Officials warn HB 802 could force zoning changes and new municipal housing plans in New Milford

The mayor summarized a state-level bill (referred to in the meeting as HB 802) that, if enacted as described in the briefing, would require municipalities to allow two- to nine-unit 'middle housing' and mixed-use development by right in commercial and mixed-use zones, treat manufactured homes equivalently to site-built units, change off-street parking requirements for many residential projects, and require an affordable housing plan by the end of June.

Under the summary presented to the council, municipalities could only require off-street parking concessions in limited mitigation zones and could require parking for projects above a certain size (more than 16 units), with other limits on fee-in-lieu options. The mayor said the town must either prepare its own plan or opt into a regional council of governments process; failure to meet the statutory deadline could lead to court-ordered housing remedies.

The mayor said he had written to the governor seeking a one-year extension on the housing-plan deadline because the demand for consultants across hundreds of municipalities would make a compressed timeline difficult.

What it means next: Town staff and council members will monitor legislative developments, consider whether to craft a local housing plan or participate through the regional council of governments, and prepare for potential regulatory or legal consequences if deadlines are not extended.

Quote: "If we do not meet that deadline, then housing becomes court ordered," the mayor said in the briefing.