To the Editor:

For more than three decades, Connecticut’s General Statute 8-30g has sought to meet a vital need: increasing affordable housing for economically disadvantaged individuals, working families, seniors, and vulnerable populations. The law’s intention is both noble and necessary. However, its one-size-fits-all approach has led to unintended and, in some cases, irreversible consequences — undermining local control, compromising environmental protections, and straining community infrastructure.

The law, which requires municipalities to ensure that 10% of their housing stock is classified as affordable, grants developers the power to bypass local zoning regulations if their projects are denied. Developers can appeal to state courts, and the burden falls on municipalities to prove that a project poses a significant public health or safety risk. This legal framework has disempowered local governments, overridden thoughtful planning, and fueled costly litigation, public distrust, and deep community division.

Let me be clear: Connecticut has an urgent housing crisis, and I firmly support the goal of creating more affordable and accessible housing. But we must also acknowledge the reality: some developers are exploiting 8-30g to push oversized, high-density projects that disregard local planning, conservation, and infrastructure limits — particularly in environmentally sensitive or historically significant areas.

As a legislator, I’ve consistently championed balanced decision-making — supporting affordable housing while protecting the integrity of the neighborhoods we represent. I’ve long advocated for more appropriate, context-sensitive solutions, such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), duplexes, and multi-family homes, which can expand housing opportunities without undermining local zoning or overwhelming infrastructure.

This law is not working as intended in all communities. It has created irreversible impacts, including overwhelmed sewers and stormwater systems, the loss of historical and neighborhood connectedness, and ecological erosion of open space, riverways and watershed protection. In towns like Easton, where more than 70% of the land is designated watershed serving millions across the state, development carries a heightened responsibility. These communities must be empowered to safeguard vital drinking water resources and natural habitats without being subjected to rigid, top-down mandates.

Affordable housing doesn’t have to come in the form of massive, dense developments. I have long advocated for smaller-scale, context-sensitive solutions — like accessory dwelling units (ADU), duplexes and multifamily homes — that integrate more naturally within the community and maintain consistency in neighborhood density and height.

Senator Tony Hwang

28th State Senate District