Kupchick, Devlin & Hwang Hail Affordable Housing Reform Moving Forward

From CT House Republicans: After many years and many months during the 2017 legislative session of negotiating and working on a bipartisan proposal, State Reps. Brenda Kupchick (R-132), Laura Devlin (R-134) and State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) hailed the passage of legislation reforming Connecticut’s affordable housing system which passed the House of Representatives lateTuesday night.

Senator Hwang is the Co-Chair of the Housing Committee and Rep. Kupchick, who is the head House Republican on the Housing Committee were integral in the bipartisan negotiations to craft the bill.

“With the passage of this bi-partisan bill by the House of Representatives, Connecticut moves one step closer to true affordable housing reform,” said Rep. Kupchick. “This is an important step toward modifying the 30 year old statue. The changes in the bill offer towns an attainable goal of developing and reaching a moratorium. Under the current 8-30g statue, towns like Fairfield had very little chance of ever achieving the high bar for a moratorium that allowed predatory developers to sidestep local zoning laws. It's clearly been an a difficult and complicated issue to work on with the majority in the legislature not in favor of any changes".

Sen. Hwang said, “I want to thank House of Representative colleagues for their successful passage of statutory reform that will motivate our state and municipalities toward greater access and inventory of workforce and affordable housing for CT residents. We move one step closer toward our goal to increase housing opportunities for everyone in CT and encourage a diverse and dynamic residential community that will foster economic, educational and cultural growth. Another objective met will allow for more local zoning and planning input in developing affordable & workforce housing projects that are compatible with community character and statutes. I also want to extend my gratitude to all shareholders for their passion and participation in making this important housing reform possible.”

The bill, HB- passed in the House of Representatives Tuesday night by a vote of 116-33.

The bill that passed makes several critical reforms that will restore the ability of many communities throughout Connecticut to make comprehensive zoning and planning decisions.

Rep. Devlin said, “This legislation helps put into place a series of equitable, common sense changes that modernize and update the 8-30g statute without undermining the Affordable Housing Act and providing a measure of fairness to communities, like Trumbull & Fairfield, that are subject to the current law and its deficiencies.”

The provisions of the bill are:

● Lowers minimum number of HUE points smaller municipalities must obtain to qualify for a moratorium from 75 HUE points to 50 HUE points

● Encourages the development of family units and senior units tied to family housing, and family units located in incentive housing zones Makes income-restricted units in an IHZ development eligible for points toward a moratorium.

● Changes the definition of Median Income applicable to IHZ’s to conform to 8-30g’s definition (the lesser of state median income and the area median income as determined by HUD).

● Makes affordable housing moratoriums more achievable for midsize cities, when they are applying for a second moratorium and would last for 5 years. The current threshold to qualify for a moratorium is 2%, this bill lowers that threshold to 1.5%. While this goal is still very difficult to attain. It is a step in the right direction.

● Requires towns to adopt plans to state how they will increase the amount of affordable units in the town.

● Contains a five year sunset provision

This proposal now heads to the State Senate for final legislative action before the June 7th deadline then heading to the governor’s desk for his signature to become law.

Photo courtesy of CT House Republicans