The Economic Case for Zoning Reform

• CT Mirror, Zoning reform will save suburban businesses: DesegregateCT team member Kevin Kurian illustrates the connection between expanding housing stock and bolstering small businesses in his hometown of Simsbury.

• CT Law Tribune, New Zoning Legislation Marks Victory and Deserves Ratification: The editorial board urges Governor Lamont’s signature.

• CT Mirror, Housing diversity means fiscal stability for your town: Canton Board of Finance member Katie Kenney explains why housing diversity is better for towns’ budgets.

• CT Post, Now is the time to end Trumbull’s multifamily moratorium: Thomas Broderick details how a moratorium on multifamily housing hurts his town's economy. 

• CT Mirror, How transportation and zoning relate: Transportation historian and Cheshire resident Richard Deluca explains how housing development can support smarter transportation.

• CT Post, Zoning reform key for a thriving state: Small business owner Celeste Frye describes how zoning reform can expand Connecticut's tax base and workforce. 

• CT Insider, The easy way to get better population growth in the next 10 years: Columnist Hugh Bailey notes that housing production is key to the growth of Connecticut’s population.

• Greenwich Time, Real estate market shows need for zoning reform: The Hearst Editorial Board writes that “if Connecticut is going ... grow its economy, it can’t keep pricing everyone out of the towns where the jobs are, or forcing them into an hour long commute every day.”

• CT Insider, Housing reform pushes us to decide what kind of state we want to be: Columnist Hugh Bailey writes in favor of zoning legislation, refuting arguments against proposals and showing that Connecticut has a clear need for more affordable housing.

• CT Mirror, Zoning Reform is Long Overdue: Trumbull resident Thomas Broderick rebuts the affordability arguments against zoning reform and calls for an “optimistic vision of growth and community.”

• New Haven Register, Root Cause of Housing Shortage Overregulation of Land Use: Researchers for the conservative Mercatus Center, Emily Hamilton and Salim Furth, argue that land use regulation in Connecticut strangles economic growth.

• Greenwich Time, Laws Would Make Housing Fairer, More Affordable: Steve Kennedy, a Fairfield resident, expresses his support for zoning reform, writing that “it is a win for every community in our state.”

• CT Post, Zoning reform a step forward for state: Nick Klagge, finance professional and DesegregateCT volunteer, explains how Fairfield County and Connecticut will benefit from zoning reform. 

• CT Mirror, Zoning and Connecticut’s future: Visionary housing developer Bruce Becker writes that “we need zoning policies that will support both the kind of lifestyle people want and the businesses that can help provide it.” 

• CT Mirror, Connecticut must reform its exclusionary zoning laws: Dice Oh, member of People Friendly Stamford, writes: “if Connecticut wants to be a vibrant, growing, economically and environmentally sustainable state that people want to move to, we must reform both state and local zoning laws to make our housing more affordable, our cities more livable, and reduce car dependency.”

• Hartford Courant, Ending segregation with affordable housing will stimulate Connecticut’s economy: In his last public op-ed, the late housing champion Dan Arsenault argues “[z]oning reform would help to spur our economic recovery” from COVID-19.

• CT Mirror, Lamont is right – affordable housing is key to economic development: Sean Ghio, Policy Director for the Partnership for Strong Communities, lays out the economic imperative for affordable housing development in Connecticut.

The Environmental Case for Zoning Reform

• CT Post, Trumbull has a unique chance to reinvent itself as something more than a postwar suburb: Thomas Broderick details the need for suburbs to evolve through statewide zoning reform, writing that zoning reform would “expand walkability while adding support for local businesses in a new town center.”

• Danbury News-Times, Support statewide zoning legislation: Redding resident Doug Renfield-Miller highlights his town’s progress and states “zoning reform is essential to a more equitable, more welcoming, more dynamic and cleaner Fairfield County and Connecticut.”

• Stamford Advocate, Transit-oriented development and Main Street language must remain in SB 1024: Researcher Corey Runkel makes the case for reinstituting two specific proposals omitted from 2021 legislative proposals for environmental and economic reasons.

• The Hour, Let’s make Fairfield County greener: Luis Estrella, the director of the Cleaner CT Coalition (a coalition member) argues for Main Street and TOD provisions that will help ensure a greener Connecticut.

The Equity Case for Zoning Reform

• Hartford Courant, There are many in Litchfield County who talk a good game about fixing inequity — just don’t mess with their zoning rules or lot sizes: Kent resident Justin Potter emphasizes how zoning reform is necessary to advance social equity in rural Connecticut towns.
  CT Mirror, This is our time to address disparities in Connecticut housing policies and practices: Karen DuBois-Walton, President of the Housing Authority of New Haven, writes “[c]reating opportunities starts with opening the doors to communities that have effectively shut families out by welcoming progressive zoning reform and supporting efforts to build affordable housing.”
  High-Profile Monthly, DesegregateCT Takes Action Against Exclusionary Zoning Laws in Connecticut: DesegregateCT Senior Policy Fellow Pete Harrison explores the historical connections between racial injustice and Connecticut’s zoning laws while underscoring the need for change.
  CT Mirror, Working together, we can achieve greater equity in our region: Jay Williams, President of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, expounds the economic impact of structural racism within Connecticut.

