For the purpose of preserving the integrity of the Capitol Center District as the central location of the three branches of state government, no building or zoning permit shall be issued by the city of Hartford for any land, building or structure, within the boundaries of the Capitol Center District for a period of ninety days from the date of notification by the city of Hartford to the Department of Administrative Services of such application for approval of a building or zoning permit without the written approval of the department, except building and zoning permits for any maintenance, improvements, rehabilitation or conversion of existing buildings or structures, whether required or not, not exceeding a gross cost of twenty-five thousand dollars and except permits issued to the city of Hartford itself. Notification of any such application for a building or zoning permit shall be made, on a form prepared and furnished by the department, by the director of licenses and inspections of the city to the Commissioner of Administrative Services within five days of receipt by the city of such application for a permit. If the department does not grant such written approval, or does not enter into a contract for purchase of the subject property, or does not institute condemnation proceedings leading to its acquisition within the prescribed ninety days, the applicant shall not be bound by the provisions of subsection (a) of § 4b-66 and sections 4b-72 to 4b-74, inclusive. Notification of any such action by the department shall be furnished to said director within five days after such action has been taken by the department and, if the department fails to take any of such actions within the ninety-day period, the department shall inform said director in writing of its failure to institute any of such actions within five days after the expiration of the ninety-day period.