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Municipal Affordable Housing Plans

Public Act 17-170 established a requirement that Connecticut municipalities adopt Affordable Housing Plans. PA 21-29 established an initial deadline of June 1, 2022 for municipalities to have adopted their first Affordable Housing Plans (an every five years thereafter). It also explicitly allows Affordable Housing Plans to be updated concurrently with Plans of Conservation and Development.

PA 21-29 established an initial deadline of June 1, 2022 for municipalities to have adopted their first Affordable Housing Plans (and every five years thereafter) as required by CGS Section 8-30j. It also explicitly allowed Affordable Housing Plans to be updated concurrently with the Plan of Conservation & Development (for one of the two five-year periods within the 10-year POCD cycle).

In 2020, the Connecticut Department of Housing announced the availability of grant funding on a first-come, first-served basis to support municipalities preparing Affordable Housing Plans. A second round of funding was announced in 2021 with an application deadline of August 31. Visit DOH's site for full information.

In partnership with the CT Department of Housing, Regional Plan Association prepare a guidebook for municipalities preparing Affordable Housing Plans. See OPM's info site for more information: https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/IGPP/ORG/Municipal-Plans/Municipal-Affordable-Housing-Plans.

PA 21-29 also established a "Commission on CT's Future and Development" to evaluate policies related to land use, conservation, housing affordability, and infrastructure, including a subcommittee working group on Affordable Housing Plans. A DRAFT of that working group's final report is available for comment until January 6, 2023.


Completed Affordable Housing Plans

Many municipalities have prepared Affordable Housing Plans prior to or since the adoption of PA 17-170. OPM maintains a list of adopted Affordable Housing Plans. Last updated September 14, 2022. Please send missing plans to ctplanners@gmail.com for posting.

Statute

Sec. 8-30j. Affordable housing plan. Hearing and adoption. Amendments. Filing requirement. (a) At least once every five years, each municipality shall prepare or amend and adopt an affordable housing plan for the municipality. Such plan shall specify how the municipality intends to increase the number of affordable housing developments in the municipality.

(b) The municipality may hold public informational meetings or organize other activities to inform residents about the process of preparing the plan. If the municipality holds a public hearing, at least thirty-five days prior to the public hearing on the adoption, the municipality shall file in the office of the town clerk of such municipality a copy of such draft plan or any amendments to the plan, and if applicable, post such draft plan on the Internet web site of the municipality. After adoption of the plan, the municipality shall file the final plan in the office of the town clerk of such municipality and, if applicable, post the plan on the Internet web site of the municipality.

(c) Following adoption, the municipality shall regularly review and maintain such plan. The municipality may adopt such geographical, functional or other amendments to the plan or parts of the plan, in accordance with the provisions of this section, as it deems necessary. If the municipality fails to amend such plan every five years, the chief elected official of the municipality shall submit a letter to the Commissioner of Housing that explains why such plan was not amended.

(P.A. 17-170, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 17-170 effective July 24, 2017.