With state regulations requiring each town have 10% of its housing stock be affordable housing, and Newtown currently at 2.66%, the town has to show the state it is making long-term efforts to meet the requirement.

The Legislative Council began that process with a review of a draft plan of an Affordable Housing Plan at its May 18 meeting.

Land Use Director George Benson said that Newtown has limited land space and may “never get to the full 10%.”

“But we need to prove to the state that we are actively trying to get as close as possible,” said Benson.

In a presentation to the council, Benson said that Connecticut State General Statute 8-30j requires towns to adopt an affordable housing plan every five years. The town, rather than take the drafting of a plan upon itself, “which would be costly,” according to Benson, has worked with the Western Council of Governments (WestCOG) to put together a regional plan.

“The plan depicts that we are actively working on finding solutions for affordable housing in our town,” said Benson.

State statute CGS 8-30g requires any prospective tenants to be low income, and the property will be deed restricted and cannot be sold for a period of 30 years.

Rosenthal said that while more affordable housing units have been added in town, the town has also added regular units at market price, which has diluted the pool even more.

Benson said that the plan is highlighting what is being done already, not “necessarily making any changes.”

Benson said the town is being “very pro-active,” and that the plan is “not legally binding.”

“This is all strategy at this point,” said Benson. “We have done everything that the state has asked us to do.”

Benson said that in five years, the plan will be reviewed again. There are many things that have to be taken into consideration, such as sewer lines, septic, wells, and other factors.

“The town is held liable for the health and safety of residents so we have to be careful what we do,” said Benson.

Details Of The Plan

According to the plan, Newtown’s population was 16,942 in 1970; 25,031 in 2000; 27,560 in 2020; and is projected to be 29,824 in 2030; 30,602 in 2040; and 30,861 in 2050. Newtown currently has 8,742 owner-occupied housing units and 1,143 rented housing units. The number of housing units increased from 4,821 in 1970 to 10,322 in 2020, a 5,501 or 114% increase.

The median price for a single family dwelling increased from $330,000 in 2000 to $495,000 in 2021, a 50% increase; additionally, the median price was $421,000 in 2020, which means that $495,000 is a 17% increase over a single year. Newtown had 287 affordable housing units in 2002 and 268 in 2020, a reduction of 19 units; Newtown needs 738 more affordable housing units to reach the 10% threshold.

A 2010 plan designated the Fairfield Hills campus as a “prime area for affordable housing.” A referendum in 2020 found a majority of Newtown voters were in favor of adding housing as a limited use on campus. A planned affordable housing development by Wynn Development has been stalled since the town cannot demolish buildings on campus and still get historical credits that would allow affordable conversions of some buildings.

The Newtown Annex of the plan calls for the following strategies over the next five years:

*Encourage the approval of tax incentive applications for developments that include affordable housing;

*Support the approval of tax incentive applications for businesses that will provide appropriate new jobs, especially in targeted industries;

*Provide the public with education and access to information on available assistance, such as CHFA loans, affordable housing locations, USDA home loans, and rental voucher programs;

*Support the preservation of the Affordable Housing FLEX Fund and state Housing Trust Fund;

*Determine appropriate incentive for individual owners of rental properties that qualify as affordable to consider deed restrictions;

*Work with neighboring towns toward creating a regional housing authority that would aid affordable property owners and potential tenants in the application and income verification processes; and

*Continue to look for public transportation opportunities that are appropriate for a municipality as geographically large and spread out as Newtown.

Councilman William DeRosa asked if there would be a viable way to get buses to run through Newtown. Benson responded that the Hart bus service is available but runs a set route through Newtown. It is currently a dial-a-ride arrangement.

Council Chairman Jeff Capeci asked if there are tax incentives for residential developments. Benson responded that there are but developers have to apply for it.

Capeci also questioned where WestCOG gets its funding to draft plans like the affordable housing plan, and Benson said they are mostly funded through grants, and use of in-house personnel.

Councilman Ryan Knapp said that he would be more comfortable approving the plan if the annex dealing with Newtown was in the final stages. Benson said he would submit a request for an extension of the approval so that the council would have more time to review the plan.

Benson will incorporate any changes suggested by the council for their review at a future meeting.

Rosenthal added that if any councilman has suggested edits to the regional plan, he can bring it up at the next WestCOG meeting on May 31.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.