By John Schwing
WESTPORT — While zoning officials reported progress this week on several fronts to expand the town’s inventory of affordable housing, the concept of repurposing buildings on the Baron’s South property is taking a new approach.
The status of three affordable housing initiatives was reviewed at Wednesday’s meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s Zoning Regulation Revision Sustainability Subcommittee:
- A text amendment to allow “cottage cluster” developments of all-affordable units on town-owned land is expected to face review by the full P&Z at its Oct. 2 meeting.
- A proposed ordinance to create an Affordable Housing Fund, which would raise money primarily through fees imposed on local zoning and building permits, got its first reading before the Representative Town Meeting last week. A joint meeting of three RTM committees is expected to discuss the plan Sept. 19 and the Ordinance Committee will review the proposal Sept. 26.
- But the idea of converting five structures on town-owned Baron’s South open space into affordable housing units, unveiled at the subcommittee’s July meeting, encountered criticism as well as a suggestion by zoning staff that the proposal be pursued in a way other than a new zone classification.
The cottage cluster and housing fund proposals both had been discussed extensively at earlier subcommittee meetings, and Wednesday drew few comments from attendees.
However, the plan to consider affordable housing development on Baron’s South, via approval of a new zone designation for the site, prompted lengthy discussion.
Initial reading of a proposed text amendment to permit adaptive reuse of Baron’s South buildings — not allowed under existing regulations — provoked a series of questions and suggested revisions from both P&Z members and the public who joined the noontime Zoom meeting.
At that point, Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young suggested that, instead of moving forward by rezoning the share of Baron’s South where buildings are located, it might be better “to keep it simple” and add another special permit use to existing regulations.
She said the goal for Baron’s South, as defined in July by First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and P&Z Chairwoman Danielle Dobin, was to “take existing town assets and make better use of them, and simultaneously try to increase our affordable housing inventory while not breaking the bank doing it.”
That, however, comprises “a lot of parameters to try to squeeze into a single zoning regulation,” Young added.
“Life at Baron’s South, if this takes momentum, should not really look different,” she said, suggesting that tweaking existing Baron’s South regulations would accomplish the overall goal of renovating the building interiors into dwelling units rented in compliance with the state’s affordability criteria.
A “carve out” in the Baron’s South zone, as was done to accommodate the Westport Center for Senior Activities, also could be done to permit building renovations without the necessity of adopting a new zone, Young said.
After listening to Young’s arguments, Dobin was persuaded by the suggested alternative, observing it appeared to offer “an easier, simpler way of accomplishing the goal we are trying to achieve.”
Three other P&Z members attending the session — Paul Lebowitz, Michael Cammeyer and Neil Cohn — also indicated general support for Young’s approach.
So did John Suggs, a former RTM member seeking election again this year, but not without also voicing serious reservations about the overall concept of renovating Baron’s South buildings.
Suggs: Rehab project would be “prohibitively expensive”
Suggs supported Young’s proposal “1,000 percent,” as opposed to adopting a new zone for part of Baron’s South, which he called “alarming.” That is a plan destined to fail if adopted, he said, describing the cost of rehabilitating the buildings as “prohibitively expensive” — a finding he said has been reported in previous surveys of the property.
The Fire Department, he added, is “already on the record” in the earlier surveys as stating that housing development on Baron’s South would require construction of a new road into the property to accommodate firefighting vehicles.
Developers for more than 20 years, Suggs said, have repeatedly said the “numbers just don’t work” to make renovating Baron’s South buildings feasible. However, adopting a new residential zone designation for the site might open the door for development of “McMansions” on the property at some point in the future, he said.
“Don’t re-zone” the property, he urged zoning officials, particularly since Young had explained there are enough “loopholes” in the current open space regulations to try to accomplish an affordable housing project.
RTM member Sal Liccione, District 9, also suggested officials take a group field trip to Baron’s South to assess the viability of the proposed renovations, questioning how well the buildings have been maintained over the years.
Several other speakers, however, supported the concept of renovating the buildings into affordable housing units.
Among them was Gloria Gouveia, of Land Use Consultants, who described herself as a “big fan of adaptive re-use and preservation.”
She said Young’s proposal appeared to address many concerns expressed by Suggs, and added, “If private developers passed on this I think their reasons may be very different than those issues that are going to be faced by the town.”
Calling the project “timely and important,” Gouveia added, “I think it’s vital that we put these buildings to use, and put them to use for what we need most in town, and that’s affordable housing.”
