CONNECTICUT — New data suggests Connecticut is falling behind neighboring states in adopting land-use reforms designed to make housing construction easier, highlighting ongoing challenges tied to affordability and development.
.jpg)
A land-use data tracker developed by New York University Furman Center ranks Connecticut in the middle of the pack nationally when it comes to policies that support new housing construction. The findings point to a slower pace of legislative action compared to similarly sized states in the region.
One key factor behind the state’s lagging performance is its reliance on local zoning authority rather than broader statewide mandates, according to Jason Rojas.
“We have this deep romanticization with local control, even though we're not a home rule state,” Rojas said.
The tracker evaluates legislation passed since 2017 that aims to streamline housing development, including measures such as allowing accessory dwelling units, adjusting environmental review requirements and mandating affordable housing plans.
Over the past nine years, Connecticut has passed 11 land-use reform bills. By comparison, Rhode Island has enacted 42 such measures, while New Hampshire has approved 20, according to the data.
State leaders have historically relied on incentives to encourage municipalities to build more housing, particularly affordable units. However, critics argue that this strategy has not delivered the desired results.
“There's a lot more interest in providing incentives for communities to do things,” Rojas said. “We've been doing that for a very long time, and given the outcomes that we have around housing production and housing costs in Connecticut, I can't say that the incentive approach is actually working.”
.jpg)
Rojas suggested the state may need to take a more directive role in shaping local development decisions, though he acknowledged the political challenges associated with shifting away from local control.
“I am more of a proponent of being more prescriptive about what towns and cities should be doing, but the politics are not necessarily on my side on that,” he said.
Housing experts say the data tracker could serve as a valuable tool for policymakers seeking to evaluate and compare reform efforts across states.
“This is going to be an incredibly useful resource, not just for researchers, for journalists who want to track things, and, of course, for policymakers who are always looking for examples of other legislation where they can get ideas (and) figure out pieces to copy,” said Jenny Schuetz, vice president of infrastructure-housing at Arnold Ventures.
As housing affordability remains a pressing issue across the region, the report underscores the growing importance of land-use reform in enabling new construction and expanding housing supply.
Originally reported by Abigail Brone in CT public.
.png)
.png)
