By Sarah Opdahl

At their Tuesday, September 3 meeting, New Fairfield Housing Opportunities Committee (HOC) celebrated the fact that the Affordable Housing Plan passed unanimously at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting. Chair Ms. Anita Brown said, “I was so appreciative of all the collaboration and cooperation from everyone.” The draft was updated with new maps that were created for the new Town’s new Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).

HOC members discussed next steps, which include sending the final plan to the State’s Office of Policy and Management, which is responsible for collecting the plans from each town. They will also post the final Plan on the Town website. Brown explained that meetings have occurred with other groups, such as the Planning and Zoning Commissions, as well as the Board of Selectmen. “I think [the plan] has a higher likelihood of getting implemented when you have that kind of process, even though it takes a little bit longer, so I think it is great,” Brown said. She went on to explain that the draft of the POCD recommends making the Housing Opportunity Committee a permanent committee in Town. Brown said, ultimately, the next step for the Affordable Housing Plan “will be [to] keep keeping it front and center…but right now, I think we can take a little bit of a victory lap and take a breath here.”

Consultant Ms. Jocelyn Ayer shared an updated fact sheet with the HOC members, which is designed to help with public awareness about the plan and its aims. The sheet outlines, for example, the recommendation to support the creation of twenty new affordable homes, in whatever way makes the most sense for the town. Other goals and strategie s are highlighted, as well as an implementation table. Members discussed including an executive summary that will feature important takeaways. They may also include a QR code for easy digital access to the information. Ayer suggested possibly creating a poster-sized version for future events, such as the Sip & Stroll.

In addition, HOC members discussed approaching the Housing Trust (Trust) for a handout to include with theirs. They wondered whether the Trust handout coul d include a little bit about their history and ways to participate. Once there are affordable housing projects in the works, the Trust members will theoretically become much more active than they were in recent years.

Brown closed the meeting by saying, “we are not going to be able to rest on our laurels here, with the passing of the housing Affordability Plan, that is just step one. Now the real work of diggi ng in is really going to happen.”

The next regular Housing Opportunities Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, 7:30 p.m.