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Dancho Testifies on Affordable Housing Bill – HB 5333
Posted on March 6, 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Yesterday, I submitted testimony on House Bill 5333 “An Act Concerning a Study of the Affordable Housing Appeals Process”. This bill would create a task force studying municipal concerns with meeting affordable housing requirements mandated by CT statute 8-30g.
The issue: forcing towns to develop housing could negatively impact environmentally sensitive land.
The solution: allow this task force to study the effectiveness of approving naturally occurring affordable housing in the 10% affordable housing requirement for municipalities, supporting both our environment and uplifting low-income families.
(See My Full Testimony Below)
Co-Chairs Felipe and Moore, Ranking Members Scott and Sampson, and members of the Housing Committee: Thank you for allowing me the opportunity today to provide testimony on HB 5333, An Act Concerning A Study Of The Affordable Housing Appeals Process. The intent of this bill is to study the effects of the affordable housing appeals process on municipalities in the state.
Connecticut Statute 8-30g was instituted in 1989 with the intent to incentivize our cities and towns to provide 10% of their housing stock as “affordable,” or 80% of AMI or less. Towns that do not meet this threshold can be taken to court if affordable new housing proposals for development are rejected by city/town planning commissions. After 30 years, many towns are still unable to achieve the threshold for a variety of reasons.
Many older towns such as Stratford, founded in 1639, have limited space to provide new housing. What undeveloped land available is generally space that is environmentally sensitive in that they contain wetlands or tributaries that will be compromised with any development where 8-30g would override all regulations put in place to protect these areas.
The affordable housing appeals procedure should be amended to include naturally occurring affordable housing. This would encompass older housing, such as co-operative developments, where the deed restriction has since expired; however, historically will remain affordable as defined. Perhaps a yearly recertification procedure could be implemented to assess this housing.
Thank you again for this opportunity to provide testimony on HB 5333.
Sincerely,
Representative Laura Dancho (R-Stratford)