposed the affordable housing appeals procedure in its 1989 final report to Governor William A. O’Neill and the General Assembly,
In addition, during the floor debate in the House of Representatives, various legislators explicitly discussed the applicability of the appeals procedure contained in § 8-30g to legislative decisions, and in particular to zone change applications. At least one legislator voiced opposition to § 8-30g on the basis of the statute’s applicability to zone changes. 32 H.R. Proc., Pt. 30,1989 Sess., p. 10,630, remarks of Representative James Fleming. Of special significance is the response of Representative William Cibes to a question from Representative Robert Farr about a proposal to develop multifamily housing in a single-family zone, and whether such a proposed change in the underlying zone would be “in itself a basis for denial.” Representative Cibes stated: “[T]he answer is no, not per se. The municipality might have very good grounds for not having multifamily dwellings in the particular area. The soil type, the capacity of the infrastructure, various reasons such as that might have been a reason for the municipality not to adopt a particular zone for that particular area, but per
Finally, our interpretation of § 8-30g as encompassing legislative zone changes promotes the legislative policy that the statute was designed to implement. In contrast, the defendant’s proposed reading of the statute would “ ‘thwart its purpose.’ ” Board of Education v. State Board of Labor Relations, supra, 126-27. Our review of the statute’s legislative history reveals that the key purpose of § 8-30g is to encourage and facilitate the much needed development of affordable housing throughout the state. See, e.g., 32 S. Proc., Pt. 12, 1989 Sess., p. 4051, remarks of Senator Fred Love-grove, and p. 4058, remarks of Senator Kevin Sullivan. The defendant’s proposed interpretation of the statute would undermine this very important objective. Under the defendant’s proposed interpretation, a town could utilize zoning to impede a developer from appealing under the statute. That is, a town could remove itself entirely from § 8-30g by eliminating any zones appropriate for the development of affordable housing. Conceivably, towns in which no land is zoned for multifamily housing would be wholly exempt from the statute.
In summary, on the basis of the plain language of § 8-30g and its legislative history, the circumstances surrounding its enactment, and the purpose for which it was designed, we conclude that the legislature
II
As a corollary to its prior claim, the defendant next claims that, even if § 8-30g properly applies to legislative zone changes, the trial court should have applied traditional concepts of judicial review of zoning commission decisions to the plaintiff’s affordable housing appeal. The defendant argues that the trial court failed to do so in several respects. First, the defendant asserts that the trial court required the defendant collectively to state its reasons for denying the plaintiff’s application and refused to search the record for reasons in support of the defendant’s decision. Second, the defendant contends that the trial court substituted its judgment for that of the defendant regarding the density of the site. Finally, the defendant asserts that the trial court both ignored the defendant’s collective vote that the plaintiffs plan was in disharmony with West Hartford’s comprehensive plan and overlooked the defendant’s right to rely on its personal knowledge of the site and its environs. Our review of the trial court’s memorandum of decision persuades us that the trial court properly applied traditional concepts of judicial review, where appropriate, to its review of the defendant’s decision. Consequently, we reject the defendant’s claims.
As a prelude to a discussion of the merits of the defendant’s arguments, we reiterate the well established concepts that govern judicial review of zoning commission decisions. The defendant, in denying the plaintiffs application, was acting in its legislative capacity.
“Where a zoning [commission] has stated its reasons for its actions, the court should determine only whether the assigned grounds are reasonably supported by the record and whether they are pertinent to the considerations which the authority was required to apply under the zoning regulations. . . . The zone change must be sustained if even one of the stated reasons is sufficient to support it. . . . The principle that a court should confine its review to the reasons given by a zoning [commission] does not apply to any utterances, however incomplete, by the members of the [commission] subsequent to their vote. [Rather, it] applies where the [commission] has rendered a formal, official, collective statement of reasons for its action.” (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Protect Hamden/North Haven from Excessive Traffic & Pollution, Inc. v. Planning & Zoning Commission, 220 Conn. 527, 544, 600 A.2d 757 (1991). Thus, “where a zoning commission has formally stated the reasons for its decision, the court should not go behind that official collective statement . . . [and] attempt to search out and speculate upon other reasons which might have influenced some or all of the members of the commission to reach the commission’s final collective decision.” DeMaria v. Planning & Zoning Commission, 159 Conn. 534, 541, 271 A.2d 105 (1970).
