transit-oriented development News and In-Depth Reporting

CT House approves omnibus housing bill following compromises

The CT House on Tuesday night passed an omnibus housing bill focused on zoning, transit-oriented development, parking, homelessness and more.

The controversial bill aimed at creating more housing and development near public transportation stops is before the General Assembly again.

The legislation, designed to encourage more housing near public transportation hubs, is one of the more controversial bills this session.

The House passed the bill days ago, but as the final hours of session ticked by, it became clear that it wouldn’t make it through the Senate.

The bill would offer CT towns that opt to create transit-oriented districts priority for certain state infrastructure funds.

An amended version of the Work, Live, Ride bill passed in committee, marking a step forward for a major CT zoning measure.

College students and recent graduates are among those who told CT legislators that the state would benefit from transit-oriented development.

The bill would incentivize zoning reform by giving distressed municipality funding to towns that want to build transit-oriented development.

Gov. Ned Lamont spoke Thursday about the merits of building housing near public transit, but stopped short of calling for major zoning reform.

Two proposals are on the table: transit-oriented development and fair share. Gov. Ned Lamont has expressed support for the CT transit bill.

The proposed budget would set aside $600 million for various housing ventures, with a goal to create about 6,400 new affordable units.