Planning and Development Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6107
AN ACT CONCERNING THE REORGANIZATION OF THE ZONING ENABLING
Title: ACT AND THE PROMOTION OF MUNICIPAL COMPLIANCE.
Vote Date: 3/31/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/15/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Rep. Jason Rojas, 9th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
The bill aims to clarify language relating to the Zoning Enabling Act, federal Fair Housing Act,
and municipal affordable housing and zoning. The goal of these measures is to make
housing in Connecticut more affordable and accessible.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
N/A
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
The following speakers voiced support based on claim that the bill would improve
equality because historic redlining and exclusionary zoning policies have amplified
racial and economic inequities in Connecticut:
Amy Ewing
Jim Morse PhD
Daniel Shackelford, Yale Law Schools Community and Economic Development Clinic
Anika Singh Lemar
The following speakers voiced support that the bill would improve the state's economy
by allowing businesses and people to move within walking distance of downtowns:
Peter Fusaro
Kevin Goff
Alan Hanbury
Geoffrey Knapp
Sheila Leach
Chris Nelson
Eric Person
Eric Santini
Gregory Ugalde
Bob Wiedenmann
The following speakers voiced support that the bill would make housing more
affordable overall, and increase housing options for more residents:
Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officials (CAZEO)
Jim Horan, Executive Director of Connecticut program of the Local Initiatives Support
Corporation
Christie Stewart, Director, Fairfield Countys Center for Housing Opportunity
Steven Temkin
Joan Carroll: Voiced support, suggesting the state's outdated land use regulations have not
allowed production to keep up with demand for housing.
Betsy Gara, The Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST): Voiced support with
revisions. Testimony believed a template would be helpful, supports enforcement of zoning
compliance, and is reviewing the revision to 'character of a district' to check for legal
consequences.
The following speakers voiced support that a very similar bill (H.B. 6749) was passed
with bipartisan support in 2019. Current bill 6107 builds on the Affordability Plans
required by 8-30j and operates within the framework of 8-30g and "furthers the goals of
the federal Fair Housing Act and brings greater clarity through the statutes
reorganization in CGS 8-2." Speakers also voiced support for removing the term
'character of the district' which has allegedly been misused for discriminatory zoning:
John Guszkowski, President, Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association
Partnership for Strong Communities
Danielle Dobin
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Carol J. Martin, Executive Director of Board of Commissioners, Westport Housing Authority
Michelle Conderino, Executive Director of Open door Shelter
Janice Elliott
Patrick McKenna
Hiram W. Peck III, AICP, CFM Director of Planning and Community Development Avon, CT
Jim Perras, CEO, Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut, Inc.
Aicha Woods Executive Director City Plan Department, City of New Haven
Raphael L. Podolsky, Connecticut Legal Services: Voiced support of above speakers
regarding bipartisan support and clarification. However, an amendment was requested,
claiming the working group's assignment in regards to 8-30j is inappropriate because a
"whole guidebook" is on the Department of Housing website.
Makaela Kingsley: Voiced support that the bill gives guidelines, but still leaves planning and
zoning up to towns.
Page 2 of 8 HB-6107
Rep. Jason Rojas, House Majority Leader: Voiced support. Commented on the, "caustic,
myopic, gaslighting rhetoric that is used by proponents of the status quo." While testimony
agrees that the proposed changes are significant, it also claims they are necessary to
improve other areas in addition to housing, such as public health, economic mobility,
education and crime. Testimony implores colleagues to ask these questions:
1. What are your ideas to address the cost of housing and the availability of affordable
housing?
