First Selectman Fred Camillo’s Testimony on HB 6831:
Dear Sen. Rahman, Rep. Kavro-Degraw, Sen. Gordon, Rep. Zullo, and members of the Planning and Development Committee,
Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you all in regard to HB 6831, AAC Transit-Oriented Development.
As a former member of the Connecticut General Assembly, one with great respect for the institution and all those who serve in it, and as a First Selectman who is very familiar with the process, customs, terms, and history of the state legislature, I find this annually appearing bill to be both misleading and overreaching. Regarding the former, the “opt-in” option makes this sound purely voluntary when in fact, it is threatening and punitive. Opt-in, or, as the bill states, your municipality will get “deprioritized” (lose state funding).
It is overreaching in that it stands against one of the strongest principles and traditions we know of here in Connecticut and the nation: the right to self-governance. No one in a distant Capitol, figuratively and literally, knows what is better for a local government than those who live there and those who serve there.
The opt-in option would force a municipality to surrender local decision-making to a coordinator acting as a “zoning czar,” a person who could overrule local zoning boards. I have yet to meet a local official anywhere in the state who thinks that is a good idea.
Furthermore, this proposal offers no protection for the environment or historic preservation. In a Town like Greenwich, where we take pride in our historic venues and environmental protection measures as well as our local public housing efforts, this is a serious concern that threatens centuries of proud tradition of protection and progress.
Lastly, this proposal would not allow public hearings for most developments and would be “as of right,” which would even prevent experts in preservation and land use from offering their opinions. The fact that this very undemocratic proposal is being debated in the Constitution State is both ironic and sad.
Please vote down this bill and let communities be governed by those who know them best: their own residents and taxpayers.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Fred Camillo
First Selectman
