Date: Fri 16-Jan-1998

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

HVCEO-affordable-housing

Full Text:

Town Leaders Press Legislators For Changes In Affordable Housing Law

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The issue of affordable housing drew some sparks at last Friday's meeting of

area town leaders as they sparred with state legislators over the need to

tighten state regulations.

The mayors and first selectmen are asking the state to tighten up its

provisions on affordable housing to give municipalities more leverage when

dealing with developers.

At last week's meeting, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials

(HVCEO) conducted its annual discussion with area state representatives to

discuss what they hoped could be done in Hartford in the coming year.

Highlighting the forum was a heated discussion on affordable housing laws,

which many town leaders believe need to be reformed. The current law allows

developers to overturn local zoning regulations in a court appeal if they

satisfy certain minimum requirements for providing affordable housing. This

only encourages inappropriate development, according to the town leaders. Some

builders, they say, use the state's Affordable Housing Act as a device to

totally circumvent town zoning regulations.

Developers are allowed a "density bonus" under the state affordable housing

act, meaning developers are allowed to construct complexes with higher

construction densities than the local zoning laws allow.

"This is a weapon for developers to hold over our heads," said Bill Stuart,

Bridgewater first selectman. "If you're going to have 25 units and only five

are affordable, what's the sense in that?"

Art Peitler, mayor of New Milford, agreed, pointing out that towns often

become open to affordable housing once sewer lines are expended for commercial

development.

"This is killing our communities. We've got to make a change," Mr Peitler

said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal told the board about the current situation in

Newtown where a sand and gravel operation is trying to come in under the guise

of affordable housing.

"Now we're going to have to prove in court that we're not against affordable

housing," he said. "This is just a bad development."

Newtown will have some proof since it recently approved the Riverview

Condominiums, a 49-unit complex that will have some affordable housing.

Mr Peitler said he was very disappointed that the state legislators hadn't

passed any of the seven bills before them during this past session. His

comments angered State Sen Lou DeLuca of Woodbury.

"I resent the fact that you say we're not doing our job," he said. "This has

been a very partisan issue. I even endorsed one of the bills, but we lost."

Then tell us who we need to lobby, Mr Stuart replied.

Legislators are expected to vote on the affordable housing issue, as well as

others, January 22.

Tourism

Later this month, the General Assembly is also slated to make a decision on

whether to change the way the state promotes tourism.

Currently, there is a bill in committee that would centralize tourism

promotion efforts, essentially disbanding all 11 of the state's tourism

districts.

Rep Julia Wasserman has been a proponent of centralization, believing that the

districts have become too fragmented. She fears the districts are competing

against one another.

"There is no cohesive effort right now," she said.

HVCEO members, however, said they prefer to keep the districts intact, saying

if any change needed to be made it was to give the districts more funding.

Danbury Mayor Gene Eriquez said the Housatonic Valley Tourism Commission can

do a better job for the Danbury area than could a central authority.

Mr Rosenthal agreed, saying there is very little the state does well on a

centralized basis.

Rep Wasserman believes financial oversight is needed for each district, given

the problems of the Housatonic district. The district, she noted, ran into

problems two years ago when former executive director Margaret Gagnon was

accused of mishandling funds. She was eventually absolved of all charges, but

an internal investigation uncovered sloppy financial procedures.

Track And Field Teams Compete At Masuk

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

<< May 2026 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
26	27	28	29	30	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	1	2	3	4	5	6

Log In

Date: Fri 16-Jan-1998

Leave a Reply Cancel reply