Gov. Lamont
HARTFORD — Gov. Ned Lamont said he would veto a controversial bill Monday (June 23) that had caused concern in Derby and other municipalities.
House Bill 5002 was approved by the members of the Connecticut General Assembly in May. Its formal name was “an act concerning housing and the needs of homeless persons.“
According to an article from The Connecticut Mirror, the bill attempted to “address a critical housing shortage by requiring municipalities to set goals for affordable housing, prioritizing state aid to communities that build housing, and streamlining approval for so-called “middle housing,” defined as a building with two to nine units,” the Mirror reported.
“Under the bill, zoning regulations would have to allow middle housing in commercial zones as “of right,” which means approval without any discretionary zoning action other than a review to determine if a site plan conforms with applicable regulations and will not impact public health and safety,” according to the Mirror.
Those who opposed the bill said the state was reaching too far, including David Kopjanski, a member of the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission. He complained about the bill at a Derby meeting held on June 17.
“This is the beginning of the end of home rule,” Kopjanski said to his fellow commissioners.
Some of the bill’s mandates — such as making sure housing development happens near transportation corridors — are already happening in Derby, where hundreds of housing units have been approved near Route 8 and the Metro-North Waterbury train line.
Derby has also approved developments that set aside units for “middle income” families.
According to The Hartford Business Journal, Lamont, in announcing he will veto the bill, said the bill was a good start but that too many municipal leaders weren’t happy.
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) applauded the governor’s looming veto.
“His decision underscores the importance of thoughtful, inclusive policy making that respects the role of local governments in shaping housing solutions that work for their unique communities,” the group said in a prepared statement.
Supporters said the bill addressed the state’s housing crisis, in which wealthier communities embrace NIMBYism, block all attempts at high density housing, and keep the affordable housing supply low and in cities.
The Open Communities Alliance, a Connecticut-based nonprofit with a focus on reversing housing segregation, issued a written statement expressing a “deep dismay” over Lamont’s looming veto.
“We are profoundly disheartened by the governor’s decision to once again leave families struggling to afford housing in Connecticut with fewer options,” the group said.
Generally speaking, state Democrats in the legislature supported the bill while Republicans did not. Click here to read a story from The CT Mirror on the state Senate vote.
