Affordable Housing In Fairfield An 'Emotionally Charged Issue'

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield officials tackled a question last week that has loomed in the background of many public hearings and zoning meetings in recent years: What’s the best way to bring more affordable housing to town?

Legislators and local experts discussed the issue during a virtual town hall held Wednesday in the wake of several proposed zoning changes out of Hartford, which have received vocal pushback from some in Fairfield. About 70 people logged on to the event.

“It’s a very emotionally charged issue,” said state Sen. Tony Hwang, R-28, who spoke at a rally last month in Fairfield opposing the zoning bills and argued Wednesday the changes were based on what he called a “false premise” that the state has authority over local zoning and planning.

Of particular contention Wednesday was House Bill 6611, which would require towns to provide a fair share of affordable housing based on factors including resident incomes and multifamily housing stock. Under the bill, Fairfield’s fair share would require 2,300 affordable units, and the town would have to identify parcels for development, according to Town Plan and Zoning Commission Chair Matthew Wagner.

“The fair share bill is simply untenable,” he said.

State Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, D-133, noted that the bill died in committee, but Hwang and state Rep. Laura Devlin, R-134, expressed concern it could be resurrected.

“It can’t come up for a vote,” Hwang said. “Let’s go back to the drawing board.”

Another proposal discussed Wednesday was House Bill 6107, which would eliminate the requirement that town zoning regulations be made with consideration of the character of a district. McCarthy Vahey noted the legislation would not affect the use of terms such as “historic” or “density” in municipal zoning.

“The way we regulate our land is something that impacts one another,” she said. “As long as there are humans on the planet we’re going to be talking about how we use our land.”

Hwang remarked the bill yielded 24 hours of public hearing input, and even so, nearly 70 percent of those who wanted to speak were not heard.

“These bills are misguided,” Wagner said. “We are doing the hard work, and that is why it is so offensive for those at the state level to dictate to all towns this sort of, as you’ve characterized it, one-size-fits-all.”

Wagner asserted that subsidies and banking reforms that empower disenfranchised people to buy land and build equity would better serve those in need of affordable housing. Hwang argued the proposed legislation would increase density, but would not resolve issues of racial equity and housing access.

No panel on affordable housing in Fairfield would be complete without a discussion of state law Section 8-30g, which applies to towns where less than 10 percent of housing stock meets criteria to be recognized as affordable. Under the law, the only way the town can avoid approving housing proposals consisting of at least 30 percent affordable units is by proving a project poses a threat to public health, welfare and safety that outweighs the need for affordable housing.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, who hosted the panel, called 8-30g “extraordinarily detrimental” to Fairfield, while McCarthy Vahey referred to the law as “a blunt instrument.” Wagner said 8-30g has resulted in large developments on parcels that weren’t intended to accommodate them.

If construction was completed on every affordable unit approved in town, Fairfield would qualify to seek a moratorium on 8-30g, according to Kupchick. In recent years, town officials have signed off on 20 developments with nearly 1,400 total units — just over 300 of which are affordable — under either 8-30g or inclusionary zoning regulations, according to Planning Director Jim Wendt.

State Rep. Jennifer Leeper, D-132, remarked that a years-long fight to repeal 8-30g has been unsuccessful, and made the case that new legislation could provide an opportunity to dismantle the law, although she added she didn’t think a fair share system was an appropriate alternative. Wagner did not concur with her perspective.

“These bills are not designed to be a replacement for 8-30g,” he said. “8-30g is not going away any time soon.”

Leeper also emphasized the need for affordable housing within the Fairfield community, particularly for seniors.

“We all live in Connecticut and Fairfield by choice,” she said. “We want to ensure that it continues to be a wonderful place.”

Fairfield has taken several steps toward adding affordable units in town, such as its policies on inclusionary zoning and accessory dwelling units, according to Community and Economic Development Director Mark Barnhart. The Affordable Housing Committee is in the early stages of updating Fairfield’s affordable housing plan, and hopes to complete it in early 2022.