Fairfield board OKs Habitat for Humanity lease
FAIRFIELD — More affordable housing just got one step closer to becoming a reality in Fairfield, and officials are happy they are controlling the process.
The Board of Selectmen approved a lease agreement with Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield Country this week, one of the final steps before shovels can hit the dirt for four units of affordable housing on Greenfield Street.
Mark Barnhart, the director of Fairfield’s Office of Community and Economic Development, noted the board already approved the town purchasing the property at 244 Greenfield St. in 2021, and late last year consented to the town entering into a contact with Habitat to allow Habitat to finance the project. He said the lease has a 75-year term and is renewable.
“This is the last step in the process before we actually receive their building permit,” he said, adding the Representative Town Meeting will also have to sign off on the lease.
Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said the project at Greenfield would be restricted to people making 60 percent of the area’s median income. She has been in full support of the plan every time it has come before the board.
“This is really a home run, and a prime example of that towns can do things on their own,” she said.
She said her nine years on the Housing Committee in the state legislature showed her that 8-30g does not address affordable housing the way it is meant to. State statute 830g is an affordable housing statute that allows developers to circumvent local zoning laws if a certain percentage of the units are considered affordable.
“I wish we could go up to Hartford and do a presentation for the governor and the housing committee up there, so they can see that towns can actually do this stuff. We can actually build real affordable housing without giving a free ride to developers,” she said, adding towns can do more on their own. “We can do it and we’re doing it.”
The town purchased the property for $232,000 in 2021 and combined it with about a half acre from the Tunxis Hill Park to construct two duplexes. In other presentations on the project, Barnhart said the property has about 200 feet of frontage on Greenfield Street and the Parks and Recreation Commission approved letting the town use part of the park for affordable housing.
The Town Plan and Zoning Commission also voted to support the idea. Habitat for Humanity will also fund the build and can help prospective homeowners by providing financing, Barnhart said.
Barnhart said the next steps are for Habitat for Humanity to apply for permits and get town approval for the building plans.