Zullo, Cicarella Oppose Parking, Accessory Apartment Regulations

EAST HAVEN, CT — East Haven's State Rep. Joe Zullo (R-99) and State. Sen Paul Cicarella (R-34) are urging Mayor Joseph Carfora to opt out of a Connecticut mandate on parking and accessory apartment regulations.

Under the law, East Haven's one-bedroom dwelling units would have one unit of parking, rather than 2.5, and units with two bedrooms or more would have two units, rather than 2.5, a news release said.

Additionally, the law designates "locations or zoning districts within the municipality in which accessory apartments are allowed, provided at least one accessory apartment shall be allowed as of right on each lot that contains a single-family dwelling."

Zullo and Cicarella argue in the news release that it "has the practical effect of converting nearly every single-family home into a multi-family dwelling by giving 'as-of-right' zoning status to 'in-law apartments' and accessory additions."

"In principal and in practice, we supported the legislation’s underlying objectives to increase housing opportunities and make our zoning laws easier to administer," the lawmakers wrote. "However, we both strongly opposed mandates in the legislation overriding local towns’ parking regulations and imposing a one-size-fits-all approach to accessory apartments (commonly known as 'in-law' apartments)."

Zullo and Cicarella called the law "a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to zoning" and said they believe zoning decisions should instead be left to "informed, connected stakeholders" in East Haven.

"Also, the 'in-law apartment' mandate acts to convert single-family homes into two-family dwellings, which poses a threat to the town's delivery of public safety and emergency services, education and residential parking throughout the town," the lawmakers wrote.

Under the law, which Gov. Ned Lamont signed in June, towns can opt out of the mandates through procedural requirements, such as town hearings.

The lawmakers are encouraging East Haven officials to consult with the town's land use counsel and relevant board members to discuss whether exercising that option would be appropriate, the news release said.