NORWALK – Gov. Ned Lamont and a Democratic contingent of state and municipal elected officials celebrated housing legislation passed in a special session, but there was a caveat. It’s only a start at addressing a housing crisis that is leaving a whole generation of residents behind.
“This housing crisis that we have won’t be solved with one bill,” state Sen. Bob Duff of Norwalk, who is the majority leader. “We will continue to work at it and make a difference for the people we serve to guarantee there is housing for everyone.”
Gov. Lamont ceremonially signed the housing growth legislation with Oak Grove Apartments, a 69-unit affordable housing apartment complex, serving as a backdrop.
“I thought about Norwalk,” Lamont said. “I thought about (Mayor) Harry Rilling. What you did in terms of housing by taking those old parking lots and schools, I saw what it meant for Norwalk and the community.”
Oak Grove includes mixed-income housing development with a 4,500-square-foot community center that features on-site property management offices, fitness center, and a Learning Center for K-5th grade students.
To understand the breath of the housing availability gap, one only needs to read state Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey’s latest constituent alert. It read: “Between February 2017 and February 2025, median home values rose from $147,941 in Bridgeport to $332,836 and from $572,499 in Fairfield to $865,670 with rents averaging $1,500 and $3,000, respectively.”
Evonne Klein, former Darien first selectman and an affordable housing advocate, was on hand for the bill signing. She believes it will go a long way toward improving the dearth of such housing.
“It certainly means growth for a lot of communities and (gives them the time) to get serious about those plans that have serious results for people of all incomes who need housing,” she said.
“More units need to be built in our communities across the state of Connecticut, especially here in Fairfield County. We have the opportunity where we have state funding in this bill and incentives for the infrastructure that we have needed.”
Vahey and Duff were one of a handful of state delegation of Democrats at Oak Grove at Lamont’s bill signing. Others include state Reps. Kadeem Roberts of Norwalk, Laurie Sweet of Hamden (chair and vice chair of the End Homelessness Caucus), House Majority Leader Jason Rojas of East Hartford and Sen. Ceci Maher. They were joined by Mayors Caroline Simmons and Laura Hoydick of Stamford and Stratford, respectively as well as Norwalk Mayor-elect Barbara Smyth.
Ridgefield First Selectman Rudolph Marconi, who is also chair of the Western Council of Governments (COG), laid down the charge the municipal organization faces under the new legislation.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Marconi said. “We have 18 municipalities in our COG, and they’re all different. They’re all silos; we heard that. Everyone wants what they want in their community. But the COG’s responsibility is pulling this all together. There should not be anyone who has an excuse for not providing affordability.”
Under the legislation, the different COGs throughout the state are given the power to make housing decisions with the input of their municipalities.
“It’s about smart growth,” Lamont said. “It is about towns taking the lead, showing us how you want to do it. Mayors really like to get stuff done. It’s really important for me to get the mayors on board.
“When it comes to planning and zoning, they do a lot of zoning but sometimes you have to think a little bit more about planning as well. That’s what this bill is all about. Towns, show us what you want to do it.”
The legislation that Lamont signed centralizes housing decisions with the following actions:
- Regional housing plans It shifts the responsibility for developing housing growth plans from individual municipalities to regional Councils of Governments (COGs). The COGs recommend municipal housing goals, and towns can provide input.
- Incentives and funding Municipalities that comply with the new planning requirements become eligible for grants for public infrastructure projects (like water and sewer expansion) and increased state reimbursement rates for school construction projects.
- Parking requirements The law generally prohibits minimum off-street parking requirements for residential developments with up to 16 units, though municipalities can require a needs assessment for larger projects.
- Fair rent commissionsIt lowers the population threshold, requiring towns with 15,000 or more residents (down from 25,000) to establish or join a regional fair rent commission.
- DOH Authority The bill establishes the Department of Housing as a statewide housing authority, enabling it to develop affordable housing on state-owned land.
- Hostile architecture ban The legislation bans “hostile architecture,” such as armrests in the middle of benches, designed to prevent people experiencing homelessness from resting.
- First-time homebuyer accounts The bill makes changes to rules for first-time homebuyer savings accounts, allowing anyone to contribute and specifying eligible uses for the funds, such as down payments and closing costs.
While the event Monday was mainly attended by Democrats, Lamont acknowledged the pushback he received from Republicans. That led to the governor’s veto of the original legislation and a new bill created in the recent special session.
When Lamont initially signed the bill in late November, Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Stamford who is running for governor, assailed the governor.
“Today (Nov. 26) Governor Lamont ignored countless messages from residents requesting omnibus HB 8002 be vetoed and signed into law without fanfare,” Fazio said. “This 53-section law, which never received a single public hearing, is a historic attack on local control of decision making for our towns and cities. I have been one of the fiercest advocates for local control over zoning and housing.”
Gov. Lamont shot back at that criticism on Monday.
“Some critics of the bill have said, ‘what housing crisis?’ There are lot of homes in my district,” Lamont said. “That is dead wrong. I hear what all the naysayers are saying. But it’s important and key to the future of the state. It gives young people the very best opportunity and their grandparents a chance to downsize as well. You’re not serious about affordability unless you are serious about housing.”