With these concepts of judicial review in mind, we address the defendant’s arguments seriatim.
A
The defendant’s claim that the trial court required the defendant collectively to state its reasons and refused to search the record is wholly without merit. In its memorandum of decision, the trial court never required the defendant collectively to state its reasons. Rather, the trial court merely noted that the defendant’s failure “collectively [to] express its reasons for the denial” was a “disfavored” procedure. Moreover, the trial court stated: “A review of [§ 8-30g (c)] indicates that the legislature has now placed the burden of proof on the commission . . . and not, as in traditional land use appeals, on the applicant. Like a traditional appeal, however, the evidence is to be gleaned from the record; the new process is not a trial de novo.” (Emphasis added.)
Further, the trial court correctly stated: “[W]here a zoning commission has formally stated the reasons for its decision, the court should not go behind that official collective statement of the commission. It should
Thereafter, the trial court stated that “[i]n the present case, the Council members did not give a formal collective statement for the denial.” Rather, members stated individual reasons, reflected in the minutes of the hearing, prior to voting. Citing Welch v. Zoning Board of Appeals, supra, 214, the trial court correctly recognized that “these individual views [were] not available to show the reasons for, or the grounds of, the board’s decision.”
Subsequently, the trial court applied the traditional standard of review applicable to zoning commission decisions, and, in the absence of any formal collective statement by the defendant for denying the plaintiff’s application, thoroughly searched the entire record to see whether the defendant was justified in its decision. Parks v. Planning & Zoning Commission, supra, 661-62. In searching the record of the minutes of the August 6, 1991 meeting, the trial court found expressions of two primary concerns about the plaintiff’s proposed development: its size and density. The trial court concluded, however, that, even if it is assumed that size and density problems met the requirements of § 8-30g (c) (1) and (2), there was no evidence that those problems “clearly outweigh[ed] the need for afforda
In light of the foregoing, we conclude that, contrary to the defendant’s assertion, the trial court did not require the defendant collectively to state its reasons for denial,
B
We also conclude that the trial court did not substitute its judgment for that of the defendant regarding the density of the site. In its memorandum of decision, the trial court acknowledged and closely analyzed the defendant’s concerns relating to the size, number and proposed height of the units. The trial court, however, determined that under the burden-shifting mechanism of § 8-30g (c) such concerns were clearly outweighed by the need for affordable housing. The trial court noted that all the existing multifamily areas on the other three sides of the subject property were “more intensely developed.” Specifically, the court noted that the den
C
Finally, we conclude that the trial court neither ignored the defendant’s collective “no” vote on its motion to grant the plaintiff’s application
We agree with the defendant that its wide discretion in denying the plaintiff's request for a zone change encompasses the ability to rely on its personal knowledge of the site and its environs as a basis for its vote. Stiles v. Town Council, 159 Conn. 212, 218-19, 268 A.2d 395 (1970) (courts allow a zoning authority “wide and liberal discretion ... in determining the public need and the means of meeting it, because the local authority lives close to the circumstances and conditions which create the problem and shape the solution”). The only personal knowledge to which the defendant directs this court’s attention, however, is an awareness on the part of the defendant’s members of various “affordable housing initiatives and opportunities [existing] in West Hartford.” Because we conclude in our discussion of the defendant’s fourth claim, infra, that such initiatives and opportunities do not satisfy the statutory requirements of “affordable housing,” the defendant’s consideration of these factors could not furnish a proper basis to justify its decision. Accordingly, we reject the defendant’s argument and conclude that the trial court properly applied traditional concepts of zoning review when it reversed the defendant’s decision.
Ill
The defendant’s next claim is that the trial court improperly refused to consider the affordability of all housing in West Hartford when it assessed the need for “affordable housing” under § 8-30g (c). In an affordable housing appeal, § 8-30g (c) requires a zoning commission to prove, inter alia, that (1) “the [zoning commission’s] decision is necessary to protect substantial public interests in health, safety, or other matters which
In support of its reversal of the defendant’s denial of the plaintiff’s application, the trial court determined that West Hartford was not exempt from the statute pursuant to § 8-30g (f) or (g) and that substantial public interests
In evaluating “need,” the trial court ruled that the only affordable housing units that could be considered were units that met the statutory definition of affordable housing.
