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Advocates tout 'Towns Take the Lead' plan to give Connecticut towns clearer affordable‑housing goals
Summary
Open Communities Alliance presenters described a bill called 'Towns Take the Lead' that would set town-level affordable‑housing targets based on a 2023 regional need study, require zoning changes to meet targets (or require towns to explain why not), and could include limited enforcement through litigation if towns fail to act.
Aaron, representing the Open Communities Alliance, urged Marlborough residents to support a state proposal known as "Towns Take the Lead," saying it would give towns a clearer path to increase housing supply while preserving local choice. "If every town does a little bit, we can actually meet the need that our state has," he said.
The proposal would use numbers from a statewide 2023 study—divided by region and then by town—to set a target for each municipality. Under the plan, towns would produce an affordable‑housing plan with a concrete schedule and then be expected to change local zoning to align with that plan. Aaron and colleague Hugh Bailey emphasized the bill is not a state takeover of zoning: "It is not a takeover. It's completely about giving good guidelines, letting the towns decide for themselves what it looks like," Aaron said.
Presenters described a possible enforcement element that the legislature could add: if a town does not create a plan or refuses to change zoning to meet its target, the town could be subject to litigation forcing compliance. Aaron said past experience suggests some enforcement is necessary to translate planning obligations into actual zoning changes and development.
Speakers framed the bill as part of a spectrum of responses this session, from near‑term funding for homelessness response—Aaron cited proposals to direct roughly $33.5 million to shelters and services—to longer‑term zoning reforms. They also warned that density incentives alone do not guarantee affordability: "You can have density without affordability," Aaron said in reference to other plans that emphasize building tall or dense housing without subsidies.
The presenters tied the bill to broader economic concerns. They cited data from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association on unfilled jobs and argued that housing shortages prevent employers from filling positions: "The jobs are there. The jobs need to be filled. One of the big reasons why they can't be filled is people can't afford to live here," Aaron said.
Why it matters: The bill would formalize metrics and schedules for towns to increase housing options, including multifamily and accessory units, and could shift how affordable housing obligations are enforced in Connecticut. Supporters say the approach preserves local discretion while creating measurable goals; critics fear any enforcement mechanism could be perceived as state overreach.
What happened next: The presentation was informational; the presenters urged residents to follow the legislative session and contact state legislators. No formal town action was taken at the forum.
Sources and provenance: This article is based on remarks by Aaron and Hugh Bailey during an informational presentation (topic intro: SEG 027; topic finish: SEG 156).