• CT Mirror, It’s time to welcome zoning reform: DesegregateCT volunteer Kathryn Blanco illustrates how zoning reform expands housing opportunities for young people to seniors alike.

• Greenwich Time, Amplifying the call to end status quo on system racism: Columnist Alma Rutgers states that HB 6107 is a first step in reckoning with systemic racism in America and condemns politicians who ignore racial inequities. 

• CT Post, Drawing a red line through redlining: State Representative Christine Palm explains why she supports zoning reform.

• Stratford Patch, We all play a role in addressing CT's housing crisis: Stratford Councilwoman Kaitlyn Shake explains why statewide action is needed to make Connecticut's towns more equitable.  

• Greenwich Time, Let's take the most significant step forward for housing in the state, ever: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Susan Campbell writes that zoning reform would be "a giant step toward updating the state’s archaic zoning laws.”

• CT Mirror, It’s time to truly embrace fair housing in Connecticut: Pediatric resident Jing Marrero says it’s time to “dismantle discriminatory practices” and support zoning reform.

• CT Latino News, Zoning reform for more affordable, diverse housing in Connecticut: CT Democratic Hispanic Caucus Chairman Miguel Castro argues that zoning reform is essential if we are to overcome our status as the most segregated state in the country. Reprinted in the Record Journal.

• Hartford Courant, Classism, and housing discrimination: Cynthia Coia, resident of West Hartford, responds to classist arguments made by opponents of zoning reform. 

• New Haven Register, Want healthy communities? Create more housing choice: The CEO of Nuvance suggests that all those who really care about essential workers to support reforms that allow housing opportunity in all communities.  

• CT Insider, Greenwich acts like “a castle surrounded by a moat, frantic in our struggle to pull up the drawbridge”: Columnist Alma Rutgers pushes some in her community to favorably consider zoning reform proposals.

• New Haven Register, Opinion: So Much to Gain by Desegregating CT: Timothy Gabriele delves into the history of zoning reform and sees the promise of zoning reform as tying “everyone’s success together.”

• CT Post, Our Suburbs Will Create Housing - If They Have To: Ridgefield resident Dave Goldberg says that after 25 years of local activism in housing, cities need a little push.

• We-Ha.com, Smart Zoning Reform Will Address Racial Equity: West Hartford resident Daniel Dollar speaks to the economic and equity benefits of zoning reform, including accessory dwelling units.

• Greenwich Time, Connecticut’s Zoning Issue and the Floyd Trial - Systemic Racism on the Split Screen: Greenwich resident Alma Rutgers makes the link between the Derek Chauvin trial and the reluctance to advance inclusionary zoning.

• Stamford Advocate, ‘Lives Will be Made Better’ by Adopting Housing Bill: Former Darien first selectwoman Evonne Klein describes the clear connection between social inequity and the state’s restrictive land use policies. 

• CT Post, Fairfield County Needs Both State and Local Land Use Changes: Christie Stewart, director of Fairfield County’s Center for Housing Opportunity, discusses the misconceptions that many “home-rule” advocates have of SB 1024.

• Journal-Inquirer, Boomers are Facing Housing Issues: Coventry resident Christine Pattee stresses elderly residents’ need for more affordable multi-housing units across our state.

• We-Ha.com, Why Connecticut Needs Zoning Reform: Emily Oumano, a West Hartford resident, describes how restrictive zoning laws hinder social equity and community prosperity. 

• New Haven Independent, Opinion: How Connecticut Towns Maintain Segregation: Karen Dubois-Walton, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of New Haven, discusses Connecticut’s history of restrictive zoning and its impacts on social equity and housing opportunity. 

• Fairfield Citizen, Bill Would Create More Diverse Housing Options: Jared Klukas, a Fairfield resident and intern at DesegregateCT, highlights the need for more diverse housing types for students and young people within Connecticut.

• CT Mirror, It’s time to fulfill Sheff v. O’Neill’s legacy and reform Connecticut’s zoning: Thomas Broderick explains the links between zoning and education equity.

• Good Morning Wilton, “Local zoning control” is just perpetuating “separate but equal”: Michael Love, Wilton resident, argues that strict adherence to local control has resulted in a less equal society.

• We-Ha.Com, Support for legislative action to address housing disparities: Ben Wenograd, West Hartford City Council member, touts his town’s progress but says, “As to the local control issue, we only need to look at the wide disparities in housing access to know that something needs to change.”

• CT Mirror, The historical basis for zoning begs for reform: Lawrence Rizzolo describes how exclusionary zoning laws contributed to segregation, making the case that reform is needed in Connecticut to “counter the overwhelming impediments to upward mobility.”

