OMNIBUS BILL PASSES CT HOUSE, AWAITS SENATE STAMP WEDS 6/4
The Connecticut House of Representatives narrowly passed an omnibus housing bill (House Bill 5002) with an 84-67 vote (18 democrats joined all 49 Republicans voting against), marking one of the most significant housing reforms in years. The wide-ranging bill addresses zoning, transit-oriented development, parking policies, homelessness, and fair rent commissions, aiming to combat the state’s severe lack of affordable housing.
After threats of a filibuster, lawmakers reached compromises over the weekend, including clarifications on zoning enforcement and adjustments to town requirements for fair rent commissions. Republicans objected to zoning mandates and parking policies, arguing that the bill imposes one-size-fits-all solutions and erodes local control. A controversial amendment introduced by Republican Rep. Joe Zullo, which exaggerated housing requirements, was unanimously voted down—a rare occurrence in the legislature. The bill also includes measures to ban hostile architecture targeting the un-housed and to provide portable hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, it removes minimum off-street parking requirements for residential developments to lower costs and encourages repurposing commercial buildings into housing units. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration and is expected to approve it before the session ends next Wednesday, June 4.
More coverage: (CT Mirror) CT House approves omnibus housing bill following compromises
Ted Walworth III, President of NGA, is worried about the state’s seizure of control over town zoning:
“Proposed Bill HB5002 may be the most consequential proposal in CT history to strip local zoning guardrails from all of CT's 169 municipalities. It forces dense rezoning without regard to capacity, infrastructure capability demands, necessary tax and mill rate increases, unmitigated traffic back ups and threats to open space requirements. It ends Planning and Zoning reviews of what will be floods of development and public hearings which are the voice of residents who care about the character of their Town. As of Right sections of the Bill prevents Town Agencies from protecting wetlands or the surrounding area from development for affordable housing in environmental areas. This Bill is nothing more than a gift to developers and please help stop its further passage in the State Senate. The Bill is will wipe out your quality of life in the Town and area you have come to love. Please call and write your State Representatives, now State Senators and Governor Lamont. The moment to act is NOW as the Senate legislation raps up on June 4th with no announced schedule for the vote. It could happen in the dead of night. Please click on the links to our elected representatives provided in this communique and ask them to negate it - forever.”
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD BEFORE THE SENATE VOTE WEDS 6/4
Contact your senator - Tina Courpas [149th] (860) 240-8700 | Ryan Fazio (36th) [(800) 842-1423] - and Governor Ned Lamont.