Zoom Town Hall will focus on local zoning, housing and 8-30g for affordable housing

Recent Greenwich Planning & Zoning applications for multi-unit developments have raised awareness of Connecticut’s affordable housing statute 8-30g.

A pre-application from Greenwich resident Anthony Manganiello to build 21 units plus a daycare for 25 children at 28 Hollow Wood Lane in Pemberwick recently shocked neighbors who didn’t know 8-30g exempted the developer from local zoning regulations.

Per 8-30g, Connecticut towns with less than 10% of housing stock deemed affordable must allow affordable or mixed-income housing proposals to be constructed, except in rare instances of public health and safety.

P&Z director Katie DeLuca said the 8-30g statute has existed since the 1980s and has “an extremely high bar.”

“The increase in traffic and cars having to drive around looking for parking has not been found to be a health and safety issue,” she warned.

Neighbors said that the area in Pemberwick has a long history of flooding, and hoped that would be grounds for the application’s rejection.

The application remains open.

A second controversial 8-30g application at 4 Orchard Street in Cos Cob for 15 rental units where there is currently a florist, greenhouse and dwelling also generated neighborhood opposition and three dozen letters of opposition. The developer is Joe Pecora who has created 8-30g developments at 180 and 303 Hamilton Avenue in Chickahominy.

At that meeting Peter Haberlandt, senior legal counsel with Open Communities Alliance scolded the commission, saying it was the town’s duty to promote opportunities for low and moderate income family housing.

P&Z chair Alban explained to Mr. Haberlandt that Greenwich approaches affordability from several angles. The Greenwich Housing Authority is involved, and the commission is working to improve its 6-110 regulation for workforce housing. Further, the challenge is made difficult by the very high price of real estate in Greenwich.

On Jan 19 at 6:00pm, there will be a Zoom panel organized by State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) and State Rep Kimberly Fiorello (R-149) to focus on local zoning, housing, and 8-30g.

Invited guests include Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, Stamford Mayor David Martin, Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, and Francis Pickering, Western CT Council of Government (WestCOG).

“The purpose of this town hall is to educate and raise awareness of existing statutory language impacting local land use and zoning. We will also explain the application and interpretation of CT General Statute (CGS) 8-2 (Local Zoning Authorities) and CGS 8-30g (Affordable Housing). Lastly, we will explore and better understand the mission and goals of DeSegregate CT.”

Click here to register. Or follow on Facebook Live at @SenatorHwang. Go to fb.com/senatorhwang to tune in.