John Schwing, the Westport Journal consulting editor, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.
Liberal policies determined to destroy Westport. Who said there is a “right” to live in Westport, Ct. Until recently the responsibility belonged to the individual to aspire to better your own circumstances. Why bother getting more educated or working harder if someone will just hand it to you. I think maybe it’s not fair to not have a water view and/or an in ground pool. The sky’s the limit!!
I completely agree with you,Sharon.
When I was started law school.we were told to live now as a student on a diet of raven noodles in a 500 sq ft barely heated apt so that years from now when you’re a successful attorney you will realize you reaped the rewards of the early years of sacrifice. Commuters waste 4 hrs of their lives each day to live in Westport. Why? First, the school.system .Secondly,they feel safe living amongst their own kind .So now in their infinite wisdom the leaders of our fair town are deaf to its taxpayers. Their vision is to turn Westport into the Bronx. A crime occurs in Westport every 15 hours. Coleytown Middle School now ranks 20th in the state despite the 9 to 1 teacher to student ratio, and the Staples principal.is taking bows for getting the class of 2023 into Indiana University. Sharon consider running for public office.Youve got.my vote!
This is insulting and ignorant in so many ways!
First of all , I applaud that the town is dealing with the issue of affordable housing. It will not only address the the scarcity of housing for those that are house less of which there are approximately 400, if not more in Fairfield County but will create affordable housing for middle class families or singles that cannot afford these current outrageous rents as well!
The people of the Bronx would be livid to read your comments, which reek of racial undertones. Have you been to the Bronx where there are plenty of well educated people living in very good communities ?
Both of you need to educate yourselves before you make such ignorant dog whistle comments!
Yes, some of us struggle through college with low paying jobs, small apartments and plenty of peanut butter sandwiches or Ramen noodles, but those circumstance did not turn us into Karens!
Visit the Gillespie Center sometime, there you will meet people that ended up homeless through no fault of their own. You’d be surprised to find that most are educated, willing to work and just had unfortunate luck.
I hope that both of you Karens are not the new face of Westport. Most of the people in this town are worldly, well educated and open minded, you give this town a bad name and leave me with a bad taste in my mouth!
Well Goldie, I can’t speak for my new friend Caroline but I can tell you that I have been to the Bronx; my father was the Super of our building on 135th St. in , specifically, the South Bronx where he was shot and almost killed. I made my way from there to here with no help from anyone but myself and my own family. If you want to use your money to import as many Bronx residents and others to Westport, do so on your own dime and pay market rate for it. As far as racism goes, you are the only one mentioning race. There are no laws prohibiting anyone from moving here who can afford it. If you can’t afford it then live in more modest circumstances until you can. Everything isn’t racism, Goldie, sometimes it’s just commonsense.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Elodia Goldie James .Her referral to us as “Karens” was racist. Calling those who hold an opposing position as “ignorant” reveals her own ignorance.
What has made this country great has been the ability to engage in dialogue. But referring to opposing counsel as “ignorant” is a pre-emptive strike. Those of us who are educated, do not continue to engage. We consider the source and move on.
But let me leave you with these final thoughts to reflect upon. There is nowhere in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence that every man is afforded the ability to choose wherever he wants to live and is guaranteed access to gratis.That is a Communist philosophy,not capitalistic.
While I sympathize with the plight of those who live quiet lives of hopeless desperation in slums handed down from one generation to the next, it is not their God given right to live in a brand new house in Westport,Ct.Living here as my esteemed neighbor expressed, is an aspiration, not a guarantee.
Well Goldie, I can’t speak for my new friend Caroline but I can tell you that I have been to the Bronx; my father was the Super of our building on 135th St. in , specifically, the South Bronx where he was shot and almost killed. I made my way from there to here with no help from anyone but myself and my own family. If you want to use your money to import as many Bronx residents and others to Westport, do so on your own dime and pay market rate for it. As far as racism goes, you are the only one mentioning race. There are no laws prohibiting anyone from moving here who can afford it. If you can’t afford it then live in more modest circumstances until you can. Everything isn’t racism, Goldie, sometimes it’s just commonsense.
Sharon is spot on . I was raised as most of us wwre who aren’t trust fund babies ,to follow the principle of deferred gratification which loosely translated means resisting an impulse to take an immediately available reward in the hope of obtaining a more valued reward in the future. It is that basic principle which led us to be able to buy homes in Westport. The progressive town leaders are following a far different principle which I call the Cinderella project .But I am not a fairy Godmother. My philanthropy is limited to St Judes and the Make a Wish Foundation. The only wishes that I will grant are to sick and dying children. Underwriting the wishes of the 95% of affordable housing applicants who own and operate their own cars is a bridge too far.I suggest the money expended on auto nsurance, maintenance and gas should br allocated to paying their own rent.
