​Trumbull Legislators Propose Affordable Housing Law Changes

From CT House Republicans: State Reps. David Rutigliano (R-123) and Laura Devlin (R-134) along with Trumbull Economic and Community Development Director, Rina Bakalar and Trumbull First Selectman Timothy Herbst testified in front of the legislature’s Housing committee on legislation to reform the affordable housing laws to provide towns like Trumbull with more control and flexibility when it comes a housing development project.

Here is the list of bills that were heard at the public hearing on February 16th. Both Reps. Devlin and Rutigliano had bills on the Housing committee agenda.

The testimony centered on three proposed developments in Trumbull in well-established residential neighborhoods on relatively small parcels of land. These proposals evolved and the plans for development and density proposed in them far exceeded the regular zoning in the area. The infrastructure in these neighborhoods was built based on the existing zoning and was not designed to handle the type of density being proposed on these sites.

During testimony Rina Bakalar stated that “we strongly support amending the existing statute to allow local zoning boards the right to develop specific guidelines for affordable housing applications that conform to best practices of existing structures in the neighborhood.”

“We need to fix the 8-30g law now. The current affordable housing statutes have an unrealistic target threshold for many towns. Therefore, there is no incentive to further the spirit of the act. Instead, local planning and zoning decisions are being taken away from the municipalities and through the appeal process; these decisions are placed on the doorstep of the Superior Court, where they don’t belong,” said Rep. Rutigliano. “Providing affordable housing is usually the last thing on the minds of the developers who try to force these projects down the throats of local zoning commissions.”

“While well-intended to increase affordable housing in our state when enacted in 1989, the Affordable Housing and Land Use Appeals Act, state statute 8-30g in fact is not working to achieve its intended goal. It makes it more difficult for municipalities to comply and offers an unfair advantage to developers,” said Rep. Devlin. “The proposed changes are important in providing more local control to develop affordable housing options that best meets the needs of local communities.”

First Selectman Herbst said, “In Trumbull we are seeing developers using the threat of high density affordable housing if their regular application for a subdivision is not granted. We are seeing residential neighborhoods zoned and built for 1 unit per half acre with proposals of 5-18 times the density of the existing neighborhood… we recognize the importance of housing diversity to support young people, families and seniors in our community. We further recognize that a lack of housing choice can have negative consequences for our economy.”

Herbst continued his testimony, “Having said that, we believe the 8-30 G statute, in its current form, is problematic at a local level and has some very negative unintended consequences playing out. In fact, the law as it exists and as some developers are choosing to leverage it, may be having the opposite effect in communities and may actually be creating more opposition to affordable housing development than there might be otherwise if the law were amended.”

The bill now awaits further action in the Housing committee. The Housing committee deadline to report out bills is March 7th.

Photo courtesy of CT House Republicans