The defendant argues that under § 8-30g (c), when weighing the need for affordable housing in West Hartford against the substantial public interests advanced by the defendant as reasons for denying the plaintiffs application, the trial court should have considered evidence of existing housing that did not meet the statutory definition of “affordable housing” but was, nevertheless, “affordable.” In particular, the defendant argues that the trial court should have considered statistical evidence demonstrating that at the time of the plaintiffs hearing before the defendant, there were at least sixty residential units listed on the market in West Hartford for less than $147,500 and thirty-seven housing units listed with an asking price below $99,000. Additionally, the defendant argues that the trial court should have considered evidence that the defendant’s membership had personal knowledge of various efforts on the part of West Hartford to promote affordable housing in the town.
As the amici curiae point out in their brief, there is no support in the statute or its legislative history for the defendant’s position. Section 8-30g (a) explicitly limits the definition of “affordable housing” to “assisted housing” or deed restricted housing. Further, § 8-30g (f) and (g) provide specific exemptions from the
The defendant’s next claim is that the trial court should have required the plaintiff to demonstrate not only an intention to provide affordable housing but also the likelihood that it had the practical ability to effectuate its proposal. The defendant derives this claim from the definitional requirements of § 8-30g (a). Section 8-30g (a) (1) defines “affordable housing development” as “a proposed housing development (A) which is assisted housing or (B) in which not less than twenty percent of the dwelling units will be conveyed by deeds containing covenants or restrictions which shall require that such dwelling units be sold or rented at, or below, prices which will preserve the units as affordable housing . . . .” (Emphasis added.) Thus, § 8-30g (a) (1) sets forth two alternate tests, under either of which an applicant can qualify for “affordable housing development” status under the statute. Further, § 8-30g (a) (3) defines “assisted housing” as “housing which is receiving, or will receive, financial assistance under any governmental program for the construction or substantial rehabilitation of low and moderate income housing, and any housing occupied by persons receiving . . .’’certain state or federal rental assistance.
The trial court found that the plaintiff’s proposal satisfied both tests under § 8-30g (a).
The record reveals and the trial court properly concluded that the plaintiff’s proposed housing development qualified as “assisted housing” under § 8-30g (a) (1). At the June 10,1992 hearing on the defendant’s motion to dismiss, the trial court received evidence that the plaintiff’s proposed project already had received an $11,600 interest free loan from the department of housing, through the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund, Inc.
To satisfy the definition of “assisted housing,” § 8-30g (a) (3) merely required the plaintiff to demonstrate that either it received or it would be receiving financial assistance under any governmental program for the construction of its affordable housing development. Because the evidence in the record supports the conclusion that the plaintiff already had received financial assistance from the department of housing through
Adoption of the more stringent standard advocated by the defendant would severely undermine the development of affordable housing. As noted above, the plaintiff indicated in its application that, although it was pursuing governmental assistance through the state department of housing, it was not possible to have final commitment for the funds prior to securing zoning approval. Thus, to require the plaintiff to furnish conclusive evidence of such funding approval prior to obtaining zoning authorization for purposes of determining whether a proposed affordable housing plan is “assisted” under § 8-30g would thwart the statute’s purpose. Moreover, to have ensured that the appeal provisions of § 8-30g were not fraudulently utilized, the defendant could have conditioned approval of the plaintiffs application upon the receipt of the promised funds. West Hartford Code of Ordinances § 177-44.C (4) (“Town Council may attach any conditions to its approval [of a special development district plan] as it considers necessary in order to assure continued conformance to the approved plan and zoning regulations . . .”).
The record also reveals and the trial court properly determined that the plaintiff’s proposed housing units would be deed restricted within the definition of § 8-30g (a) (1) (B) so as to ensure their continued affordability. As evidence of its commitment to make all its proposed units affordable for the life of the units the plaintiff submitted to the trial court a copy of the Brace-Dale Association, Inc. Declaration of Cooperative. The plaintiff indicated its intent to use a similar declara
The plaintiffs proposed affordable housing development will come under the provisions of the Common Interest Ownership Act (CIOA), General Statutes § 47-200 et seq., which provides in relevant part: “ ‘limited equity cooperative’ means a cooperative whose declaration contains any restrictions on . . .the amount for which a unit may be sold . . . .’’General Statutes § 47-242 (a). Under CIOA, the conveyance of a unit owner’s interest in a cooperative is effectuated by delivery to the purchaser of the “instrument, executed in the same manner as a deed, ” conveying the seller’s interest in the unit. (Emphasis added.) General Statutes § 47-204 (e) (6). Thus, a limited equity affordable cooperative achieves the goals of a § 8-30g (a) (1) (B) deed restricted transfer even though the recorded document is not titled a “deed” per se. The trial court concluded that in view of the technical nature of the plaintiff’s instrument of conveyance, this statutory requirement is a “distinction without a difference,” and we agree. Consequently, we conclude that the trial court correctly determined that the plaintiff’s proposed affordable housing units qualified as deed restricted under § 8-30g (a) (1) (B).
