Senate Bill 1523 - Summary

• Requires sanitary districts to provide written findings justifying the need for a moratorium on construction or land development, including documentation of existing essential public facility capacity and projected shortages.

• Mandates public notice published in a newspaper at least 30 days before a final public hearing is held on adoption of a moratorium.

• Limits moratoriums to an initial period of 120 days, with extensions of up to 120 days only after a public hearing and written findings demonstrating progress toward alleviating the underlying problem.

• Prohibits moratoriums from affecting express provisions of development agreements, vested development rights, or rights obtained through development agreements, and requires a waiver procedure for affected landowners.

• Allows landowners to file a complaint for trial de novo in superior court within 30 days of moratorium adoption, with court authority to award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.