If you think your taxes are not going to increase while your property values plummet, there’s a bridge in Brooklyn Id like to sell you..
At risk of starting the Caroline/ Sharon Mutual Admiration Society I feel so strongly about thus issue that is emblematic of everything wrong with our society that I must add this…. The government is now picking the winners and losers, eliminating the shame of being on the dole that was once a great motivator to take responsibility for yourself. At the same time they punish those who.don’t expect others to subsidize them and resent being told that their taxes will go up to pay for this nonsense as their own standard of living declines.
Sanctimonious clutching of pearls is not a substitute for making a case for the belief that someone, other than yourself, should finance your life style.
Rest assured Sharon ,you and I are not alone in the sentiments we have expressed here. There exists a silent majority of Westporters who are under a gag order to remain anonymous. Why ? Because they fear being exposed potentially losing their jobs and having their children ostracized at school .Such was the fate of our friend and neighbor Tara Mc Laughlin who courageously led the fight to ban 3 books from SHS.She was pilloried in the press .When exhausted she surrendered TEAM Westport smiled for the camera .Tara and her family sold the place they called home for 15 years.If that doesn’t smack of hypocrisy I don’t know whst does.If you raise a challenge now in this town you are labeled a racist and and ignoramus while Together We Achieve Multiculturalism takes a bow for striking a higher moral ground .It is this hypocrisy that has caused me to take pen to paper after living here since my parents built their first home in 1967.As Simon and Garfunkel.wrote Sulence like a cancer grows.So I cannot and will not accept the direction the progressive movement is taking us. And unfortunately this us against them name calling is polarizing and let’s call a spade a spade flaming the embers of race wars that were extinguished in the sixties. The Westport school system is now 74% white.Neighboring Norwalk’s is at 54% .So if we throw open the doors to affordable projects on every corner by 2025 we will be Norwalk.where the taxes are far higher than Westport and the average home price is $556,000. One of my friends owns apartments in Norwslk .He’s ready to pull out his few remaining hours. He spends no joke 75,000 a year to send his triplets to Catholic school. When a tenant who is 5 months late on the rent why she doesn’t get a job her response was I’m pregnant again that’s my job. The more babies I have ,the more benefits zi receive. Before the shovel hits the ground in Baron’s So.its time to raise out voices in a deafening Nooooooooooooooooo! And maybe refuse to pay taxes because taxation without representation is tyranny.
The silent majority needs to find its voice and perhaps a couple of other things which will go unmentioned for the sake of decorum. We owe it to the next generation to have the courage of our commitments. At the last in person zoning meeting that I went to I didspeak my mind; after the meeting on the way out people who were silent during the meeting whispered that they agreed with me. While I appreciated that it saddened me that they are afraid. Don’t be afraid there are more people who agree with us than you think.
Sharon, I understand the mixed emotions you experienced in feeling simultaneously supported by the whispering assent of our neighbors and the frustration of their voices being silent by fear of reprisal. Yesterday my voice was silenced in this forum where I thought we could express a different opinion which would be guaranteed publication by the First Amendment. Unlike a prior respondent who called us ignorant Karens ( which is akin to using the “n word).,that post was published. Yesterday in my comments, I cited objective verifiable facts which were evidentiary facts, not based on emotion. Westport’s diversity ranking crime ranking school ranking are indisputable numbers .I then cited criminal activity committed by residents in affordable housing units in Greenwich, New Canaan and Darien .The couple in Greenwich were selling fentanyl . The sterling character from New Canaan was picked up in the act of committing a crime. It was then discovered he has 4 prawn warrants. The Darien police daily report incidents of pickpockets at an alarming rate .Sunday afternoon my sister and I took a girls day at the SoNo Collection. We were approached apologetically by a security guard who asked we remove our sunglasses and facemask because of a spate of robberies .The day before he said men wearing hoodies robbed several stores, so we must now be subject to facial recognition. We left the mall to swipe our black cards on Greenwich Ave.So our rights every day are being diminished. I commute daily from the train. The congestion will be immeasurably worse by the projects soon to be completed on both sides of Post Rd W.Parker Harding will be the scene of road rage as frustrated shoppers fight for parking .I forecast this will be the death knell for Main St. If 5 finger discounts are daily events in Darien and SoNo are we to remain immune ? The 122 Wilton Rd is evidence reason has taken a holiday .I have yet to read any assurance from those promoting affordable housing that our taxes will not go up . When I make a decision I carefully consider risks and rewards. I see the risks involved in moving this town forward with 10% affordable housing. Of you see the rewards please enlighten me.