V
The defendant’s final claim is that the trial court improperly ordered a zone change and approval of the special development district designation in lieu of remanding the plaintiff’s application to the defendant with the instruction that the plaintiff revise its application. We disagree.
Section 8-30g (c) provides in relevant part: “If the commission does not satisfy its burden of proof under this subsection, the court shall wholly or partly revise, modify, remand or reverse the decision from which the appeal was taken in a manner consistent with the evidence in the record before it.” (Emphasis added.) Additionally, § 8-30g (d) provides: “Following a decision by a commission to reject an affordable housing application . . . the applicant may, within the period for filing an appeal of such decision, submit to the commission a proposed modification of its proposal responding to some or all of the objections or restrictions articulated by the commission, which shall be treated as an amendment to the original proposal. . . .” (Emphasis added.) The subsection further provides: “Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the right of an applicant to appeal the original decision of the commission in the manner set forth in this section without submitting a proposed modification or to limit the issues which may be raised in any appeal under this section.” (Emphasis added.)
In its memorandum of decision, the trial court held that § 8-30g (d) did not require the plaintiff to submit
Both the trial court’s determination that the plaintiff was not required to submit a modification and its remedy granting the application are specifically authorized by the plain language of § 8-30g. Section 8-30g (d) enables, but does not require the plaintiff to submit a modified application. Additionally, § 8-3Og (c) permits the trial court “wholly or partly [to] revise” the defendant’s decision on appeal. Notwithstanding this plain language, the defendant asks us to interpret § 8-30g to require the trial court to remand the plaintiff’s application to the defendant with the instruction that the plaintiff modify its application. We decline so to rewrite § 8-30g (c) and (d) and, accordingly, conclude that the trial court properly reversed the defendant’s decision and granted the plaintiff’s application.
The judgment is affirmed.
In this opinion Peters, C. J., Callahan and Palmer, Js., concurred.
The defendant derives its zoning authority from special acts of the General Assembly. 19 Spec. Laws 934, §§ 1 through 6 (1925); 20 Spec. Laws 188 (1927); 22 Spec. Laws 473, § 172 (1935); see also Cascio v. Town Council, 158 Conn. 111, 113, 256 A.2d 685 (1969); Clark v. Town Council, 145 Conn. 476, 480-81, 144 A.2d 327 (1958); Sullivan v. Town Council, 143 Conn. 280, 288, 121 A.2d 630 (1956).
General Statutes § 8-30g provides: “affordable housing land use appeals procedure, (a) As used in this section: (1) ‘Affordable housing development’ means a proposed housing development (A) which is assisted housing or (B) in which not less than twenty per cent of the dwelling units will be conveyed by deeds containing covenants or restrictions which shall require that such dwelling units be sold or rented at, or below, prices which will preserve the units as affordable housing, as defined in section 8-39a, for persons and families whose income is less than or equal to eighty per cent of the area median income, for at least twenty years after the initial occupation of the proposed development; (2) ‘affordable housing application’ means any application made to a commission in connection with an affordable housing development by a person who proposes to develop such affordable housing; (3) ‘assisted housing’ means housing which is receiving, or will receive, financial assistance under any governmental program for the construction or substantial rehabilitation of low and moderate income housing, and any housing occupied by persons receiving rental assistance under chapter 138a or Section 1437f of Title 42 of the United States Code; (4) ‘commission’ means a zoning commission, planning commission, planning and zoning commission, zoning board of appeals or municipal agency exercising zoning or planning authority; and (5) ‘municipality’ means any town, city or borough, whether consolidated or unconsolidated.
