• Fact Sheet
   
• Background
   
• FAQ
   
• Legislative Proposal - House Bill 6944
   
  • Bill Language
    
    
  • OCA testimony with technical recommendations for updated language
    
    
  • Legislative Status:
    
    
    • 2/18 @ 10:30 am: Hearing before the Housing Committee
    • Submit written testimony here through 3/7

Why Connecticut Needs Towns Take the Lead

With more than 70,000 unfilled jobs and more than 100,000 families burdened by the cost of housing, there is no question that Connecticut needs more housing options that are affordable for its residents. While there are many factors driving higher costs that are out of the state's control, housing is something we can have a major impact on.

What is missing from current law is guidance on goals and process. Towns Take the Lead Planning and Zoning would continue to vest municipalities with zoning authority, but set out unit goals for planning and zoning, tailored to each town, and then ensure towns plan and zone to reach their target.

Core concept

Amend the Affordable Housing Plan statute (8-30j) to ensure that Connecticut municipalities plan to meet a set, individualized affordable housing goal and, within a year, change local zoning to match their plans. Municipalities may also offer a justification for why they are not able to meet their goal and provide an alternative target.

Background

Connecticut law provides that all municipalities help meet the state’s need for housing that is affordable to its residents -- but does not provide enough structure.

• Connecticut’s Zoning Enabling Act (CGS Sec. 8-2) delegates the authority to zone from the state to municipalities under certain conditions, including that towns allow affordable and multifamily housing and help meet their region’s need for affordable units. No details are provided on how much housing to allow.
  
  
• Under current law (CGS Sec. 8-30j), every Connecticut municipality is required to issue an affordable housing plan every five years, but this law does not set any unit goals for towns and does not require that plans be translated into actual zoning or policy changes.

Towns are left to plan and zone in a vacuum with no connection to the state’s actual need for housing that is affordable for Connecticut families. Restrictive zoning is fueling the state’s affordable housing crisis.

The Proposal

Amend CGS Sec. 8-30j, the Affordable Housing Plan statute, to require that municipalities: 

• Plan to reach a specific unit goal, contributing to the regional need for affordable housing.
  
  
• Designate specific areas of town -- potentially including downtowns, areas near transit stops and other amenity-rich areas -- that would be good locations for mixed-income housing developments.
  
  
• Alter local zoning and other relevant rules to allow that housing to be built.

• Provide an explanation if they are not able to plan and zone for their affordable housing unit goal and identify an alternative target.

See the Towns Take the Lead fact sheet for additional details.