Affordable housing backers turn out
Sep. 28—GLASTONBURY — Supporters of affordable housing made a strong turnout at the Town Council's public information hearing on the issue Tuesday evening, which was aimed at considering both the general issue of affordable housing in town and the controversial state law on the issue.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Some ideas discussed at Glastonbury Town Council public information hearing:
—Town development of affordable housing before developers "snatch up" land
—Seeking change in state law to count accessory dwelling units as affordable housing
—Using American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 relief money for affordable housing
—"Inclusionary zoning," requiring developers to include affordable housing in new complexes or make a cash payment for that purpose
Denise Weeks of Hollister Way West told the council that the more than 15,000 people who commute to town each day for work deserve to be able to find affordable housing in town, as do older residents and young people.
She suggested the town should develop affordable housing on suitable plots of land before developers "snatch them up" for their own purposes.
But she also suggested that the town petition the state to revise the way it counts affordable housing to include accessory dwelling units added to single-family homes.
Anne Bowman of Morgan Drive struck a theme echoed by several other supporters of affordable housing when she noted that Connecticut's affordable housing law — often referred to by its section number, 8-30g — took effect in July 1990. She said the town has had the time since then to increase its stock of affordable housing but hasn't done so.
She and a number of other speakers suggested that the town use COVID-19 relief money provided by the federal government under the American Rescue Plan Act to work with the local Housing Authority on increasing the stock of affordable housing.
Her husband, Bruce Bowman, said he supports "inclusionary zoning," which would require a certain percentage of each new development to consist of affordable units.
Town Council Chairman Thomas P. Gullotta, a Democrat, said at the end of the hearing that the council has forwarded a suggestion for inclusionary zoning to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission. He said the concept being considered would require developers either to provide affordable housing or make a cash payment for that purpose.
But some speakers reiterated the discomfort with Section 8-30g, which has been vigorously expressed by residents opposing the 74-unit apartment building at Manchester Road and Hebron Avenue that the TPZ approved under the law.
Eric Felkel of Stanley Drive said he would support bringing "some level of control back to the town" on such issues, although he added, "not complete control." He said the law can lead to "disorderly development" in which issues like the school population aren't considered.
Pam Lucas of Moseley Terrace wondered aloud whether the town would be taking the affordable housing issue seriously if it weren't for Section 8-30g and the recent proposals filed under it for the Manchester Road apartment building and one on Kreiger Lane.
"Everyone here is for affordable housing, but not in our backyard," said the Rev. Matthew Hogue-Smith of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, which is next door to Town Hall.
But Rob Hale of Hopewell Road criticized the formula in Section 8-30g, saying it favors multi-family housing over home-ownership. He suggested one way to avoid undesirable multi-family buildings would be to buy out the developers, as the town did to save the ruins of the Cotton Hollow Mill.
Lois Gamer, of Gamer Development Corp., which owns several buildings on Kreiger Lane, said it wouldn't be safe for residents of the proposed apartment building there to walk on the street, which lacks sidewalks and is used to transport heavy construction equipment.
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