There will be no new affordable housing applications in Oxford until new regulations are in the books.
After a public hearing Thursday, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a moratorium on all affordable housing applications until January 2011.
Commissioners hope this will provide some breathing room to draft regulations that will guide where affordable housing would be placed.
Pat Cocchiarella, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, said with a moratorium on new applications gives the commission a chance to concentrate on creating solid regulations.
“This (moratorium) gives us time to craft proper regulations so we are in compliance with the state,” he said.
While town officials from political parties spoke in favor of the moratorium, one attorney is calling the action illegal.
Timothy Hollister, representing Garden Homes, LLC, said in a letter to the commission wrote that state law has strict guidelines for towns to declare an affordable housing moratorium.
The town is currently requesting an appeal of a court decision to allow Garden Homes to build mobile-style affordable housing in an industrial zone.
The statute provides a four-year moratorium for towns with “sufficient” affordable housing.
Hollister states because Oxford does not meet that requirement because there is no affordable housing in town.
“Oxford’s proposed moratorium if approved would void from its inception,” he said.
Oxford Town Attorney Fran Teodosio said during the public hearing that state law gives the commission “implicit rights” to have a moratorium.
First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said drafting regulations is a common sense approach. A moratorium would eliminate any distractions for the commission.
“You cannot be fair to the town or the applicants if you are simultaneously dealing with applications,” she said.
Former Selectman Augie Palmer said he hopes the commission takes time and discretion in drafting the regulations.
“I hope the commission draft regulations so the structures can look more like family homes rather than high density, mixed use housing,” he said.
The commission has scheduled three affordable housing regulation workshops in March and April.
Cocchiarella said because the workshops are considered special meetings, there would be no public participation.
However, Cocchiarella added residents can send written correspondence to the commission through the Planning and Zoning Department.
The moratorium becomes effective Feb.25 and expires Jan 15, 2011.