September 5, 2012

AFFORDABLE HOUSING COFFEE WITH REP. KIM FAWCETT
AND SELECTMAN CRISTIN MCCARTHY VAHEY

Fairfield Patch staff

State Rep. Kim Fawcett and Selectman Cristin McCarthy Vahey will host a community coffee on affordable housing and possible solutions to problems arising from the 8-30g state statute on Thursday, September 27, 9-10:30 am, at Congregation Ahavath Achim, 1571 Stratfield Rd.

“Many people in town are concerned about developers’ efforts to use the 8-30g statute to circumvent local zoning regulations, under the guise of building affordable housing,” said Rep. Fawcett. “There are ways to work with this statute to increase affordable housing without overburdening our neighborhoods.”

Rep. Fawcett and Selectman McCarthy Vahey invite residents to join the conversation on the 27th, share their concerns, and learn about current proposals to amend the 8-30g state statute.

Under 8-30g, municipalities where less than 10 percent of housing is designated as affordable are subject to its requirements. Fairfield falls into this category. That means local zoning officials cannot deny permits for affordable housing unless there is a threat to public health and safety. The burden is on our Town Plan & Zoning Commission to make a compelling case for denial.

Most recently, residents of Homeland Street and Chatham Road have mobilized against projects proposed under the 8-30g statute, but any neighborhood could be targeted when there is an oversize lot that can be subdivided. To make a designated affordable unit cost-effective, the developer will include one or more market-rate units in the project – increasing the density and threatening community safety with the addition of more cars and residents.