The Basics.

Here are some simple tips useful in any public hearing.

Be factual and polite.

Thank the decision-makers for their willingness to hear from the public.

Identify yourself.

Then, state your name, address, and whether you support or oppose the proposal.

Address the decision-makers.

Direct your comments to the board or commission, not other speakers or the applicant. Use titles and last names if addressing one directly (“Chair X,” “Commissioner Y,” etc.).

Make it personal.

Decision-makers respond to personal stories that illustrate why something matters to you. Talk about how the proposal could affect you, your family, or the community at large.

Know what you’re asking for.

For hearings on specific projects, you should ask the body to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the project. For hearings on changing the zoning regulations (which would affect many parcels or projects), you should make suggestions on the drafted language and encourage adoption, modification, or rejection of the change. For hearings to develop city/town plans, consider asking for clear benchmarks (number targets) for housing to be included and make sure creating abundant, diverse housing is a top plan priority. In any situation, you can speak broadly about the equity, economic, and environmental benefits of building a more inclusive community.

Prepare in advance.

Take notes, write out your speech or bullet points, and if you can, practice in advance. It’s OK to read from a phone.

Mind time limits.

Usually, testimony is limited to 2 or 3 minutes per speaker. You can say about 125 words per minute comfortably. The decision-makers may let you go over time, but read their body language. If they’re annoyed, they might ignore your message.

Submit written comments.

You can submit written comments to supplement spoken comments during a meeting. (Bring multiple hard copies if attending in person!) You can also submit written comments if you can’t attend a meeting at all. In that case, confirm with the recipient that your comments will be read in full into the record.

Responding to Myths.

Sometimes, commissions will let speakers speak again to respond to points raised. To correct commonly-perpetuated myths about housing, consider making these points!

The “Crowded Schools” Myth:

Studies have shown that new housing, even multifamily housing, does not lead to significant increases in the number of schoolchildren. In fact, multifamily housing brings fewer kids than detached one-family housing. More in the FAQs.

The “Property Values” Myth:

Research overwhelmingly shows that allowing different housing types has a neutral or even positive effect on the value of nearby property. Homes near multifamily housing appreciate faster on average that homes in single-family neighborhoods. More in the FAQs.

The “Higher Taxes” Myth:

The more housing that is built, the more taxable property there is, and the lower everyone’s mill rate is. In many situations, recent housing built in a town, particularly multifamily housing, can become its largest taxpayer. More in the FAQs.

The “Neighborhood Character” Myth:

“Character” should be focused on architectural compatibility - not people. We can solve most architectural “character” issues through modifications in design. More in the FAQs.

The “High Traffic” Myth:

Building closer to transit and commercial corridors, and building 2-, 3-, and 4+-family homes means that we have a better chance of reducing sprawl. It’s sprawl - which is dictated by our land use laws - that causes traffic in the first place. More in the FAQs.

The “High Crime” Myth:

New housing doesn’t bring crime. Just look at communities all over Connecticut that have welcomed diverse housing stock of 2-, 3-, and 4+-family developments into their communities. There is no correlation between new development and rising crime rates. More in the FAQs.