“(b) Any person whose affordable housing application is denied or is approved with restrictions which have a substantial adverse impact on the
“(c) Upon an appeal taken under subsection (b) of this section, the burden shall be on the commission to prove, based upon the evidence in the record compiled before such commission that (1) the decision from which such appeal is taken and the reasons cited for such decision are supported by sufficient evidence in the record; (2) the decision is necessary to protect substantial public interests in health, safety, or other matters which the commission may legally consider; (3) such public interests clearly outweigh the need for affordable housing; and (4) such public interests cannot be protected by reasonable changes to the affordable housing development. If the commission does not satisfy its burden of proof under this subsection, the court shall wholly or partly revise, modify, remand or reverse the decision from which the appeal was taken in a manner consistent with the evidence in the record before it.
“(d) Following a decision by a commission to reject an affordable housing application or to approve an application with restrictions which have a substantial adverse impact on the viability of the affordable housing development or the degree of affordability of the affordable dwelling units, the applicant may, within the period for filing an appeal of such decision, submit to the commission a proposed modification of its proposal responding to some or all of the objections or restrictions articulated by the commission, which shall be treated as an amendment to the original proposal. The filing of such a proposed modification shall stay the period for filing an appeal from the decision of the commission on the original application. The commission may hold a public hearing and shall render a decision on the proposed modification within forty-five days of the receipt of such proposed modification. The commission shall issue notice of its decision as pro
“(e) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude any right of appeal under the provisions of sections 8-8, 8-9, 8-28, 8-30, or 8-30a.
“(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section, the affordable housing appeals procedure established under this section shall not be available if the real property which is the subject of the application is located in a municipality in which at least ten per cent of all dwelling units in the municipality are (1) assisted housing or (2) currently financed by Connecticut Housing Finance Authority mortgages or (3) subject to deeds containing covenants or restrictions which require that such dwelling units be sold or rented at, or below, prices which will preserve the units as affordable housing, as defined in section 8-39a, for persons and families whose income is less than or equal to eighty per cent of the area median income. The commissioner of housing shall, pursuant to regulations adopted under the provisions of chapter 54, promulgate a list of municipalities which satisfy the criteria contained in this subsection and shall update such list not less than annually.
“(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section, the affordable housing appeals procedure shall not be applicable to an affordable housing application filed with a commission during the one-year period after a certification of affordable housing project completion issued by the commissioner of housing is published in the Connecticut Law Journal. The commissioner of housing shall issue a certification of affordable housing project completion for the purposes of this subsection upon finding that (1) the municipality has completed an initial eligible housing development or developments pursuant to section 8-336f or sections 8-386 and 8-387 which create affordable dwelling units equal to at least one per cent of all dwelling units in the municipality and (2) the municipality is actively involved in the Connecticut housing partnership program or the regional fair housing compact pilot program under said sections. The affordable housing appeals procedure shall be applicable to affordable housing applications filed with a commission after such one-year period, except as otherwise provided in subsection (f) of this section.”
General Statutes § 8-8 (o) provides: “There shall be no right to further review except to the appellate court by certification for review, on the vote
After taking this appeal the plaintiff purchased the subject property.
The R-13 single-family zone requires 12,750 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit while the RM-4 multifamily zone requires 4000 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit.
Hereinafter, we will refer collectively to the requested zone change and special development district designation as the “application.”
The application proposed two four-unit buildings of 5000 square feet and one two-unit building of 2000 square feet.
Additionally, the record is replete with letters and petitions, mostly in opposition to the proposal.
The body of the letter, addressed to the plaintiffs counsel, provided in relevant part: “The Town Council at its meeting on August 6th unanimously denied the petition for zone change and special development district designation for property at 2561 Albany Avenue, application by the West Hartford Interfaith Coalition, Inc., to permit construction of ten cooperative housing units.”
