With the legislative session nearing its close, “local control” advocates are once again making a series of confusing and contradictory arguments about housing policy in the state.
But whatever the forum, their arguments always come down to “no”: no to new policies, no to new neighbors and no to any change whatsoever. But “no” isn’t an answer for the future of our state, and local control is standing in the way of building new homes for our friends and family.
It’s useful to highlight the central claim of a recent local control opinion piece before addressing it:
…“so-called housing advocates seek to mandate increases in housing without taking into account the supply and cost of land, construction labor, materials and financing, which is currently very expensive. Negating local zoning will not address any of the underlying economic realities.”
To begin, I’ll add that I’m not a “so-called housing advocate,” I am a proud housing advocate, and I think it should be legal to build different types of homes where people want to live. Housing advocates aren’t “mandating” anything; instead, we’re arguing that if you own a piece of land in a place people want to move to, you should be able to (note: not forced to) build homes there.
Indeed, housing advocates deeply understand the cost of land, labor, and materials, and we know that legalizing more homes per acre — whether it’s a granny flat, townhome, duplex, or larger apartment complex — helps make projects financially viable. Not only does allowing more homes per acre help projects actually get off the ground, these homes are more affordable for middle class Nutmeggers looking for a place to rent or own. Unfortunately, towns are using their local control to enforce restrictive zoning practices that outlaw these more affordable homes.
These issues are particularly acute in the state’s economic hub of Fairfield County, but they’re affecting renters and buyers in all regions. And although the number of housing permits increased in 2022 and the first half of 2023, they’re only a quarter of the pace of the 1980s and nowhere near enough to make up for decades of under-building.
A lack of housing options across the state severely limits the way families live, as over 90% of our land is zoned exclusively for single-family homes, many of them on large lots. This one-size-fits-all zoning makes it impossible for Connecticut’s families to adapt to changing life circumstances.
What if you work long hours and would prefer a townhome so you can spend more time with family and less time on lawn work? What if your parents are looking to downsize to a more manageable spot? Wouldn’t a condo or backyard “granny flat” allow them to maintain independence while being near support? Unfortunately, local control is blocking these types of homes on almost all the state’s land.
In a January 2024 opinion piece, Tim Vilinskis wrote that “America became a great country because of its dynamism and acceptance of change, don’t let NIMBYism cause our decline. It’s time to un-freeze our housing markets by removing the zoning restrictions that are preventing the free-market from building the housing we need.” I agree, and the General Assembly can help kickstart this process by passing HB 5390, known as “Work Live Ride,” and extending just cause eviction protections to renters across the state.
[RELATED: What is ‘Work Live Ride’ and how would it impact housing in CT?]
But whatever happens this legislative session, the pro-homes movement is here to stay. Future legislation should focus on low-hanging fruit like eliminating onerous government-mandated parking minimums, legalizing missing middle homes, reigning in massive minimum lot sizes, and expanding housing vouchers for our neediest residents. And leveraging our fixed transit investments by building homes nearby will continue to be an essential goal for years to come.
Fairfield County and Connecticut aren’t a country club for those able to buy one of the limited member slots. We’re an opportunity-rich state with access to jobs, great schools, and gorgeous outdoor amenities. So-called “local control” is placing a straightjacket on our opportunities, but we don’t have to accept the status quo. Whether you’re an older couple looking to downsize, a young person trying to find an apartment in one of our dynamic cities, or a family hoping to buy a house that doesn’t bust your budget, the pro-homes movement is here for you.
We have a positive, future-oriented vision of a state that is growing and maintaining everything that makes it great. Side with housing abundance and the pro-homes movement, and help us build a better Connecticut.
Thomas Broderick lives in Trumbull.