2. Do you believe in enforcing Fair Housing laws?
3. Do you believe that we should work towards reducing racial and economic segregation?
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
The following speakers voiced opposition based on claim that bill will too significantly
reduce local control of planning and zoning. According to testimonies, local control of
planning and zoning is valuable because it allows more direct representation of the
people effected and offers solutions that more carefully consider local factors such as
geography:
Anne Ahern
Anonymous
Bonnie and Arthur Ashman
Thomas Banahan
Barbara Katerine
John Bates
Doreen Battimelli
David Bauer
Crystal Berry
Terry Betteridge
Wayne Billingham
Suzanne Binelli
Taylor Bodson
Susan Brace
Bob Brisard
Alisa Brokelman
Eileen Bronko
Frank Bugaj
Bonnie Caie
Vanessa Caporrino
Lisa Carpenter
Adam Carrington
Frederick Centrella
Charles Chiusano
Debra Ciampi
Carolyn Clayton Mercy
Kevin and Joyce Cole
Richard and Karen Collins
Kevin Connors
Jean Connors
Page 3 of 8 HB-6107
Michael Connoy
Paul Costeines
Nancy Crump
Timothy Dalton
Elizabeth Darling
Laura Darrin
Blake Delany
Mike DeMato
Williams DeRosa
Joseph DiChristina
Roy Downey
Aimee Early
Richard Sebastian
Francine Erlich
Joe Evanchick
Phillip Farin
Alison Fels
Rose Fisch
Morton Fischer
Dr. Mitchell H. Greenberg and Dr. Judith N. Shapiro
Shari Greenleaf
Lisa Hall
Gray Hampton
Virginia Harger
Holly Harlow
Hilary Haroche
Alexis Harrison
Susan Hastings
Steven Healy
Roger Hess
Lori Hilton
Catherine Holden
Susan Holey
Michael Horton
Stephen Hudspeth
Douglas and Lisa Hurst
Cecilie Jedlicka
Janice Jennings
Christopher Johnson
Hillary Kaufman
Tony Keating
Williams Keating
Anita Keefe
Lynn Keenan
Donald Kentzel
Wayne Kilpatrick
Sharon Kinney
Christine Klienert
Andrew Koehm
Page 4 of 8 HB-6107
Bob Kolb
Gary Kopsco
Kenneth Kopsco
Brad Kotler
Liza Kotler
Paul Kramer
Marcella Kurowski
Mickey LaCrosse
Karen Lamendsdorf
Sean Landers
Robert Lardon
Robert Lavezzoli
Stephanie Leone-Kim
Jason Levy
Joseph Licek
Jamie Lineberger
Joan Liska
Mark Lloret
Rick Loh
Victor Machinski
Nathan Maidenbaum
Nancy Maloney
John Mancini
Noelle Maninelli
Anne Manusky, President Connecticut Republican Assembly (CTRA)
Mary Yvonne Marchese
Amey Marella
Robbie Marshall
Patrice Martin
Corlyn McArdle
Mark McCusker
Leslie McElwreath
Margaret McQuillan
Eugene Mercy
Barry Michelson
Shelley Michelson
Christopher Millin
Caroline Mock
Samantha Mollett
Grant Monsarrat
Anna Montabalbano
Aurora Montini
Anne Nemetz
Maira Nigam
Matt Nowack
Patte Nusbaum
Janet O'Malley
Edwards O'Rielly
James Oeschler
Page 5 of 8 HB-6107
James Oliveri
Kari Olson
Frank Pappalardo
John Paris
Maris Pascal
Tog Pearson
John Pepper
Cathie and Richard Perma
Barbara Peterson
Gary Peterson
Paul Piezzo
Lisa Pojano
Cathy Politi
Meral Prewitt
Lee Prince
Guy Prochilo
AnnMaria Pulio
Tim and Denise Purcell
Scott Quakenbush
Laurie Quick
Diana Quill
Kathleen Randall
Almira Ravil
Barbara Reggio-Brown
Cathy Reiss
Christine Robinson
Estelle Rouffiac
Deno Rubera
Bob Runk
Ruthanne Ruzika
Virginia Sanford
Susan Schieffelin
Loraine Seder
Joseph Shalleck
Tab Shanafelt
Claudia and Paul Shaum
Alan Shaw
Lavelle Shields
Lynn Simpson
Lisa Skinner
Spyros Skouras
Vicky Skouras
Geri Smeriglio
Caroline Smith
Shannon Smith
Cynthia Steckler
Lisa Stuart
Bob Svensk
Betsy Swindell
Page 6 of 8 HB-6107
Samuel Swoyer
David and Lea Sylvestro
Heather Tarifi
Ross Tartell
Ali Thomas
Meri Thomas
Bruce Thompson
Jill Tighe Kelly
Gordon Titcomb
Bruce Tolhurst
