Lawsuit Against Woodbridge Demands Zoning Changes: Reports

WOODBRIDGE, CT — A civil rights organization has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Woodbridge claiming that zoning regulations violate state law, according to NBC CT. Open Communities Alliance claimed that bans on multi-family housing and requirements for large lot sizes exclude lower-income families from moving to Woodbridge.

The group said this disproportionately affects people of color from moving into town and fails to address the stark need for affordable housing. The group first called on Woodbridge to change its zoning regulations in 2020 and said the rules deepen "economic and racial segregation in the area," NBC CT reported.

The lawsuit claims that the town's zoning violates the Zoning Enabling Act and the Fair Housing Act, WTNH News-8 reported. The suit states that current policies bar multi-family housing of three or more units in 98.4% of the town's residential areas.