May 28, 2025

Rep. Dave Yaccarino Votes ‘No’ on HB 5002, Defends North Haven’s Right to Control Its Own Zoning

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Hartford, CT – State Representative Dave Yaccarino (R–87th District) voted “No” on HB 5002, the wide-ranging housing bill that shifts zoning power away from local governments and imposes broad mandates from Hartford.

“I love North Haven, and I believe in the people who live here and the leaders who serve them,” said Rep. Yaccarino. “No one in Hartford knows our town better than we do. Housing decisions should reflect the values, needs, and character of our community, not be handed down through one-size-fits-all policies from the Capitol.”

Rep. Yaccarino raised concerns about several major components of the bill:

25% Fair Share Housing Mandate: The bill requires towns to meet a fixed percentage of affordable housing under a statewide formula, regardless of existing development patterns, infrastructure, or community plans.
Mandatory Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): HB 5002 pressures towns to adopt high-density zoning near transit corridors, tying essential infrastructure funds to compliance. This undermines local planning considerations like septic capacity, road safety, and environmental protection.
Elimination of Commercial/Residential Zoning Lines: The bill permits “middle housing” on any lot currently zoned commercial, without the need for local approval, disrupting the balance many towns have worked hard to preserve between business areas and residential neighborhoods.
Developer Legal Fee Reimbursement: Under the bill, developers can recover legal costs from towns even when municipalities raise legitimate concerns about health, safety, and infrastructure.

“North Haven has always taken a thoughtful approach to growth,” Yaccarino said. “We understand our infrastructure limits, we care about protecting our environment, and we’ve made progress on affordable housing, all without state interference. Hartford doesn’t need to fix what isn’t broken.”

Yaccarino emphasized that he supports increasing housing opportunities, but only when decisions are made locally, with input from the people most affected.

“I voted no because I believe in local control,” he said. “North Haven deserves the freedom to shape its own future.”