Fairfield First Selectman Thanks Gov. Lamont For Veto Of Controversial Housing Bill

FAIRFIELD, CT — Following Gov. Ned Lamont's planned veto of the controversial housing bill HB 5002, Fairfield First Selectman Bill Gerber, who opposed the bill, thanked the governor for the decision.

Three of Fairfield's four state legislators voted against the bill, which was designed to help with Connecticut's affordable housing crunch, but in some cases would have allowed for local zoning regulations to be overridden to help achieve that goal.

"I understand that the shortage of housing units and dearth of housing choices is a crisis that must be solved," Gerber said in a statement to Patch. "Ultimately this state of affairs, if allowed to continue unalleviated, will hurt the ability of our towns and state to compete for talented workers and remain economically vibrant. Our Town is committed to thoughtful, inclusive planning that meets housing needs while preserving environmental sustainability and local decision-making."

Read More:

• Fairfield First Selectman Gerber Writes To Gov. Lamont Seeking Veto Of Housing Law HB 5002
• Tooker Makes Her Opinion Clear On Housing Bill HB 5002

Gerber said that the affordable housing shortage in Fairfield, and in other towns in the state, can negatively impact the possibility of teachers, firefighters, police officers, healthcare workers and others finding adequate housing within reasonable commuting distances from their places of employment.

He said that Fairfield will continue to work with state leaders, residents, and developers to find balanced housing solutions while maintaining local governance.

"I appreciate Governor Lamont’s willingness to work with towns that identify sites that we believe are suitable for housing development, and to assist us in realizing the potential of these properties," Gerber said. "The Governor’s veto acknowledges the importance of growth guided by people who know their communities best."

Fairfield has seen some positive impacts from affordable housing development, Gerber added.

"Fairfielders were concerned when GE sold its Fairfield headquarters to Sacred Heart University, taking approximately $56 million of real estate value off the Grand list, and leaving a $1.6 million tax revenue hole," Gerber said. "Not everyone understands that since then, Fairfield has added $2.4 million of new annual tax revenue stemming from four housing developments: The Trademark [at 665 Commerce Drive]; Alto [at 1401 Kings Highway]; The Anchorage [at 333 Unquowa Road] and Fairchild Apartments [at 130 Fairchild Avenue]."

For context, the entire 2026 budge for Dwight Elementary School’s teaching staff, one of the town's 11 elementary schools, is $2.3 million, Gerber said.

He cautioned that although some elected officials and residents decry any development, it’s important to understand how the Town pays its bills for schools, parks, libraries and public safety.