I have always been struck by the fact that lefties feel so free to express their opinions with no fear of reprisal, They wear t-shirts saying, f… Trump. put bumper stickers on their cars with similar sentiments confident that no one will hit them or key their car. Conservatives know what happens if they express their support for their candidates. For this reason they are afraid of the vicious retaliation that frequently occurs, including losing your job. The time has come to stand up before we lose our freedom altogether.
Westport is a microcosm of what’s going on in the country. The progressives have destroyed San Francisco. The beautiful iconic Westfield Mall is out of business. Nordtroms is a thing of the past. American Eagle is suing for ” neglect”.. In Manhattan, where men like John Lindsay,Ed Koch,Mike Bloomberg have kept us safe, Adams meets busloads of migrants,shaking their hands with his sycophants,handing them envelopes of cash and ushering them into Foot Lockers for new over-priced sneakers. He’s tossed them the keys to the city,booked them into 5 star accomodations with room service while hungry,poor ,homeless American citizens line Fifth Ave. They scramble like in a game of musical chairs to land a cot for the night and a hot meal at the soup kitchen. Westport is now following that recipe to revolution. This year the price of Westport beach emblems was increased for residents to lower the price for non-residents. Even seniors saw their price go up. In what universe does it seems equitable to punish your own citizens and taxpayers and prioritize others who just blew in? The learned leaders of our fair city are apparently operating under the misconception that everyone who lives in Westport is so well-healed, they can easily swallow the increase . But as I drive around Westport I’ve observed far many more small houses on humble middle class streets than 6 bedroom ,6 bath white barns. And the penalty of asking residents to pay more so that non-residents can pay less is egregious. Even a modest increase can translate into the difference between lunch out and a pb&j at home. Blooomberg reported this week 1/3 of those earning $150,000 a year are living paycheck to paycheck. Westport is not the town it was when you bought here. A safe,quiet,homogenous community. Despite the fact that Sherwood Island is a 238 acre state park which offers swimming we raised your price for a beach sticker because who wouldn’t prefer to hit Compo Beach. As a result, it is now Coney Island. The crime along Hillspoint Rd. is in the red zone. Don’t believe me? Look at the map. Westport is no longer statis symbol land. We are hanging on by a thread. Intelligence, common sense have taken a holiday as Santa’s little helpers drive hammers and nails 24/7 to complete their mission to erext a monstosity on the Saugatuck @ 122 Wilton. Where is the waste produced by this complex going? Where are the environmentalists who wring their hands regarding swans,ducks, preserving the healthy balance of nature.? But you and I are being told you have no choice but to live witgh it. You are going to drown in debt as your propert value sinks to $556,000, the median price in neighboring Norwalk. If you jhave a 2 M mortgage, be prespared to bring a wheel barrel of cash to the table. Because the new neighbors are going to reproduce like cockroaches while you pick up the tab for new schools, doubling the number of police,fireman and teachers. And let’s not forget crime. Invest in a ring surveillance system.It saved the life of our unfortunate neighbor on Bayberry.
“The new neighbors are going to reproduce like cockroaches.” It’s hard to believe you typed this. And then again, it’s not.
Tom, unlike social security benefits which are subject to a family max which actually caps the amount of benefits received by the family of a living or deceased wage earner currently under public assistance a family’s benefit level is calculated on a per capita basis so payments increase with the birth of an additional child .the comment I posted was in reaction to an event which occurred in Norwalk where a friend owns several low cost apartment units .One such tenant who is in arrears in her rent told him last week she cannot get a job because she’s pregnant again .She proceeded to tell him ” that’s my job”.
So one person says something to you second hand and you state it as a fact?
“Westport is no longer statis (sic) symbol land. We are hanging on by a thread.” Does anyone with a functioning brain think like this? Property values continue to increase.
“Westport is not the town it was when you bought here. A safe,quiet,homogenous (sic) community.” So you are saying that “safe” equates to people who all look alike? You aren’t even trying to hide it.
