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Please forward this to your legislators and let them know you have concerns with the bill!
The amendment to HB-5002 expected to be voted on TODAY includes sweeping changes that undermine local planning processes, impose difficult compliance burdens on towns, and create greater uncertainty regarding the availability of discretionary funding needed to address water pollution, support community and economic development, and investment in infrastructure.
Towns are facing very difficult budget issues this year due to inflation, skyrocketing health insurance costs, education and special education shortfalls, and cuts in federal funding. At the same time, towns are struggling to address a wide range of issues, including public safety, climate resiliency, stormwater management, solid waste management, and, yes, housing needs.
This is not the time to impose sweeping changes on municipalities based on a flawed methodology and report that was finalized just days ago.
Please OPPOSE the following provisions in HB-5002:
Fair Share Housing Mandate - The bill requires OPM to determine each town's affordable housing target based on certain factors, including housing mix, grand list strength, wealth, and poverty. This fails to consider water and wastewater capacity and other factors that are critical to supporting housing development. It also requires municipalities to adopt zoning regulations to “create a realistic opportunity” for developers to build affordable housing units to meet the municipalities' state-determined "affordable housing allocation". Such regulations would be subject to review by OPM to determine whether the municipality is in compliance. If a municipality is deemed in compliance or is exempt from the requirements, it may be prioritized for certain discretionary state funding, including Clean Water Fund, the Urban Act, the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), the Main Street Investment Fund, and the Incentive Housing Zone program. How will this impact funding for small towns that do not have the capacity to meet the assigned housing allocation requirement?
Transit-Oriented Communities – By prioritizing funding for municipalities that qualify as Transit-Oriented Communities, the bill calls into question whether any funding under STEAP, which only has enough funding for 20-30 municipal projects each year, will be available to small towns that are not in a position to qualify as a Transit-Oriented Community.
Municipal Liability Costs - Subjects municipalities to attorney’s fees and costs under the Affordable Housing Appeals Act if the court determines that the municipality acted in bad faith or caused undue delays in appealing a decision on an 8-30g affordable housing project. This will have a chilling effect on the right of municipalities to appeal projects that may pose certain environmental, traffic congestion, or other issues in their community.
Minimum Parking Requirements - Prohibits local zoning regulations from establishing minimum off-street parking requirements for certain housing developments.
As-of-Right Conversion of Commercial Buildings - Mandates that municipalities allow commercial buildings to be converted to residential housing developments as-of-right.
Fair Rent Commissions – Requires all municipalities regardless of population to establish and staff fair rent commissions, although municipalities may participate in commissions established by regional Councils of Government.
PLEASE OPPOSE THIS BILL!
Questions? Please contact Betsy Gara at bgara@ctcost.org or 860-841-7350 or James Berardino at james.berardino@gmlobbying.com for more information regarding COST's concerns.
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