Ridgefield Leaders Push Back On State Housing Law, Cite Local Control And Zoning Concerns

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield Planning & Zoning Board officials, past and present, are sounding the alarm over Connecticut’s newly enacted housing legislation, saying it could strip small towns of local control and change the character of communities across the state.

House Bill 5002, signed into law this month as Public Act No. 25-49, aims to increase housing affordability through zoning reforms, streamlined development processes, and reduced parking mandates. The law, passed with bipartisan support, encourages multi-family construction, transit-oriented development, and the removal of local barriers to affordable housing.

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Notably, the law remains in legislative limbo a week after it cleared the State Senate, still awaiting Gov. Ned Lamont's signature or veto. He has until June 24 to make his decision.

Proponents of the law say it will breathe new life into a Connecticut housing market out of touch for many first-time and elderly buyers and renters. Civil rights organization Open Communities Alliance believes that "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." Top-down binding guidance from Hartford would alleviate the state's "affordable housing crisis," the advocacy group contends.

The law includes provisions that allow up to four residential units per acre on certain commercial properties as-of-right—meaning no local hearings or special permit approvals are needed. However, local officials say they bypass longstanding planning processes developed through community input.

Ridgefield Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Rob Hendrick said the legislation could “will most likely hurt small towns and small businesses,” in a statement published on Patch. Ridgefield will "need to hire more staff" and "create more regulations", and still there will be a "high risk that the projects will be flawed," according to Hendrick.

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John Katz, a former Ridgefield Planning and Zoning Commission member, called the legislation “preposterous” in an interview. “It robs local communities of their self-control,” Katz said. “Everything is now going to be controlled by the state in terms of allowed densities, setbacks—without public view or hearings.”

Katz, who served on the commission for several years beginning in the late 1970s, said Ridgefield’s master plan has historically emphasized single-family homes. “This regulation forces an attitude toward construction that is completely out of step with our planning goals,” he said.

Public Act No. 25-49 is extraordinarily broad in scope. It expands definitions for affordable housing, establishes requirements for municipalities to include diverse housing in their plans of conservation and development, and authorizes the state to develop model zoning ordinances. The act also reduces parking minimums in downtown areas and encourages development near public transportation hubs.

Katz acknowledged the need for more affordable housing but said the solution should come from the towns, not mandates from Hartford. “We need to support housing that is affordable to those earning less than the HUD threshold,” he said, advocating for local set-asides or tax-supported programs. “But the state shouldn’t dictate where or how that happens.”

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Both Hendrick and Katz questioned the motivations behind the legislation. “Everything seems designed to benefit contractors and builders, not the people,” Katz said. “This isn’t a sociologically driven bill. It’s driven by building trades interests.”

If signed by Lamont, the new law would take effect in stages, with municipalities required to align zoning and development practices with the law’s guidelines by 2027. In the meantime, Ridgefield officials are reviewing how the law will affect the town’s planning priorities.