A new report hints at why Connecticut towns and cities have been slow to approve affordable housing plans: the people weighing such projects are often older white male homeowners who are not representative of the diversity of people and housing options in the towns they serve.
The report, by the Centers for Housing Opportunity, examined the makeup of 105 different planning and zoning boards in New London and Fairfield Counties. The makeup of these groups were almost exactly the same: about 71% male, 95% white, 92% homeowners, with an average age of around 62 years old.
But the average person living in those two counties is quite different: On average, 51% are female, 30-40% are non-white, a third are renters, and the average age is about 40.
The report stressed that residents who voluntarily serve on land use boards provide a valuable public service by weighing the impact and benefits of development proposals.
“Given this extremely consequential role, all local citizens should have a chance to serve on these bodies and contribute to local decision-making,” the report stated. “Access to the local decision-making process is part of the democratic spirit and history of this practice.”
State-financed housing projects have been slowing over the past decade, according to an April report by Hearst Connecticut Media. And while there have been some privately financed affordable housing success stories in the news – such as here, here, and here – other projects have been held up or rejected, such as here, here, here, here and here.
Most notably, Gov. Ned Lamont recently vetoed House Bill 5002, which would have set formulaic “fair share” affordable housing goals for every Connecticut town and prioritized state grants for towns that build affordable housing. The bill is expected to be re-negotiated with the governor’s office and voted on again later this year.
Connecticut’s severe housing shortage has even raised concerns from Connecticut’s business community. The Connecticut Business and Industry Association said just weeks ago that “the state’s housing shortage is a significant barrier to economic growth” and that Connecticut needs to build another 100,000 to 150,000 housing units “for Connecticut to remain competitive economically.”
The Centers for Housing Opportunity noted that it may be easier for older, retired homeowners with no children to find the time to volunteer on non-paid zoning and other local land-use boards, so they developed a list of suggestions to increase participation among younger residents, non-homeowners, people of color, and women. The report called on towns to:
- Expand awareness on how to become a board member
- Draft a “role description”
- Reach out to underrepresented groups
- Provide childcare
- Expand hybrid meetings to increase accessibility
- Consider providing stipends
- Providing education and training
- Promote continued land use education
- Provide meeting facilitation training for land use board chairs
