There’s a housing bill—HB5002, sitting on Governor Lamont’s desk, and on the surface, it sounds like a good thing. We all agree that Connecticut needs more affordable housing. But as someone who’s been deeply involved in local housing efforts here in Greenwich, I’m concerned this bill may actually do more harm than good.
I’ve served on the Greenwich RTM for over 15 years, including on the special committee that helped establish our town’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. I know firsthand that we need more housing for the people who serve this community—our police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and teachers. But HB5002 doesn’t help them. The income levels it targets are so low that most of our Town employees wouldn’t even qualify.
Worse, the bill forces towns like ours to allow high-density housing in commercial zones and near transit—regardless of what our infrastructure can handle. Think: more traffic, more strain on infrastructure and sewers—with no plan in place to support it.
It also ties state infrastructure funding to whether towns follow state zoning directives. That’s not partnership—it’s pressure. And it takes away our ability to make thoughtful decisions about what works best for our Greenwich.
Most troubling of all, it strips away the very idea of “community character.” We know what makes Greenwich special—its scale, its charm, its balance. HB5002 tells us those values no longer matter. But the truth is, Greenwich knows what’s best for Greenwich—and decisions about our future should stay here, not be handed over to Hartford.
Governor Lamont has until Tuesday, June 24, to sign or veto the bill. If you care about local control, now’s the time to speak up—tell him to VETO HB5002 and send it back for a better, more balanced solution.
governor.lamont@ct.gov
ned@lamontoffices.com
Tell him we need housing that works for our communities—not mandates that steamroll them.
These are my personal views, not those of the RTM.
Frederick Lee
Greenwich, CT