• Darien Times, Opinion: It’s time to understand facts, and time to DesegregateCT: Evonne Klein, former CT Commissioner of Housing, writes “I am inspired to see groups like DesegregateCT - [c[hanges such as these will help to break the chains of institutional racism here in Connecticut.”

• BeyondChron, DesegregateCT will fight racism through housing reforms: Nick Abbott points to data showing the effects of Connecticut's restrictive zoning, and contextualizes reform efforts here within a national backdrop.

• New Haven Independent, Opinion: Housing policy key to desegregation: Patrick Holland & Will Poff-Webster point to research showing housing supply & relaxation of parking, lot size, and accessory dwelling rules is needed to prevent displacement & advance desegregation.

• Courier Journal, In fight for justice, change zoning: DesegregateCT lead organizer Sara Bronin calls for zoning reform as a necessary step in the fight for racial equality.

• The Hill, Desegregation is the key to thriving suburbs: Sara Bronin writes that “zoning can erect barriers that make housing more expensive to the point that all but prohibits a diverse housing supply.”

Policies & the Zoning Atlas

• CT Post, Accessory Apartments are a Great Way to Improve our Housing Stock: Land use attorney Dwight Merriam explains the benefits of Public Act 21-29’s legalization of accessory apartments.

• CT Examiner, HB 6107 is no Threat to Connecticut’s Historic Architectural Heritage: Guilford writer and activist Tim Sperry illustrates that “multifamily housing can add to our town’s history, or even preserve it.

• Greenwich Time, Historic housing change is on the horizon in CT:Vice President of Regional Plan Association Melissa Kaplan-Macey describes how HB 6107 will fix Connecticut’s “one size fits all” zoning policies.

• Brookings, How restrictive zoning shut the middle class out of Greenwich, Conn: Nick Abbott examines Greenwich’s history of exclusionary zoning to demonstrate the pressing need for statewide zoning reform.

• Middletown Press, It’s time to rethink how we develop our land: Greg Foley explains how middle housing can enable better, more environmentally friendly towns.

• CT Post, Parking requirements are due for an overhaul: Doug Hausladen, director of Park New Haven, explains how zoning’s outdated treatment of parking hinders housing production.

• CT Mirror, “Missing middle” can offer more housing choices: Jim Perras, CEO of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut, discusses the necessity for more housing diversity.

• CT Mirror, Accessory dwelling units are a good thing: Toni Gold, community development and historic preservation activist makes the case for legalizing accessory dwelling units statewide. 

• CT Mirror, The Zoning Atlas — an important resource as Connecticut rethinks housing policies: Rebecca Augur, President of the CT chapter of the American Planning Association, writes about DesegregateCT’s first-in-the-nation interactive map that shows how housing is treated in every Connecticut zoning district. 

Politics

• CT Post, Zoning bill a vital step toward a better Connecticut: Planning and Development Committee Chair Cristin McCarthy-Vahey explains why she supported the passage of zoning reform HB 6107.

• CT Post, Editorial: Zoning reforms should be a priority: The Hearst Media Board emphasizes that “Connecticut housing is due for an overhaul” and calls upon state leaders to expand diversity and housing equity for all residents.

• The Daily Princetonian, Let us be the generation that ends exclusionary zoning: Researcher Matt Mleczko calls for young people to lead in toppling the zoning laws that shut people out of opportunity.

• The Day, Old Lyme's 'character' includes complicity in formation of structural racism: Reverends Steven Jungkeit, Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, and Carleen Gerber speak to the history of Old Lyme - as a “slave society” - having ramifications today.

• Greenwich Time, Greenwich's doomsday housing predictions misguided: Greenwich RTM Member Mareta Hamre addresses mischaracterizations of zoning reform made by her town’s elected officials and states that “we need the state to provide leadership to nudge all of us to a cohesive and broad-based solution.”

• New York Times, The “New Redlining” is Deciding Who Lives In Your neighborhood: Researcher Richard Kahlenberg says that if, nationally, we care about equity, we have to care about zoning.

• New Haven Register, I Was Lucky to Grow up in Westport - More Families Should Have the Opportunity: State Senator Will Haskell says zoning reform - including accessory dwelling units and changing “character” - can help us retain young people.

• New Haven Register, “Home Rule” a false argument on housing: David Schleicher, Yale professor of state and local government law, says politicians focusing on home rule have mistaken views about current local-government powers.

• Greenwich Time, State vs. local' is the wrong discussion about CT housing: Alma Rutgers, a former member of the Greenwich town government, argues that zoning reform should not be a “state versus local” or a “Republican versus Democrat” discussion. 

• CT Insider, Why are CT Republicans demonizing desegregation?: Alma Rutgers writes that “the DesegregateCT discussion is about innovative and inclusive zoning solutions intended to benefit all Connecticut residents… this should not be a partisan discussion.”

• The Hill, Zoning isn’t a partisan issue — why is Trump making it one?: DesegregateCT lead organizer Sara Bronin illustrates that conservatives should support zoning reform because it removes onerous regulations and empowers the free market.