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Darien received a four-year moratorium from the state Tuesday which prevents developers from using Connecticut General Statute 8-30G to overstep local zoning boards in order to build affordable housing. First Selectman David Campbell celebrated the moratorium.
"The moratorium is a short term solution to the bigger issue of creating an affordable housing plan appropriate for Darien," he said in a statement. "I am a supporter of affordable housing in Darien, but it must be done in a thoughtful way that does not devalue the properties of neighboring home owners."
The statute allows developers to use appeals processes in order to build affordable housing clusters in towns like Darien where less than 10 percent of housing is considered affordable. Under the moratorium, developers are prohibited from using these processes until 2014. In order to qualify for a moratorium, a town must have a minimum of 135.86 affordable housing-unit points.
According to the letter sent to Campbell by Joan McDonald, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Darien met the minimum requirement with 136 points. The Avalon Bay development in Darien qualified for 106 points, while Clock Hill Homes qualified for 30 points.
Another development in town, The Cottage, was awarded no points because it was not restricted to residents earning 80 percent or less of the area median income. Villager Pond also received no points because its two units were awarded certificates of occupancy before the July 1, 1990, cutoff date.
"We must continue to refine our zoning regulations to support a town plan of development that's sensitive to our affordable housing needs," Campbell said. "I also look forward to working with our state representatives to make amendments to CGS 8-30G. This statute has caused problems for many communities across Connecticut and has done very little to increase affordable housing stock."
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