FAIRFIELD – The Town of Fairfield’s Affordable Housing Committee will host a free workshop and community conversation on housing on Wednesday, April 29 at the Fairfield Museum & History Center, 370 Beach Road.
During this interactive 90-minute workshop that starts at 7 p.m., participants can learn more about the work of the Affordable Housing Committee in developing affordable housing solutions aimed at providing a full range of housing options for all Fairfielders. The program will include a 30-minute overview presentation by Community & Economic Development Director Mark Barnhart, followed by a conversation with committee members during which attendees can share their perspectives on the types of housing they believe the town needs.
Participants are asked to pre-register using this link (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEP8Qn5CwhJuUKdPQhybnWi-NQdikTO7fHtoduNx16YUjGAQ/viewform?usp=dialog)
“The Town is committed to providing a range of housing options to meet our residents’ current and future housing needs,” said First Selectman Christine Vitale. “I encourage Fairfield residents interested in learning more to attend this important workshop.”
The lack of affordable housing is a significant issue that many communities face, including in Fairfield, where in 2025 the median sales price of a single-family home topped $1 million. Rising housing costs and the lack of inventory among more modestly sized starter homes have meant that many young professionals and working-class families are increasingly squeezed out of the local housing market.
Additionally, many elderly homeowners that wish to down-size cannot find housing to suit their needs.
“While we have made progress in increasing both our affordable housing inventory and diversity of housing options, our work is far from finished,” said Urb Leimkuhler, Affordable Housing Committee chair. Because Fairfield residents want to find the housing they need within our community, we’re seeking the right approaches to help make that happen, while not compromising all that makes Fairfield special.”
The Affordable Housing Committee, formerly known as the Affordable Housing Task Force, was formed in 1985 and charged with assessing the need for and identifying strategies to address affordable housing in Fairfield. Appointed by the First Selectperson, the committee is comprised of seven members, and has been instrumental in the development of several recent policy initiatives including the establishment of a Housing Trust Fund and enactment of new zoning regulations that make it easier to create accessory dwelling units in Fairfield.
Largely due to the committee’s work, the Town was able to secure its first housing moratorium in March 2025, re-asserting local control over local land use policies and precluding most applications made under Connecticut’s Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Procedure Act (CGS 8-30g) for the next four years.
