In the land of steady habits where change has been particularly difficult to achieve, the state’s housing advocacy community and the highly visible Desegregate CT campaign have succeeded in their efforts to encourage the legislature to pass zoning reform bill HB6107, which Governor Ned Lamont has signed.

This bill represents an important milestone after years of work by housing advocates to undo the exclusionary zoning regulations that have made it hard to create more affordable homes in Connecticut’s many largely white suburban communities. While it can be argued that these types of reforms won’t desegregate Connecticut on their own, it is important to recognize the essential role that zoning plays in perpetuating segregation in the state and across the country, and how critical it is to change zoning laws to enable more diverse types of housing that meet the needs of people with different incomes and at different stages in life.

In Connecticut single family homes are allowed as of right on over 90% of land. Other types of housing designed to accommodate people and families of diverse ages and incomes are harder to create, often facing complicated approvals processes and strong community opposition. That’s just one glaring reflection of the legacy of exclusionary land use policies and practices that remains hidden in plain sight across the state today. Intentional state, local, and federal housing policies and practices like redlining, racial steering, and racially restrictive deed covenants created a segregated Connecticut. Today’s action will help to begin the hard work of redressing those practices.

This new law provides long overdue statewide zoning reforms including legalizing accessory dwelling units, addresses outdated parking mandates, removes the term ​“community character” as a consideration in development applications, and requires training for planning and zoning commissioners who are the front line decision makers on zoning.

Now is the time for communities across the state to seize the power of this moment and actively plan for affordability and implement zoning reforms that will unlock new housing opportunities. RPA resources like the Fairfield County Housing Needs Assessment and the Planning for Affordability in Connecticut Guidebook can help local communities create the change Connecticut needs. This vote of confidence for zoning reform is recognition that - to be a competitive and welcoming state - we must do better.