By Sarah Opdahl

On the evening of Wednesday, September 17, New Fairfield’s Housing Opportunities Committee (HOC) held an Open House to raise public awareness and complete a 360-degree review of efforts. All involved Town boards, commissions, and committees were invited to provide an update from their perspective.

With a few dozen residents in attendance, the Community Room in the Senior Center was abuzz with both presentations and lively back-and-forth discussions. HOC Chair Ms. Anita Brown led the agenda and was happy to give an overview of the committee’s activities to date. In addition to HOC members, she was joined by Mr. Tom Perkins of the Board of Selectmen; Mr. Kevin Van Vlack from the Zoning Commission; Ms. Cynthia Ross-Zweig and Mr. Ernie Lehman of the Planning Commission; and HOC consultant, Ms. Jocelyn Ayer from The Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity. Affordable housing was a topic of consideration in both Zoning’s ongoing regulations re-write and in the creation of the now-approved new Town 10-Year Plan of Conservation and Development.

Brown walked through a “road show” the HOC developed this year, with depictions of attractive affordable housing projects that were completed in Litchfield County, explaining that the plan is to start small—with a goal of 20 units over five years—in New Fairfield and branch out from there. There were a variety of charmingly quaint but modern homes shown. Brown explained that for projects like these there are a number of ways the land may be acquired. Sometimes a generous resident will donate a portion of their land to the local land trust for a new construction project; a land trust could purchase an affordable parcel or large home to renovate; and more. Ayer explained that many local groups are serving as volunteer project managers for the construction of affordable homes, and she stressed that “There is quite a good amount of funding to help local groups do this. The biggest challenge is finding the site.”

HOC member Ms. Kathleen DiTullio gave insight into the need for affordable housing, especially in light of the fact that housing prices have skyrocketed in recent years, saying that adding, “affordable housing options is really the way to go to keep New Fairfield thriving.” With federal, state, and local data showing major need in the Town for affordable housing in the full span of age brackets, and a severe lack of availability, it was noted that adding any amount of this type of housing will help the situation. Ayer explained that there are tiered income levels that qualify individuals or families for the housing.

When asked about the rules for the  homes, Ayer shared that they fall in a wide range, based on Town decisions. For example, in some Litchfield County affordable housing, pets are not allowed. However, it was noted that many overcome that rule by establishing a pet as an emotional–support need. She said, “a lot of the developments…are owned by local housing nonprofits with boards of local folks who consider and weigh all of these things, including residents’ desires to have pets and also maintaining the properties…” There were some questions about how the properties might impact surrounding home values and others about property maintenance.

Ayer described the Connecticut Housing Land Use Appeals Act, or 8-30g, which essentially says, “if any town in Connecticut does not have at least 10% of its housing stock as dedicated affordable…a developer can propose a development that is not consistent with the zoning regulations, as long as it has 30% of the units affordable. And so if the local Zoning Commission denies the project, the developer can appeal it, and the burden of proof is on the Town  to show the development would significantly threaten public health, safety, or other matters.” Approximately 1% of housing is deemed “affordable” in New Fairfield, making the use of 8-30g a possibility, though Ayer clarified, “8-30g projects are not always scary, and they are sometimes done in a very friendly way by local housing nonprofits.”

Ayer explained that successful housing trusts typically have a monthly meeting to identify potential buildings, properties, and land that could be utilized in some way to create these housing options. New Fairfield Housing Land Trust Chair Ms. Maureen Salerno emphasized the recent revitalization in energy in that group, saying, “we’re very open, wherever the money is, wherever the need is, we’re ready to go.” Brown was enthused about the audience participation and is looking forward to the future, sharing “when a community comes together and they want to see housing options created, there are so many ways for the community to help make that happen.”