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Newington staff outlines schedule to implement Public Act 25-1; commissioners seek attorney review and CROG input
Summary
Town planner Paul Dixon presented a schedule to draft and review local regulations to implement Public Act 25-1 (housing growth): draft by April 17, work session April 22, public hearing May 27 and potential final action in June; commissioners asked for CR O G review and town attorney guidance on hearing requirements.
Paul Dixon, Newington’s town planner, told the Planning and Zoning Commission on April 8 that staff is working to produce a draft of regulations implementing Public Act 25-1, aiming to circulate a final draft to the commission and the town attorney by April 17. Dixon laid out a proposed timeline that includes an April 22 work session, a May 27 public hearing (if set) and potential final action in mid-June.
Why it matters: Public Act 25-1 changes how towns can allow smaller residential forms and summary review procedures; the regulations will determine how those state requirements are applied locally and which projects may be expedited to summary review rather than full discretionary hearings.
Dixon said staff has identified examples from other states and will focus on small-scale residential types (two-to-nine units and similar infill forms). He emphasized that local regulations must be prescriptive to satisfy the statute’s requirements and withstand legal scrutiny: "You cannot use discretionary words like ‘compatible’ or ‘suitable’ — it has to be prescriptive," Dixon said, and the town attorney will review the draft language for legal compliance.
Commissioners asked for CROG (peer-review) comments and for clarity on whether the commission may require public hearings in certain review tracks. Dixon said CROG will provide comments and confirmed staff will share CROG feedback with the commission. On hearing requirements Dixon said staff’s current interpretation is that certain procedural elements are constrained by the statute and that the town attorney’s opinion will be sought for a definitive interpretation.
Public participation and outreach: Jacob Nolton (public commenter/staff collaborator) said CROG and staff will hold an internal forum the next day aimed at staff, with a broader public meeting planned for May to present calculation methods and receive community input. Dixon said he would email CROG comments and meeting information to commissioners.
Next steps: staff will finalize a draft and circulate it to the commission and town attorney, hold the April 22 work session and proceed toward a May public hearing if the commission elects to set one. Commissioners asked that attorney guidance about hearing requirements and how general town regulations apply to any new summary-review provisions be provided before finalizing rules.
