Submitted by Jill Oberlander
I oppose the six-story, 176-unit development proposed for Western Junior Highway in Greenwich’s Byram neighborhood.
The project appears dramatically out of proportion with the surrounding area and raises real concerns about traffic, congestion, and whether local infrastructure can accommodate development of this scale. It is unclear how existing wetlands and greenspace will be protected.
Most importantly, this project once again highlights a larger problem with Connecticut’s decades-old approach to affordable housing. It’s clear that we need more housing that people can afford. Our teachers and first responders should be able to live in the communities they serve, and young families and seniors should be able to make their homes here and stay in the community as they age. But Hartford shouldn’t dictate development without adequately accounting for what individual neighborhoods can handle.
Connecticut’s 8-30g housing law was enacted in 1989. Almost four decades later, only 31 of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities — about 18% — meet its 10% affordable housing threshold. When more than 80% of our communities cannot meet a standard, it’s time to ask whether the policy needs to change.
Local planning and zoning officials understand our roads, sewers, infrastructure and neighborhoods better than Hartford does. Local leadership should be driving development decisions, with the state providing the resources to help communities address infrastructure needs and build more affordable housing in areas identified by local officials as appropriate.
As your state senator, I’ll stand up against one-size-fits-all mandates from Hartford and fight to protect the interests of the 36th District.
Jill Oberlander
Democratic Candidate for State Senate 36th District