Connecticut House Bill HB05582

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/15
• Refer: 1/20/15

Caption

An Act Concerning The Inclusion Of Low-cost Housing As Affordable Housing.

Impact

If enacted, this bill would change the dynamics of how municipalities manage and report their housing stock. By recognizing low-cost housing as affordable, municipalities would have a clearer pathway to qualify for exemptions from the affordable housing land use appeals procedure. This can potentially alleviate some pressure from local governments to develop units that meet the previous threshold for affordable housing calculation, fostering a more inclusive understanding of what constitutes affordable options in diverse housing markets.

Summary

House Bill 05582 aims to amend section 8-30g of the general statutes to classify low-cost housing as affordable housing for the purposes of calculating the required number of affordable housing units in a municipality. This law proposes that municipalities must include low-cost housing in their affordable housing calculations, providing such low-cost housing constitutes at least fifteen percent of the overall housing stock in that municipality. The inclusion of low-cost housing is designed to encourage local governments to construct more affordable options and to ensure compliance with state guidelines.

Contention

The bill has raised some debate among stakeholders concerning the definition of affordable housing and the standards for what constitutes low-cost housing. Supporters argue that this change will enhance affordability in various municipalities, especially where housing costs have skyrocketed, while detractors are concerned that classifying low-cost housing might dilute the quality and standards expected of affordable housing developments. Discussions may also center around how this amendment could incentivize or deter developers from engaging in projects within certain municipalities.