In voting to deny the plaintiffs requested zone change of the subject property, the defendant exercised a legislative function; DeMeo v. Zoning Commission, 148 Conn. 68, 75, 167 A.2d 454 (1961); Burke v. Board of Representatives, 148 Conn. 33, 38, 166 A.2d 849 (1961); Kutcher v. Town Planning Commission, 138 Conn. 705, 709, 88 A.2d 538 (1952); as distinguished from an administrative one. Rules Committee of the Superior Court v. Freedom of Information Commission, 192 Conn. 234, 239, 472 A.2d 9 (1984); Parks v. Planning & Zoning Commission, 178 Conn. 657, 660, 425 A.2d 100 (1979). Acting in such a legislative capacity, the defendant has “wide and liberal” discretion; Burnham v. Planning & Zoning Commission, 189 Conn. 261, 266, 455 A.2d 339 (1983); and “is free to amend its regulations whenever time, experience, and responsible planning for contemporary or future conditions reasonably indicate the need for a change.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Parks v. Planning & Zoning Commission, supra. In contrast, when acting in an administrative capacity, a zoning commis
See General Statutes § 8-30g (a) (2), footnote 2.
The defendant did not raise the claim during the hearing on the plaintiffs application or in its answer on appeal. Likewise, the defendant did not raise the argument in its two pretrial briefs or in its motion to dismiss.
As the amici curiae point out in their brief, the legislature’s intent to cover zone changes is reinforced by the explicit designation of two specific exceptions to the statute, one in General Statutes § 8-30g (f) (towns with greater than 10 percent government assisted or deed restricted housing) and the other in § 8-30g (g) (towns that have been temporarily certified as active participants in the Connecticut housing partnership program). In contrast to these specific exceptions, the applicability of the statute to any application is without qualification. Thus, there is a strong argument that had the legislature so desired, it would have explicitly excepted zone changes from the statute.
The report was officially entitled “State of Connecticut Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing Report and Recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly, February 1, 1989.”
The remarks of Senator Margaret Morton during the floor debates specifically addressed this concern: “I know towns in this small state . . . that have actually zoned out the possibility of their parents or their children being able to afford a home in the town that they have lived in all their lives. We should be very careful [to prevent this] and I urge support of this bill.” 32 S. Proc., Pt. 12, 1989 Sess., p. 4073.
See footnote 10.
In addition to size and density, the trial court found nine other “reasons for [the defendant’s] denial” of the plaintiffs application: the project’s sight line; concern about spot zoning; the desire to utilize other property; concern about the placement of the buildings; concern that the project violated the town plan of development; concern over the lack of sidewalks; concern over the lack of green space; and concern over the precedential effect of the project’s approval. The trial court correctly noted, however, that pursuant to Welch v. Zoning Board of Appeals, 158 Conn. 208, 214, 257 A.2d 795 (1969), “none of these individual reasons [were] available to show the grounds for the [defendant’s] decision.” The trial court further stated, that, even if the reasons had constituted a formal collective statement, the defendant had failed to meet its burden under § 8-30g (c) by proving that any one of the individual reasons outweighed the need for affordable housing.
Because we determine that the trial court did not conclude that General Statutes § 8-30g requires the defendant collectively to state its reasons for its decision, we leave for another day the issue of whether the statute compels the defendant to do so.
The defendant’s motion, stated by Town Council Vice President Larry Price, was as follows: “I move that we adopt the change in zone from R-13 to RM-4 and apply a special development district for property at 2561 Albany Avenue and find that the plan is in harmony with the overall objective of the comprehensive plan, superior to a plan possible under regular standards and in harmony with the actual and permitted development of adjacent properties.”
The trial court never explicitly found that the defendant’s decision to deny the plaintiff’s application was “necessary to protect the public interests in health, safety, or other matters which the commission may legally consider.” It is, however, implicit in its progression to the third prong of the statute to reach the balancing required for General Statutes § 8-30g (c) (3), that the trial court first determined that the defendant’s stated concerns about size and density comprised substantial public interests, in satisfaction of § 8-30g (c) (2).
In August, 1991, the month the defendant acted on the instant application, West Hartford had approximately 1500 housing units that met the statutory definition of affordable housing, comprising approximately 6 percent of the total housing units in the town.
The efforts to which the defendant points include: (1) the allocation of community development block grant funds to assist in the rehabilitation of affordable houses; (2) the provision of funds for conversion of two-family to three-family homes with long-term affordability constraints; (3) the development of a housing trust fund and zoning ordinance amendments initiated by the West Hartford Housing Partnership; (4) the development of a sizeable, affordable housing project on West Hartford town property; (4) general initiatives of the West Hartford Housing Authority; and (5) the approval of a zone change in the Brace-Dale Road area for another affordable housing project proposed by the plaintiff.