Talk is cheap,unless you talk to a lawyer. So I try to make productive use of my time while commuting. That said, it was imprudent of me to post a response without my reading glasses which I left on my desk .Mea culpa and thank you,Chris, for noting the typos and for your concern my cognition.
As for sharing the tale regarding the tenant who replied to her landlord that her job is reproduction, it was simply a personal commentary. If you want hardcore evidence, Gen Z will be the last generation of Americans with a white majority according to census data.Soon we will be the minority, what then?
As for the comment regarding decreasing property values, Redfin reported in August 2023, home prices in Westport were down 7.2% compared to last year.
As for feeling safe as I disembark the train in the dark walking alone to my car, yes living in an affluent community I wasn’t afraid. Regardless of creed,color,or national origin,,our neighbors were just like me, hard working,educated,successful home owners . They did not see my LV bag, grab and run. If they wanted one, they bought it. All that is about to change. As we invite those who cannot afford what the rest of us can, desperate people will take desperate measures.
You are not terribly observant Chris. There was no question mark after my remark regarding a connection between TEAM Westport and low income housing. That is what is known as a rhetorical question and does not require a response, especially from you. If I were you I’d avoid bringing Donald Trump into this CT. discussion. It indicates some desperation on your part and a lack of ability to make your case for income redistribution. Please feel free to give your money to whatever downtrodden individuals you like.
I believe in making available affordable housing. But wait and read on.
I have lived in Westport for 20 years plus, and I have many friends approaching their sixties who grew up/or loved in Westport, either all of their life , or most of it, who contributed to the community through their property taxes, who gave back in copious more ways coaching kids sports teams.
Many of the men and women who were active, Like this and giving back have been priced out of the very community they have lived in, some, their whole life, so we do need affordable housing but we need it for our residents, who , without it will not be able to stay in the towns they grew up in, brought their children up in, paid taxes in, supported PAL, and other town sports, so yes, please let’s make a concerted effort to create some affordable housing and let’s also make sure that if we( and we do) have seniors and residents who are struggling, let’s please look after them first. This is only right.. they helped like all of us to make Westport what it is.
They now deserve our help.
They should not be displaced by strangers. It makes zero sense.
I second that motion, Mary. I too have friends who have lived in Westport for 40 years, paid taxes,raised families but now face financial hardship due to catastrophic medical bills ,losing a job or generously paying off their kids student loan indebtedness. They’re homes are in desperate need of facelifts, which render them unsalable except to unscrupulous buyers . But Westport years ago turned a blind eye to our friends. They suggested you downsize to buying a condo which was to be built on the former Daybreak Nursery for $1,250,000. Many of my friends in these circumstances livedf in modest streets where the houses sell for $750,000 tops so where in this universe wad this downsizing? Others spike up regarding the need for “affordable” housing for our kids born and raised here who went away for college and now want to marry and raise a family of their own in the town where they where they grew up. That idea met with silence. The plan for affordable housing is TEAM Westport’s committment to radically revolutionize this town to offer a place called home to any one other than older citizens/ taxpayers of Westport and their progeny who want to build a new nest for their families. The driving force of TEAM Westport is not inclusion. The acronym says it all. Together Affectively Achieving MULTICULTURALISM”. So unless your friends are black, brown,purple or rainbow colored, they have as great a chance of being placed in one of these new,state of the art, affordable housing units as I do of woinning the lottery. And I don’t buy tickets.
Our commitment to affordable housing has absolutely nothing to do with TEAM Westport (which, I guess, is the local right-wing bugaboo). This is about State 8-30g law which requires affordable housing set-asides. It is a terribly written law that is a gift to developers. But it is the law.
To your point about long-time residents priced out of Westport, unfortunately 8-30g doesn’t allow for set-asides for seniors. (An affordable elder-housing complex would not count toward meeting our 8-30g requirements, so would not address that problem.)
Chris, with regard to “long term residents of any age, is it not possible or permitted for all of westports affordable housing to be allocated to Westport residents who qualify for it based upon their income or other criteria.
In other words.
If for example a man, woman, couple or family, is looking for affordable housing and are long time westport residents, can they not be prioritized for westports affordable housing, as opposed to just for example, giving them affordable housing in another town ?
Is there an upper age limit for affordable housing ?
Do seniors not qualify ?
I just meant that in terms of “you can’t build housing exclusively for seniors and have it count toward your affordable housing stock.” Not that seniors were excluded from that housing.
