The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

Monday, July 31

Happy last day of July—I don’t know about you all, but I truly feel like this summer is flying.

This week, we’re exploring a few ideas from communities across southwest Connecticut about how to increase affordable home ownership opportunities.

About two-thirds of Connecticut households own their homes, but this varies widely by race and ethnicity as 76% of white residents across the state own their homes, while only 57% of Asian residents, 40% of American Indians residents, 39% of Black residents, and 34% of Latino residents own their homes, according to a 2021 report from the Urban Institute.

The report, titled Housing Connecticut’s Future: Meeting the State’s Affordable and Accessible Housing Needs, noted that “in addition to providing housing stability, owning a home can be a path toward wealth-building and economic self-sufficiency.”

Homeowners across the region are also less cost-burdened than renters. The April 2021 report from the Urban Institute found that 18% of owners are cost-burdened and 15% are severely cost-burdened across Fairfield County.

Those are some of the reasons why communities are looking to increase home ownership opportunities. Here’s a few ideas that southwest Connecticut communities are exploring.

In Fairfield, the city is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to build some affordable homes. In Westport, planning and zoning officials are exploring allowing “cottage cluster” districts to provide affordable homeownership opportunities.

In Stamford, the mayor recently signed an executive order calling for “the creation of more homeownership opportunities.”

In Norwalk, planning and zoning officials are debating whether changing the zoning from one-family to two-family would create more ownership opportunities. Officials are also asking developers to consider making some proposed rental housing units into those that can be owned.

Check out our full piece on these ideas or watch our video outlining them.

Let’s see what else is happening around the region, but this is a relatively quiet meeting week.

Stamford

On Tuesday, August 1 at 9:30 a.m., the Vision Zero Task Force will receive an update on crash data for the year so far, as well as information about the Washington Boulevard and Main Street Pilot Project and the Washington Boulevard road safety analysis.

The Operations Committee will meet on Monday, July 31 at 6 p.m. and hear an update from the administration on their work to develop short and long-term plans to mitigate the impact of severe storm and rain events.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, July 31: Mayor’s Multicultural Council at 6:15 p.m. | Zoning Board at 6:30 p.m.

Norwalk

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, August 2 at 6 p.m. and host two public hearings—one on the plans for the new South Norwalk Elementary school on Meadow Street and one on the plans to build 204 apartments on West Avenue and Maple Street, at the site of the old YMCA building. See the plans for both on the city’s website.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, August 1: Arts and Culture Commission at 6 p.m. | Public Works Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 2: Land Use & Building Management Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Fair Rent Commission at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, August 3: Charter Revision Commission Special Meeting at 6 p.m. | Mayor’s Water Quality Committee at 6 p.m. | Community Services Committee of the Common Council Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7:15 p.m.

Fairfield

On Monday, July 31, at 5:15 p.m. the Special Projects Standing Building Committee will get an update on current projects from Sal Morabito, director of construction and energy services for Fairfield Public Schools, and Ken Linsley from Silver Petrucelli Architects.

Other meetings this week:

• Wednesday, August 2: Zoning Board of Appeals at 2 p.m. | Inland Wetlands Agency at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, August 3: Economic Development Commission at 8:30 a.m.
• Friday, August 4: Sustainable Fairfield Food and Waste Committee at 8 a.m.

Greenwich

The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its review of the plan from 240 GA, LLC to build 4-story, 40-unit assisted housing development, of which 8 units will be designated as affordable at its meeting on Tuesday, August 1 at 4 p.m. The project, which is at 240 Greenwich Avenue, is receiving funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Other meetings this week:

• Monday, July 31: Energy Management Advisory Committee at 4 p.m. | Nathaniel Witherell Board of Directors at 5:30 p.m.

Darien

Meetings this week include:

• Wednesday, August 2: Environmental Protection Commission at 7 p.m.

Westport

No meetings this week.

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Thank you for reading!

If you are interested in being a part of our reporting or just want to share your thoughts, please reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times