History

The Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency came about through the provisions of Chapter 127 of the Connecticut General Statutes, enacted in 1955, which authorized the delineation of regional planning areas and the creation of regional planning agencies within those areas upon vote of the municipalities contained therein. The first meeting of what was then called the New Britain - Bristol Regional Planning Agency was convened on March 17, 1966.

The Central Connecticut Planning Region was defined to include the two central cities of New Britain and Bristol and the municipalities of Berlin, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, and Southington. The Town of Burlington did not formally join the CCRPA until 1973, although CCRPA strengthened the relations with Town agencies and gave considerable assistance to the Town during the interim period. The agency is governed by a board consisting of one representative selected by each member city or town's planning and zoning commission, and one or two members( depending upon population) selected by the city or town's chief elected official. This board meets on the first Thursday of each month, except July and August, in the Agency's office in Bristol.

Within the State enabling legislation for regional planning, regional planning agencies are authorized to perform certain activities: 1) Provide technical assistance to member municipalities and other public agencies; 2) Make recommendations to member municipalities for the efficient and economical development or operation of public facilities or services in relation to regional economic and social welfare and the municipalities; 3) Give technical assistance and make recommendations in instances where two or more member municipalities are considering the joint development or operation of a physical facility or service; 4) Whenever two or more municipalities seek to join together in the formation of a district permitted under the General Statutes or a special act for joint development or operation of physical facilities and services, the proposal must be referred to the regional planning agency for an advisory report; 5) The regional planning agency must make a plan of development for its region.

In other State legislation, regional planning agencies are given additional duties: 1) Proposed zone changes within 500 feet of the boundary of any municipality located within or adjacent to the Region must be referred by the zoning commission to the regional planning agency for an advisory report; 2) Similarly, a proposed subdivision of land which will abut or include land in one or more member- municipalities must be referred to the regional planning agency for an advisory report; 3) Certain municipal development projects for industrial and business purposes must be referred to the regional planning agency.

In 1974 the CCRPA expanded its involvement in transportation by initiating a Regional Transportation Planning Program under grants from the Federal Highway Administration and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The transportation planning process is conducted in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding between the CCRPA and the ConnDOT. CCRPA is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the central Connecticut region and therefore plays a major role in the distribution of transportation funds in the area.

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