As a corollary to its claim, the defendant also argues that by citing to the Blue Ribbon Commission’s report the trial court ignored the specific affordable housing needs of West Hartford and improperly focused on “regional” and statewide figures in assessing that need. The defendant urges that the trial court should have assessed need on the basis of local figures. The defendant points to the legislative history of General Statutes § 8-30g as reflecting the legislative intent to abandon a regional focus; see 32 H.R. Proc., Pt. 30,1989 Sess., p. 10574, remarks of Representative Richard Tulisano; and to “make very clear that it is the municipality’s responsibility to care for the housing needs of its citizens and not some broader community.” See 32 H.R. Proc., Pt. 30, 1989 Sess., p. 10623, remarks of Representative William Cibes. On the other hand, a local focus could severely undermine the development of low income housing because wealthy towns could claim that they have few low income residents, and consequently have little or no local need for low income housing. In addition, as the amicus brief points out, the defendant’s proposed interpretation of the statute, requiring an empirical analysis of need limited to the particular locality, could undermine its effectiveness in the future by inviting litigation over an ancillary, complex factual issue.
We decline to reach this issue. The record, however, reveals, and the defendant does not dispute, that West Hartford at all material times had 1500 units of “affordable housing” under the governing statutory definition, reflecting only 6 percent of its total housing. This percentage falls far below the 10 percent figure needed for West Hartford to qualify under the statutory exemption of § 8-30g (f). Thus, sufficient evidence of local need existed in the record before the trial court to demonstrate a local deficiency of affordable housing upon which the trial court could have relied in balancing the need for affordable housing with the defendant’s concerns over size and density. Accordingly, the trial court’s reliance on regional figures did not affect the outcome of its decision. We therefore reject the defendant’s argument and leave for another day the issue of whether, under
Because General Statutes § 8-30g (a) (1) is written in the disjunctive, we acknowledge that the plaintiff need have satisfied only one test. Because the trial court, however, conducted an analysis under both tests, we do the same.
The evidence received by the trial court consisted of a letter from the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund, Inc., stating that the loan had been awarded to the plaintiff and a copy of the note for said sum.
The trial court stated: “[General Statutes § 8-30g (d)] enables a developer who has had an application denied the opportunity to file an amended application ....
“There is no requirement that the applicant file that amended application and it was not done in this case. As the Council did not collectively state its reasons, it would be extremely difficult for this applicant to utilize the provisions of this section.”
The defendant also asserts that the trial court determined that it would be “futile” for the plaintiff to submit a revised application and claims that this determination is “not consistent with the evidence” in accordance with General Statutes § 8-30g (c). This argument, however, is wholly without merit. Contrary to what the defendant claims, the trial court’s decision merely concluded that there was no requirement that the plaintiff submit a revised application to the defendant.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring.
In this case of first impression concerning General Statutes § 8-30g (Affordable Housing Act), I agree with the result reached and with most of the majority’s analysis. I write separately only to discuss an issue that the majority concludes it is not required to reach—that is, how the “need for affordable housing” under § 8-30g (c) (3)
I agree with the majority and the trial court that the size and density of the project proposed by the plaintiff, the West Hartford Interfaith Coalition, Inc., are the primary concerns that the defendant expressed in rejecting the project. I disagree, however, with the majority’s conclusion in footnote 23 of its opinion that it is not necessary to define “need” in order to determine whether these concerns outweigh the need for affordable housing pursuant to § 8-30g (c) (3). The footnote states that it is unnecessary to define “need” because only 6 percent of West Hartford’s housing is “affordable,” and this is far below the 10 percent required for exemption from the requirements of the Affordable Housing Act under § 8-30g (f).
I believe that the failure to define “need” will cause needless confusion. Furthermore, there are several important reasons why this court should define “need.” As the majority opinion indicates, what constitutes need under § 8-30g (c) (3) was clearly raised by the parties. In addition, this issue is an important factor in determining whether the interests that a town advances are
The Affordable Housing Act was recommended to the legislature by the February 1, 1989 report of the legislatively created Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing
Furthermore, it is clear to me that because the legislature adopted the Affordable Housing Act in response to the commission’s report, it took into consideration all the concerns, findings and conclusions of the commission. “Where ... a report of a special commission or committee to the governor or General Assembly is presented to it, we consider it upon the assumption that its contents are generally known to the members of that body, at least in determining the general intent of the legislature.” State ex rel. Pettigrew v. Thompson, 135 Conn. 228, 233-34, 63 A.2d 154 (1948). Surely,
The commission’s concerns, however, also extend to other matters that take on a statewide perspective and compel the conclusion that § 8-30g (c) (3) has reference to the need for affordable housing for all the people of Connecticut.
