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Stratford zoning commission debriefs open house, focuses on ADUs and affordable-housing outreach
Summary
At its Sept. 26 meeting, the Stratford Zoning Commission reviewed an open-house debrief on proposed zoning changes, with commissioners highlighting support for detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), concern over multifamily development, and the need to educate residents about local housing data before adopting changes.
The Stratford Zoning Commission on Sept. 26, 2024, reviewed feedback from a recent open house on proposed zoning changes, with commissioners identifying accessory dwelling units and outreach to residents as central issues in the town’s approach to affordable housing.
Commission Chair Harold Watson and Planning & Zoning Administrator Jay Hebanski led a debrief after an open-house event attended by about 34 residents. Hebanski told the commission the meeting produced productive conversations and encouraged commissioners to report surprises or recurring themes they heard from residents.
Why it matters: The commission is rewriting parts of the zoning regulations and commissioners said the way the town frames and explains those changes will affect whether Stratford qualifies for some state funding streams and how residents accept new housing options.
Commissioner Deborah Lamberti said the open house exposed “two schools of thought” on housing: some residents reported a family need for affordable units while others oppose multifamily housing. “Somebody approached me and said, my daughter needs to move out and there’s nowhere she can afford to move,” Lamberti said, while also noting opposition from residents who do not want multifamily development in their neighborhoods.
Watson and others said education changed many participants’ attitudes after they saw local demographics and housing statistics. Watson said that when residents reviewed age breakdowns and the number of seniors and young adults leaving town, “they became aware of why we need this.” He described outreach as a continuing “sales job” for the commission.
A recurring theme among commissioners was support for detached ADUs as a lower-impact way to add housing. Commissioners said legalizing existing units would increase safety and tax revenue, and that ADUs are generally less obtrusive than larger apartment buildings. One commissioner cautioned against a perception of an immediate ADU flood, noting real costs: “you’re looking at 75 to a hundred thousand dollars to run a sewer connection, to run power, to run plumbing, to completely fit it out,” a point raised to temper expectations about how many homeowners would add units.
Commissioners also discussed requiring deed restrictions or a mix of affordable and workforce units on future multifamily projects, and suggested that Stratford’s adoption of certain regulatory changes could improve its competitiveness for state housing incentives.
Next steps: The commission scheduled a special meeting on Sept. 30 to debrief consultant Robert Collins and to identify final judgment calls and timelines for adoption. A regular public hearing on the revised regulations is set for Oct. 23, 2024. The commission indicated it may adopt some changes in a later meeting or hold further discussion if additional guidance is needed.
