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Intern's study: Bethany zoning allows denser affordable housing but nonprofit capacity is the key barrier
Summary
An intern’s review found Bethany’s zoning permits denser affordable housing than several peer towns, but committee members said lack of nonprofit development capacity, water/septic limits and a shortage of small homes are the main constraints to building affordable units locally.
Tristan Worth Stricker, the presenter and intern, told the Housing Advisory Committee on Aug. 3 that he compared Bethany with five similar Connecticut towns and found no regulatory shortfall in Bethany that would prevent denser affordable development. "Bethany allows for up to 20 units per acre," Tristan said, noting some peer towns limit density to six or eight units per acre.
Committee members responded that zoning was not the primary obstacle; several speakers said community-focused nonprofit developers were the difference in towns that delivered small affordable projects. Tristan summarized his finding: "nonprofits are extremely important to address, the lack of for affordable housing because they're able to, like, cater the development to the community." The group discussed forming or partnering with a local nonprofit to assemble predevelopment funding and work with regional nonprofit developers.
The committee asked Tristan to circulate his slide packet and a housing calculator that models family size and income scenarios. Members said the next steps include exploring small pilot sites and coordinating an informational joint meeting with Planning & Zoning to shape local approaches before regional allocations arrive.
