Our politicians say CT has an affordable housing crisis and it must be solved with programs such as 8-30g. The Connecticut Centinal thinks otherwise.
The Centinal says the 8-30g program hasn't worked. After 36 years, 8-30g has created a meager 0.5% of low income housing units in the state.
The program imposes significant hidden costs to the local community. These high density, multi-unit developments, unconstrained by local zoning rules, impact local infrastructure including roads, sewers and schools. Adding to that, when the local zoning board rejects 8-30g projects, expensive litigation ensues. According to the Centinal, more than 35% of rejected 8-30g projects result in litigation.
The community's tax base gets eroded. Single family properties adjacent to these 8-30g developments are diminished in value, reducing property tax revenue. The rest of the community must pick up the tab in their property taxes for the added infrastructure costs. Meanwhile excess profit goes to developers.
Between the Lines - While politicians sound virtuous to get votes, in the end, local communities suffer.