Don't discount the fact that we have lived in a consumer society for a long time. Seniors have a lot of stuff. Downsizing is not as simple as it seems, it can be overwhelming.
November 5, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Don't discount the fact that we have lived in a consumer society for a long time. Seniors have a lot of stuff. Downsizing is not as simple as it seems, it can be overwhelming.
There's some truth to that statement, but of course they are also opposed to making it easier to build new single family homes on small lots.
November 4, 2025 at 10:57 AM
There's some truth to that statement, but of course they are also opposed to making it easier to build new single family homes on small lots.
I'm in 100% agreement with you directionally, but it's a mistake to use "Affordable Housing" as the controlling metric. We should be looking at the overall zoning capacity for a variety of lower-cost market-rate housing types. Then build the "Affordable" when funding is available.
November 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I'm in 100% agreement with you directionally, but it's a mistake to use "Affordable Housing" as the controlling metric. We should be looking at the overall zoning capacity for a variety of lower-cost market-rate housing types. Then build the "Affordable" when funding is available.
I'm pretty sure HB 5002 assigned quotas of below-market-rate housing. And isn't that the intent of the OCA v Woodbridge lawsuit - to get a Mt Laurel type decision?
November 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I'm pretty sure HB 5002 assigned quotas of below-market-rate housing. And isn't that the intent of the OCA v Woodbridge lawsuit - to get a Mt Laurel type decision?
There's a big difference between reforming zoning to allow more housing to be built (which needs to be done) and assigning a quota of below-market-rate units.
October 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM
There's a big difference between reforming zoning to allow more housing to be built (which needs to be done) and assigning a quota of below-market-rate units.
I didn’t realize there was such a big difference between red-state free-market institutes and blue-state ones. Who knew!
October 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I didn’t realize there was such a big difference between red-state free-market institutes and blue-state ones. Who knew!
Also, CT's for-sale housing market is inelastic. In other words, it is unable to respond with additional supply when hit with additional demand due to restrictive zoning, driving up prices.
September 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Also, CT's for-sale housing market is inelastic. In other words, it is unable to respond with additional supply when hit with additional demand due to restrictive zoning, driving up prices.
Population is the wrong metric. It is household formation that drives housing demand. You can have a flat population, but if households are getting smaller, you'll need more housing.
September 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Population is the wrong metric. It is household formation that drives housing demand. You can have a flat population, but if households are getting smaller, you'll need more housing.
Not surprised Sen Gordon could do that with a straight face 😀
September 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Not surprised Sen Gordon could do that with a straight face 😀
I could support some type of housing production goal that uses a reasonable needs and allocation method in exchange or an 8-30g safe harbor. Notably the state of Maine declined to require any "Affordable Housing" in its production targets. Just build more housing and the state can fund affordability
September 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I could support some type of housing production goal that uses a reasonable needs and allocation method in exchange or an 8-30g safe harbor. Notably the state of Maine declined to require any "Affordable Housing" in its production targets. Just build more housing and the state can fund affordability
The Fair Share proposal, as written, is a bad idea for a variety of reasons. But, the framework could be useful. I do believe the state has a right to see that the zoning power delegated to localities is not used to deprive decent housing options to the citizenry as a whole. That said...
September 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The Fair Share proposal, as written, is a bad idea for a variety of reasons. But, the framework could be useful. I do believe the state has a right to see that the zoning power delegated to localities is not used to deprive decent housing options to the citizenry as a whole. That said...
That's a fair point. I fully support parking reform. In the Senate debate Ryan said he was open to some type of parking reform. Perhaps something similar to the compromise bill that passed in WA could be part of a "grand bargain".
September 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
That's a fair point. I fully support parking reform. In the Senate debate Ryan said he was open to some type of parking reform. Perhaps something similar to the compromise bill that passed in WA could be part of a "grand bargain".
I really wished they ran these disparate sections as separate bills. It did a real disservice to public debate by lumping them all together. You can't expect people who were going to vote against HB 5002 because of the Fair Share element to energetically & thoughtfully engage on the other elements.
September 27, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I really wished they ran these disparate sections as separate bills. It did a real disservice to public debate by lumping them all together. You can't expect people who were going to vote against HB 5002 because of the Fair Share element to energetically & thoughtfully engage on the other elements.
I’m not so sure about that. I believe he would be open to a compromise. Unfortunately, it is the housing advocates that are dead set on imposing NJ style Fair Share. Which would be a bad idea for a variety of reasons.
citizenportal.ai/articles/309...
citizenportal.ai/articles/309...
September 26, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I’m not so sure about that. I believe he would be open to a compromise. Unfortunately, it is the housing advocates that are dead set on imposing NJ style Fair Share. Which would be a bad idea for a variety of reasons.
citizenportal.ai/articles/309...
citizenportal.ai/articles/309...
Interesting mention of the regional housing production goals adopted by Maine in the op-ed. I think it represents a much better and more realistic approach. Let the free-market build as much lower-cost market-rate housing as demanded and have the state provide funding to make some of it affordable.
September 26, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Interesting mention of the regional housing production goals adopted by Maine in the op-ed. I think it represents a much better and more realistic approach. Let the free-market build as much lower-cost market-rate housing as demanded and have the state provide funding to make some of it affordable.
watering down ≠ compromise on fundamentals
September 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
watering down ≠ compromise on fundamentals
I'm arguing for a compromise. Perhaps you should too, considering your preferred alternative was vetoed.
September 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I'm arguing for a compromise. Perhaps you should too, considering your preferred alternative was vetoed.
If you read anything that I've written, you'll see that I completely disagree with those that want to do nothing. I'm, in fact, arguing to do more than you. It's just spread out over a wider variety of housing types and includes all communities.
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
If you read anything that I've written, you'll see that I completely disagree with those that want to do nothing. I'm, in fact, arguing to do more than you. It's just spread out over a wider variety of housing types and includes all communities.
“It’s a compromise of a compromise”. What exactly did you compromise on? You watered it down a bit, but didn’t compromise on any of the key parts.
September 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM
“It’s a compromise of a compromise”. What exactly did you compromise on? You watered it down a bit, but didn’t compromise on any of the key parts.
“No one likes the moratorium process”. Every other state that has a builder’s remedy, offers an immediate safe harbor upon the adoption of an approved zoning plan.
September 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
“No one likes the moratorium process”. Every other state that has a builder’s remedy, offers an immediate safe harbor upon the adoption of an approved zoning plan.