Connecticut Zoning Bills in Peril Near End of Legislative Session

A pair of zoning reform bills before the Connecticut state legislature are in danger as the legislative session draws to a close, warns Ginny Monk in CT Mirror. “With the weeks waning in the legislative session, lawmakers are reaching a crucial point of negotiation to get any zoning reforms through.” 

The two bills in question concern ‘fair share,’ a concept similar to California’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), and transit-oriented development.

As Monk explains, “Connecticut’s [fair share] proposal would have the state analyze regional housing needs, which would then be divided up between towns.” This isn’t the first attempt by the state to stimulate housing development. “Under a 2017 law, towns were required to submit affordable housing plans last summer,” but less than half of Connecticut towns met that deadline.

Meanwhile, “The transit-oriented development bill, also known as Work, Live, Ride, would use certain infrastructure grants to encourage towns to increase residential density near train and bus stations.” 

Local leaders call the proposals “burdensome to towns,” while housing advocates say the state must step in when cities are reluctant to create affordable housing in their communities.