Fairfield First Selectman Gerber Writes To Gov. Lamont Seeking Veto Of Housing Law HB 5002

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield First Selectman Bill Gerber has written an open letter to Gov. Ned Lamont asking the governor to veto HB 5002, a controversial affordable housing bill that passed both the state House and Senate last week.

Three of Fairfield's four state legislators voted against the bill; CT Mirror reports that Lamont plans to sign it into law.

The bill reportedly seeks to address Connecticut's need for additional affordable housing units, and in some cases allows for local zoning regulations to be overridden to help achieve that goal.

Earlier this year, Fairfield was granted a four-year moratorium on affordable housing, but Gerber argues that HB 5002 would require the town to build a significant number of new affordable units despite the moratorium.

"The ink was barely dry on our moratorium notification before the CT State legislature passed a new affordable housing development framework in HB 5002 that, if allowed to proceed, will require Fairfield to add hundreds more affordable units," he wrote.

Gerber's letter is below:

Dear Governor Lamont,

On behalf of the Town of Fairfield, I respectfully ask that you veto HB 5002. Fairfield has added hundreds of affordable housing units and recently qualified for a 4-year moratorium from zoning-override applications made under 8-30g.

The ink was barely dry on our moratorium notification before the CT State legislature passed a new affordable housing development framework in HB 5002 that, if allowed to proceed, will require Fairfield to add hundreds more affordable units.

You would understand better than most how capricious, arcane regulations can be bad for business. I have made several attempts to read and understand HB 5002, and it is not easy. It does not present itself as a practical solution to a very complex and important problem. It reads like the result of an ivory tower brainstorming session held by well-intentioned folks with little real-world experience.

If vetoed, it is my hope that a less convoluted and more practical framework can gain the support needed to promote affordable housing in Connecticut. Thank you.

Bill Gerber
First Selectman
Fairfield, CT