Mayor Blake Asks State Lawmakers to Fix Affordable Housing Statute

MILFORD, CT — Milford Mayor Ben Blake provided testimony for today’s hearing in Hartford in support of the amendments to Section 8-30g, which is also knows as the state's affordable housing statute, of the Connecticut General Statutes through Committee Bill No. 535.

Blake, a longtime outspoken opponent of the current law has contended that the way the statute is written allows for abuse by developers who look to flout local zoning regulations for their own personal gain. “I understand the spirit of Connecticut’s affordable housing law, and consistent with that spirit, Milford has exceeded all expectations for providing housing affordability," Blake said in his testimony, which was sent to the news media.

In his testimony, Blake points out that Milford is a working class community where 32.72% of our households are low and moderate-income. He cites Milford’s diverse housing stock which includes low income, affordable, Section 8 housing, and five significant public housing complexes. Blake highlights how Milford has converted decommissioned schools and repurposed other public facilities to create senior and affordable housing.

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“Yet even after the great lengths for which Milford has gone to create housing for young professionals, working families, and our senior population, we still haven't reached the artificial thresholds and don’t make the arbitrary quota set by people in Hartford nearly thirty years ago. Our ability to adopt and live bysound planning principles and our right to local, self-determination has been high-jacked. This law is misguided and must be rewritten.”

As §8-30g is presently drafted, Milford is not getting credit where proper credit is due. As mature community dating back to 1639, many of our affordable properties were developed prior to the law’s cut-off that only credits a town’s affordable units that were deed restricted after 1990. This artificial statutory condition distorts the actual affordability of Milford’s housing stock. Moreover, the present statutory formula creates an uneven playing field making it difficult for certain mature Connecticut communities, like Milford, to qualify for a moratorium or exemption under CGS § 8-30g.

“It is my hope that the State corrects the flaws found in Connecticut’s Affordable Housing Law and brings greater fairness and consistency to the process,” Blake said.