In this appeal under the Affordable Housing Act, the defendant town of West Hartford has the burden of proving that: “(1) the decision from which such appeal is taken and the reasons cited for such decision are supported by sufficient evidence in the record; (2) the decision is necessary to protect substantial public interests in health, safety, or other matters which the commission may legally consider; (3) such public interests clearly outweigh the need for affordable housing; and (4) such public interests cannot be protected by reasonable changes to the affordable housing development.” General Statutes § 8-30g (c).
General Statutes § 8-30g (f) provides in relevant part: “[T]he affordable housing appeals procedure established under this section shall not be available if the real property which is the subject of the application is located in a municipality in which at least ten per cent of all dwelling units in the municipality are (1) assisted housing or (2) currently financed by Connect
I also find the comparison confusing. As I understand it, the 1500 units of affordable housing (which is 6 percent of total housing) that West Hartford now has is affordable housing as defined by General Statutes § 8-30g (a) (1). See footnote 2 of the majority opinion. This figure, which does not include units that are financed by Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) mortgages, is being compared with the 10 percent exemption provided in § 8-30g (f), which would include houses financed by CHFA. See footnote 2. Thus, in determining whether the public interests outweigh the need for affordable housing in this case, the majority compares apples with oranges. For all we know on the record before us, West Hartford may in fact meet the 10 percent requirement of § 8-30g (f) if CHFA loans are included.
Furthermore, it is for the trial court, at least in the first instance, to make the determination of whether the defendant has met its burden of proving that the public interests outweigh the need for affordable housing. In making this determination, the trial court did not equate “need” with the 10 percent required for exemption, but rather considered the generalized need for affordable housing on a statewide basis.
See Public Acts 1987, No. 87-550, § 4 (a).
In 1987, the state office of policy and management contracted with each of the state’s fifteen regional planning agencies to conduct a regional housing needs assessment. These assessments were used to compile statewide figures.
As the majority opinion correctly notes, there are suggestions in the floor debates that at least one legislator desired a localized focus on need. I realize that the debates of the legislators are relevant in determining legislative intent. Hartford Electric Light Co. v. Wethersfield, 165 Conn. 211, 223-24, 332 A.2d 83 (1973). “Nonetheless, we approach our attempt to glean the legislative intent from the floor debates with caution and circumspection because we recognize that legislative discussions may only be expressive of the views and motives of individual members and may not be a safe guide to views of the law-making body.” Robinson v. Unemployment Security Board of Review, 181 Conn. 1, 9, 434 A.2d 293 (1980). In the present case, these suggestions that a local focus may have been intended are not controlling because such a construction would defeat the underlying purposes of the act.
The facts that the legislature provided exemptions from the act if a town achieves certain affordable housing goals, and that the exemptions are uniform for every town, reinforce the conclusion that the act has a statewide focus. For example, a municipality is exempt from the provisions of the Affordable Housing Act for a period of one year after certification by the commissioner of housing that it has completed an initial eligible housing development pursuant to General Statutes § 8-386. General Statutes § 8-30g (g). Section 8-386 (a) provides as follows: “Upon submission of the initial report of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4 of public act 87-550, the secretary of the office of policy and management, in consultation with the commissioner of housing, shall establish a pilot program in two planning regions of the state, as designated under the provisions of section 16a-4a, for the development, through the process of a negotiated investment strategy, of a regional fair housing compact to provide increased housing for low and moderate income families within the regions. The choice of the regions for such pilot program shall be based on the findings contained in the initial report of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing. The pilot program shall provide for
The need of the town for affordable housing under any circumstances cannot be judged solely on the basis of the people already living in the municipality. “No person should be restricted in the right to obtain decent housing in any town, whether it be in towns as far west as Greenwich or as far east as Stonington.” Housing Authority v. Papandrea, 222 Conn. 414, 442, 610 A.2d 637 (1992) (Berdon, J., dissenting).