I am not sure if there are any restrictions in “assigning” some housing for locals. I would presume that it depends upon the whim of the property owner – whether the owner chooses to seek-out local renters or casts a wider net. But I am hesitant to presume anything, given the well-intended weirdness that is 8-30g!
Ah I see. Thank you for replying.
I just think it would be wonderful and well intentioned if there was a way to offer the affordable housing created in our town, should all requirements be met, to our town residents and/or local teachers, police, fire… etc.. as they are a huge part of our community. As we all know our community is prohibitively expensive.
Possibly such stipulations could be made for example when contractors are permitted to place their allocation of affordable housing “off site”.
That such housing be allocated to “local” but still “qualified” hopefuls.
I am in no way suggesting “off site” is ever a good idea. But I know it happens often.
And I do feel strongly that if our town has residents who qualify for affordable housing then priority should absolutely be given to them ahead of out of towners so to speak.
Perhaps it’s time to look into this ” Team Westport”. Where did they come from and who is bankrolling them? I’ve lived here for decades and now suddenly we are being strong armed into accepting the agenda of turning Westport into something acceptable to these individuals. This is all by design, the equal distribution of misery. If any town is blighted then every town must be blighted. That is the definition of the equity the left demands.
But why, are we committed to winning the race to 10% affordable housing when we all agree the law should be re-written? Specifically,with regard to 122 Wilton, the developers must obtain a wetlands permit for any type of project they propose in a wetlands area. The statutes specify the factors a local wetlands agency must consider when deciding whether to issue a permit, but none specifically address affordable housing issues and concerns.
For this reason, it is conceivable a wetlands agency could stop an affordable housing project if it determines it will significantly affect the wetlands. So before another nail is hammered, why not stand together demanding a moratorium on this ill fated project,until our concerns are addressed by a competent environmental agency?
I can’t speak to 122 Wilton, but not liking the law doesn’t change the law. And our representatives have been trying to change the law for years. But if we don’t reach a level of affordable housing stock that earns us our moratorium, developers can use 8-30g to basically build whatever they want, as long as there is an affordable component. If you don’t want local control going to Hartford, you shouldn’t want it going to developers, either.
If TEAM Westport has nothing to do with this low income housing why are they involved in the Planning and Zoning committee of Westport. Danielle Dobin of the P and Z is chairwoman of the affordable housing subcommittee on TEAM Westport’s website. The same Danielle who, with TEAM Westport held a forum “Why is Westport So White”. Offensive to say the least. I personally would like to see Candace Owen’s, Thomas Sowell, Dr. Ben Carson, Larry Elder and other accomplished black people move into Westport. I do not want to subsidize low income people of any color. It is unfair to all of us who earned it.
I don’t know Sharon, maybe for the same reason the “Concerned Parents of Westport” are involved in local issues – because they are residents with an interest in how Town operates.
But if you don’t understand how 8-30g is what causes this problem, I’m not going to be the one to explain it. As Ed Koch said, I can explain it to you but I can’t understand it for you.
So you only want conservative African-Americans to be your neighbors. Real neighborly of you.
I cannot speak for Sharon, but for want of not sounding like I’m flogging a dead horse believe, again, that we have plenty needs for affordable housing within our own community, be it our own children, our own neighbors, our own seniors( who surely can be eligible)
We do not need to look far to find many of our current residents whom likely qualify.
No Chris, I certainly don’t need you to mansplain anything to me if you’re up to that task. I understand what the legislation of 8-30 g is tryng to achieve and I don’t appreciate it. Furthermore I believe there is a nexus between such legislation and the recent arrival of agenda driven groups like TEAM Westport. As for what kind of neighbors I want .. ones that pay their own bills and agree everyone else should do the same. I guess that would mean all conservative neighbors.
@Sharon, if you don’t need it explained, don’t ask stupid questions.
Oh, only conservatives pay their bills. Somebody tell Sharon about that guy named Donald Trump.
@MCW, I totally get what you are saying, but State law (via 8-30g) is about making every municipality throughout the State pitch in to address the State’s lack of affordable housing. It’s not about finding cheap housing for locals. I’m not saying that is right or wrong, but the law is about trying to get everyone to address the problem rather than just perpetuating housing problems in the cities.
I don’t think every municipality can be all things for all people. But I also understand the desire to not bury all of the State’s problems in cities, because it perpetuates problems.
Donald Trump. The last refuge of liberals without an ability to make a case for income redistribution or any other anti- American anti -capitalism leftist idea is start screaming about Donald Trump. Very unimpressive.