FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Joe Thornton, Director of Communications & Member Relations
Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM)
Email: JThornton@CCM-CT.org | Phone: 475-318-4950
November 7, 2025
CCM Advocacy Helps Shape Balanced Statewide Housing Policy That Recognizes Local Needs
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the statewide association representing Connecticut towns and cities, today applauded the outcome of the recent legislative compromise on policy regarding housing. An agreement that advances statewide housing goals while avoiding a one-size-fits-all state mandate on towns and cities.
Throughout the months following the 2025 legislative session, CCM worked closely with lawmakers, state agencies, the Governor’s Office, local leaders, the Connecticut Council of Governments Association (CTCOG), and the Council of Small Towns (COST) to ensure that Connecticut’s approach to housing reflects the diverse needs, demographics, and infrastructure capacities of its communities. CCM’s advocacy emphasized, while affordable housing is a shared statewide priority, effective solutions must be flexible, equitable, and locally informed.
“Connecticut’s towns and cities share a strong and united commitment to expanding housing opportunities,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO. “But housing policies must recognize that what works for one community may not work for another. The final components of the new bill respect local planning authority while ensuring continued progress toward affordability and access across the state.”
The resulting bill reflects key CCM priorities:
- Regional Housing Approach:
The legislation replaces the "Fair Share" model with a regional housing framework developed through the Councils of Governments (COGs). This collaborative approach reflects Connecticut's varied housing needs - ranging from deeply affordable to market-rate - and factors in infrastructure, transit access, and employment centers. Municipalities may still submit and integrate their own housing plans with the regional plans.
- Refined Minimum Parking Standards:
The proposal reduces the scope of the statewide parking mandate rollback. Instead of eliminating minimums for all developments up to 24 units, the new standard applies only to projects of 1-16 units, with flexibility for towns to create "conservation and traffic mitigation districts" that maintain parking requirements where needed for safety and accesibility.
- Balanced Commercial-to-Residential Conversion Policy:
The bill now supports commercial-to-residential conversions while preserving local discretion. Larger developments (10+ units) must maintain ground-floor commercial use, protecting business vitality, while smaller "middle housing" projects (2-9 units) will undergo a summary review rather than being automatically approved "as of right."
- Removal of Municipal Penalties and Grant Restrictions:
The legislation eliminates punitive measures that would have deprioritized towns for discretionary grants like STEAP and Urban Action Bonds. Instead, it introduces incentives through a new Housing Growth Fund. It also removes the "bad faith" provision that could have penalized municipalities in housing-related court cases. Towns will, however, need to participate in regional housing planning to qualify for points toward an 8-30g moratorium.
“Our advocacy ensures that Connecticut’s housing strategy moves forward with balance through protecting local voices, while advancing a shared vision for affordability,” said CCM Director of Public Policy Brian O’Connor. “This is a win for both residents and the municipalities that serve them.”
CCM underscored that collaboration between the state and municipalities is essential for long-term housing success. The organization will continue to advocate for state investment, technical assistance, and incentives that help towns meet housing needs sustainably.
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