Residents share where affordable housing should go
WESTPORT — Turning office space into affordable housing and keeping affordable units on site for multi-family projects are some of the things residents hope to see in the town’s affordable housing plan.
Residents recently shared their comments with the affordable housing subcommittee ahead of the plan’s adoption, which is required by the state. The meeting was held via Zoom rather than in person in an effort to allow more accessibility for viewers to read and comment on the plan, said Danielle Dobin, chairwoman of the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission and the Affordable Housing Subcommittee.
It was also the final community conversation about the plan.
Ellie Lowenstein, a resident, said she did not like the idea of the affordable units being placed off-site of the project, but creating the affordable housing within the structures of Baron’s South and Longshore are wonderful ideas.
Another resident, Larry Weisman, said that he would like to see office space turned into affordable housing.
“That seems like a nobrainer,” he said. “There’s already infrastructure in place. There’s a lot of vacant office space and I think that adaptive reuse of that resource should be emphasized.”
Helen McAlinden, president and CEO of Homes with Hope, a group dedicated to providing affordable housing to families and individuals who were previously homeless, said affordable housing provides a great education in Westport to families.
“People go to college and have an opportunity that they normally wouldn’t,” she said. “No matter where the person lives in Westport, they get access to a wonderful school system.”
McAlinden also said she would prefer the affordable housing to be on-site, but when it cannot be done, off-site, when done well, is a good option.
Dobin also went over the plan’s history, adding the Office of Policy and Management and the Department of Housing acknowledged the plan’s timing and confirmed Westport has fulfilled its obligations under 830-j, a state statute with guidance specifically about affordable housing plans.
She reminded viewers about a survey that was sent to residents about the plan, and said that they have had more than 1,000 responses to it.
Dobin also cleared up some misunderstandings based on the responses from the survey. Some believed this development sets Westport back, but she said that the plan brings the town more in compliance with 8-30j. Some residents also believe that 8-30j points expire after seven years, which is not true. The deed restrictions last for at least 40 years and the points last that long.
Dobin reminded residents of expensive or demolished housing units that were once considered affordable, but no longer are.
Other members of the commission were able to speak up if they had any feedback to provide about the plan draft.
Marcia Falk, an alternate on the planning and zoning commission, requested members consider an additional component to the plan in regard to sustainable building materials and construction and its relationship to climate change, such as drainage. She said that it will add expense.
Dobin said it was an excellent point and said that if they start adding green building technology to housing projects, it must be across the board and it must be incentivized.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to consider adopting the plan on June 27.