For resident Matt McDermott, it is time for the town “to take stock” of how its zoning rules have impacted housing and what that has meant for the region.

McDermott spoke as the Plan and Zoning Commission aired a proposal to modify its land use policies to allow for higher density, affordable housing stock.

The hearing drew some support for the proposed change.

“Over the last 80 years, we have only sought to increase our lot sizes,” said McDermott.

“Now is a moment in time for us to take stock of what this has done to our community,” he said. “Our zoning has locked in racial and economic privilege.”

Officials with the Open Communities Alliance, a civil rights organization, contend the Woodbridge long-standing zoning policies are exclusionary. The group has alleged that Woodbridge is a “pioneer in exclusionary zoning,” where restrictions were put in place almost 100 years ago, serving as a template for others in the state.

The Alliance also has claimed Woodbridge for decades has failed to loosen its restrictions, during which time the housing crisis in Connecticut has gotten worse.

To end 'discriminatory and segregating policies', Civil rights group pushes zoning change in Woodbridge, Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register, Jan. 6th, 2021, available here