A bipartisan group of Westport town officials has urged Governor Ned Lamont to veto HB 5002.
The controversial omnibus housing bill would “pose real risks to both local governance and the broader state economy,” the 9 elected leaders say. Areas of concern range from parking and potential as-of-right conversion of all commercially zoned properties to residences, to a provision allowing courts to require municipalities to pay developers’ legal fees.
The signers — including Republican 1st Selectwomen Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore, plus Board of Finance vice chair Michael Keller; Democratic 3rd Selectwoman Candice Savin, Planning & Zoning chair Paul Lebowitz and vice chair Neil Cohn, and Board of Finance chair Lee Caney, plus non-partisan Representative Town Meeting moderator Jeff Wieser and deputy moderator Lauren Karpf — note that Westport has taken “meaningful, proactive steps to expand access to housing”; established an Affordable Housing Fund of over $1 million, and maintained a homeless shelter downtown.
HB 5002 was passed by both General Assembly houses. Lamont has not yet decided whether to sign or veto it, or allow it to pass into law without his signature.
The full letter is below:
