Connecticut Lags in Housing Reforms: A State-Level Shift Needed

0:00Connecticut is lagging behind its neighbors when it comes to passing laws that make building new housing easier. A new tracker from New York University's Furman Center ranks states on land use reforms and Connecticut sits right in the middle of the pack. The state has leaned hard on local zoning control instead of stronger state oversight, even though it's not a true home rule state. Over the last nine years, Connecticut approved just 11 bills to loosen up housing rules, while Rhode Island passed 42 and New Hampshire. Greenlit 20, state rep Jason Rojas points out that this local first approach has romanticized control at the expense of real progress. The current setup offers towns and sentives to build affordable housing, but with no penalties for ignoring them, it's falling flat amid skyrocketing, costs and low production. The tracker focuses on reform since 2017, like statewide approvals for accessory dwelling units, streamlined environmental reviews, and mandates for affordable housing plans in every community.

1:00Experts say it's a gold mine for policymakers hunting proven ideas from other states. As housing pressures mount, Connecticut might need to shift toward more state-level muscle to catch up and ease the crunch for folks needing homes. Local news, powered by AI. This is Hardford News Today, I'm Corey with The Story.