As used in this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive:

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(1) “Approved incentive housing zone” means an overlay zone that has been adopted by a zoning commission and for which a letter of final eligibility has been issued by the commissioner under section 8-13q.

(2) “Building permit payment” means the one-time payment, made pursuant to section 8-13s, for each qualified housing unit located within an incentive housing development for which a building permit has been issued by the municipality.

(3) “Developable land” means the area within the boundaries of an approved incentive housing zone that feasibly can be developed into residential or mixed uses consistent with the provisions of this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive, not including: (A) Land already committed to a public use or purpose, whether publicly or privately owned; (B) existing parks, recreation areas and open space that is dedicated to the public or subject to a recorded conservation easement; (C) land otherwise subject to an enforceable restriction on or prohibition of development; (D) wetlands or watercourses as defined in chapter 440; and (E) areas exceeding one-half or more acres of contiguous land that are unsuitable for development due to topographic features, such as steep slopes.

(4) “Duplex” means a residential building containing two units.

(5) “Eligible location” means: (A) An area near a transit station, including rapid transit, commuter rail, bus terminal, or ferry terminal; (B) an area of concentrated development such as a commercial center, existing residential or commercial district, or village district established pursuant to section 8-2j; or (C) an area that, because of existing, planned or proposed infrastructure, transportation access or underutilized facilities or location, is suitable for development as an incentive housing zone.

(6) “Historic district” means an historic district established pursuant to chapter 97a.

(7) “Incentive housing development” means a residential or mixed-use development (A) that is proposed or located within an approved incentive housing zone; (B) that is eligible for financial incentive payments set forth in this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive; and (C) in which not less than twenty per cent of the dwelling units will be conveyed subject to an incentive housing restriction requiring that, for at least thirty years after the initial occupancy of the development, such dwelling units shall be sold or rented at, or below, prices which will preserve the units as housing for which persons pay thirty per cent or less of their annual income, where such income is less than or equal to eighty per cent or less of the median income.

(8) “Incentive housing restriction” means a deed restriction, covenant, zoning regulation, site plan approval condition, subdivision approval condition, or affordability plan constituting an obligation with respect to the restrictions on household income, sale or resale price, rent and housing costs required by this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive, enforceable for thirty years as required by said sections, and recorded on the land records of the municipality where the housing is located.

(9) “Incentive housing zone” means a zone adopted by a zoning commission pursuant to this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive, as an overlay to one or more existing zones, in an eligible location.

(10) “Incentive housing zone certificate of compliance” means a written certificate issued by the commissioner in accordance with this section and sections 8-13n to 8-13x, inclusive.

(11) “Letter of eligibility” means a preliminary or final letter issued to a municipality by the commissioner pursuant to section 8-13q.

(12) “Median income” means, after adjustments for household size, the lesser of the state median income or the area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the municipality in which an approved incentive housing zone or development is located.

(13) “Mixed-use development” means a development containing one or more multifamily or single-family dwelling units and one or more commercial, public, institutional, retail, office or industrial uses.

(14) “Multifamily housing” means a building that contains or will contain three or more residential dwelling units.

(15) “Open space” means land or a permanent interest in land that is used for or satisfies one or more of the criteria listed in subsection (b) of section 7-131d.

(16) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Housing or the designee of the commissioner.

(17) “Townhouse housing” means a residential building consisting of a single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units, in which each unit extends from foundation to roof and has open space on at least two sides.

(18) “Zone adoption payment” means a one-time payment, made pursuant to section 8-13s.

(19) “Zoning commission” means a municipal agency designated or authorized to exercise zoning powers under chapter 124 or a special act, and includes an agency that exercises both planning and zoning authority.