An Act Increasing Certain Housing Unit-equivalent Points.
Summary
HB 5365 amends Connecticut’s affordable housing appeals statute, section 8-30g, by changing how municipalities earn “housing unit-equivalent points” toward a moratorium from the appeals procedure. The bill revises the point system for certain affordable units, including family units, elderly units, mobile manufactured home park units, and deed-restricted accessory apartments. It also adds new point categories for unrestricted accessory apartments developed as of right and transit community middle housing developments, while adjusting the point values for several income-restricted ownership and rental units.
The bill also modifies the threshold a municipality must meet to obtain a certificate of affordable housing project completion and thereby trigger a moratorium. For some municipalities, especially larger ones that have adopted or opted into housing growth plans and have previously qualified for a moratorium, the bill lowers the point threshold from 2 percent of dwelling units to 1.5 percent. It retains the existing process for applying to the Department of Housing, public notice, comment, and provisional approval if the commissioner does not act within 90 days. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
Impact
This bill would directly amend Connecticut General Statutes section 8-30g(l), changing the calculation of housing unit-equivalent points and the conditions under which a municipality can temporarily avoid the affordable housing appeals procedure. Municipalities that accumulate enough qualifying units could more readily obtain or renew a moratorium, which limits developers’ ability to appeal local denials of affordable housing applications during the moratorium period. The changes affect local zoning and affordable housing development incentives, as well as the Department of Housing’s certification and review responsibilities.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was generally well received in committee, passing the Housing Committee on a 17-1 joint favorable vote. No committee transcript is available here, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate broader public arguments. The strong committee vote suggests substantial support for the bill’s approach to refining the moratorium and point system.
Contention
The main policy tension in the bill is between easing municipal compliance with affordable housing moratorium requirements and preserving access to the affordable housing appeals process for developers and housing advocates. Supporters are likely to favor the bill because it recognizes additional housing types, such as accessory apartments and transit-oriented middle housing, and gives certain municipalities more flexibility in reaching moratorium thresholds. Potential critics may object that increasing point values or lowering thresholds could make it easier for municipalities to pause the appeals process, potentially reducing pressure to approve new affordable housing.
An Act Concerning Affordable Housing, The Issuance Of Housing Unit-equivalent Points And The Calculation Of The Ten Per Cent Threshold For The Affordable Housing Appeals Procedure.
An Act Establishing A Tax Credit And Awarding Housing Unit-equivalent Points For The Conversion Of Commercial And Industrial Properties For Residential Use.