Bolinsky & Foncello: New “Housing Growth” Bill Threatens Local Control, Hands Too Much Power to Hartford

HARTFORD — State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) and Martin Foncello (R-107) today raised serious concerns about a sweeping new housing proposal moving through the legislature, warning it would take control away from local communities, like Newtown and Brookfield, and hand far too much authority to bureaucrats in Hartford. The measure, House Bill 8002, An Act Concerning Housing Growth, would upend how housing is planned and approved across Connecticut — and, in the process, give the state’s Department of Housing (DOH) unprecedented power to act as a statewide housing authority.

“This isn’t just another housing bill,” said Rep. Bolinsky. “HB-8002, An Act Concerning Housing Growth, was sprung on my colleagues and I at 9:51am Wednesday morning, just before special session was to begin, at 10:30am.  I can now see why it was kept secret from my caucus, from municipal zoning officials and from the public. This bill, being touted as a “help to small towns” by the House Majority Leader, is more detrimental to Connecticut’s small towns than its predecessor, HB-5002, which, thankfully, was vetoed by Governor Lamont after 2025’s regular session. 

In Newtown, at a time when several high-density developments in the planning stages are being met by hundreds of concerned citizens flocking to town meetings to oppose their size, the congestion they will bring, and the possibility of their proximity lowering the market value their own homes, the state’s new law of the land will effectively negate public input and supersede our elected Planning and Zoning Commission’s ability to say no, by referring non-approvals to a regional planning authority. For decisions requiring further “support” the state’s Department of Housing will act as Connecticut’s statewide housing authority.   

Bolinsky continued, “This big-government power grab has one accidental benefit - It will reduce the number of 8-30g lawsuits being filed against towns like ours by moving local resistance to “higher governmental authorities”.  I believe this will also make for faster, easier approvals rendered by non-Newtown stakeholders. In my opinion, this bill passage hints that elections have consequences, with the potential to create veto-proof bills if passed unanimously by a legislative supermajority in Hartford. Fortunately, eight (8) majority Reps voted ‘Nay’, as asked to by their constituents.  Governor Lamont has telegraphed that he’ll sign HB-8002, but it’s not signed yet. I will be sharing his office’s constituent-service contact information shortly, should any Newtowners wish to write him to either delay passage of this bill, or sign it into law before proper public process can be administered in the upcoming 2026 legislative session.  More to follow…”

I think local control is what makes Newtown the place we choose to live. Bypassing public process, hearings, meaningful committee-level, and legislative deliberation is contrary to Connecticut’s long-held status as a “Home Rule State”.  HB-8002 does just that, putting Hartford’s alarming preference for “one-size-fits-all” policies into play. 

Do you think that plan will help us with our traffic congestion, protect our precious water resources, or keep Newtown, Newtown?

It also begs the question: “If zoning, gets centralized, what’s next?”

The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 90-56 and now moves to the State Senate

"Nothing has really changed in this updated housing bill," said Rep. Foncello. "There will still be a number of units each town will have to plan to build, still changes to parking minimums, and more onerous requirements for people trying to petition about planning and zoning decisions. HB 8002 basically tells locally elected board or commission members, who know our towns better than Hartford does, that they're not needed and the State of Connecticut will take care of it from here."

 Under the proposal, the DOH could build, manage, and even sell housing projects on state-owned land — with no local approval, no legislative oversight, and no guarantee that open space, historic sites, or other protected areas would be spared.

Among the most concerning provisions, the legislators noted, are proposals that would:

• Force “summary review” of commercial-to-residential conversions, eliminating public hearings or input from neighbors;
• Abolish local parking minimums for smaller projects, which could strain existing infrastructure;
• Create a new “Fair Share” housing quota system, run by the Office of Policy and Management, allowing the state to override local plans; and
• Establish a new Council on Housing Development, mostly appointed by the Governor, with sweeping power to set zoning and housing policy statewide.

Both legislators agreed that while Connecticut needs to address its housing challenges, it shouldn’t come at the expense of local voices, transparency, town character or common sense.

Bolinsky and Foncello urged legislative leaders and the governor to scrap this new iteration of the bill and instead work with municipal officials, regional planners, and residents to craft a plan that respects both local control and the state’s housing needs.