Bruce Torello
Eileen Toretta
Angela Tortorella
Jacqueline Trofa
Bonnie Tuite
Mary Ann Turner
Robert Tyler
Nick and Tracey Utton
Joseph Valbona
Stephanie and Peter Van Hengel
Marina Veninsky
Cynthia Vanneck
Polyvios Vintiadis
Geoff Viscount
John Waldron
Michael Wales
Jinygan Wang
Peter and Debby Weinberg
Ted Walworth
Wendy Wescott
Bob Wiedenmann
James Williams
Richard Williams
Sandra Williams
Annette Wilson
Karen Winget
Christopher Winham
Timothy Winston
Joan Winter
Karen Wood
Susan and Cliff Yonce
Mary and Paul Zahl
Carol Zuckert
Andrew Zwick
Brenda L. Kupchick, First Selectwoman of Town of Fairfield
No comment, or no reason provided for opposition:
Mary Aillery
Joseph J. Annis Jr. and Lori Annis
Page 7 of 8 HB-6107
James and Kinga Cook
Michael J. Gray
Donald Cavanaugh: Voiced opposition, with the following quote:
"If they became laws, these proposals would:
Permit developers to construct multi-family buildings wherever they want (within certain
areas) without informing or seeking approval from area residents. They could essentially
bypass the local public hearing process.
Supersede local zoning regulations and ordinances, making "home rule" a thing of the past
Eliminate lot size requirements in certain areas, meaning homes could be built more closely
together
Mandate every city and town allow for the construction of four-unit dwellings on any lot in
every residential zone
Eliminate "character of town" as a basis for zoning requirements, meaning historical and
architectural features of towns and existing buildings could not be used as a baseline for
regulating future developments
Create new traffic, environmental, and infrastructure (sewage and water supply) issues for
towns, especially with an unexpected increase in the town's population
Prohibit towns from using "preservation of land values" as a factor in zoning regulations
Create new training mandates for local zoning officials. This cost would likely become the
burden of the towns."
Leo Colgan: Voiced opposition, local zoning better protects environmental interests
according to testimony.
Harold Falber: Voiced opposition. Testimony claimed small rural towns do not have the
resources to adhere to the bill, as there is very little commercial activity to tax, and no realistic
access to public transportation. People choose to live in small towns despite the challenges,
and Falber's town of Weston strives to make housing more affordable by including smaller
lots. Testimony stated, "it is egregious for a group of state legislatures to rip from our hands,
self-determination and self-administration where there is not a single piece of evidence of
Weston having ever had a discriminatory practice."
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM): Voiced opposition, suggesting that
sweeping legislation puts a burden on local governments. Further, CCM proposed changes in
terminology of the bills and believes municipalities should have been consulted.
Francis R. Pickering, Executive Director of WestCog: Voiced opposition in part.
Testimony opposed extending zoning to "address the relationship between home sellers and
home buyers, and between landlords and tenants (II. 44-46)."
Reported by: Colin Savino Date: 4/14/21
Page 8 of 8 HB-6107


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 8-2, 8-30j, 8-1bb
PD Joint Favorable Substitute: 8-2, 8-30j, 8-1bb
File No. 541: 8-2, 8-30j, 8-1bb
File No. 716: 8-1a, 8-1c, 8-1bb, 8-2, 8-3, 7-245, 8-30j
Public Act No. 21-29: 8-1a, 8-1c, 8-1bb, 8-2, 8-3, 7-245, 8-30j