The Commissioner of Housing may approve the designation of up to three areas in the state as housing development zones, provided the commissioner shall not approve the designation of more than one housing development zone in any municipality. Proposals for financial assistance received by the commissioner from eligible developers, as defined in section 8-39, for programs or projects authorized pursuant to chapter 128, 130 or 133 which will be located in a housing development zone shall be accorded a high priority to receive financial assistance from the commissioner. The commissioner may remove the designation of any area which has been approved as a housing development zone if such area no longer meets the criteria for designation as such a zone set forth in sections 8-376 and 8-377 or in regulations adopted pursuant to section 8-381, provided no such designation shall be removed less than ten years from the original date of approval of such zone.