Municipal Affordable Housing Plans
Municipal Affordable Housing Plans
Municipal affordable housing plans, once completed, will be posted on municipal websites and can be found with internet search engines.Guidance for Submitting Adopted Plans to OPM
When is a municipality required to adopt its Affordable Housing Plan?
CGS 8-30j amended by Public Act 23-137 Section 55 requires each municipality to adopt an Affordable Housing Plan by no later than June 1, 2022, and at least once every five years thereafter.
How does a municipality adopt its Affordable Housing Plan?
A municipality shall adopt the Affordable Housing Plan in accordance with its ordinances, charter or policies, and should consult the municipal attorney for verification. If such Plan is adopted as a component of the municipal plan of conservation and development (POCD), it shall be adopted in accordance with the process outlined in CGS Sec. 8-23.
Additional planning resources include:
Affordable Housing Plan Process Guidebook Affordable Housing Plan and Process Guidebook
Regional Plan Association: RPA | Planning for Affordability in Connecticut
What is a municipality required to do following adoption of its Affordable Housing Plan?
A municipality shall file the adopted Affordable Housing Plan in the office of the town clerk of such municipality and post the Plan on the Internet web site of the municipality. In addition, a PDF copy of the adopted Plan shall be submitted to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) via email. The transmittal email shall include the date that the Plan was adopted and by whom it was adopted, and be submitted to OPM as follows:
Address to: Honorable Jeffrey R. Beckham, Secretary
Office of Policy and Management
450 Capitol Avenue, MS# 55SEC
Hartford CT 06106
Email PDF to: Rebecca.Augur@ct.gov
Note: Do not submit a hard copy to the OPM Secretary. OPM will provide a confirmation receipt via email for each Plan submitted and will copy appropriate DOH staff for their records.
How does a municipality remain in compliance with the five-year revision requirement?
Since the municipal adoption date serves as the starting date for the next five-year revision cycle, each municipality should allow for sufficient lead time to make necessary revisions and to adopt the next Affordable Housing Plan by no later than five years from the last date of adoption. Note that any Affordable Housing Plan adopted as a component of a municipal POCD must still be revised/adopted on a five-year cycle, regardless of whether or not it remains a component of the POCD.
What are the requirements for notifying OPM of non-compliance?
Whenever a municipality fails to adopt an Affordable Housing Plan by June 1, 2022, or at least once every five years thereafter, the chief elected official shall notify the OPM Secretary (in the same manner as noted above) of the reason(s) why such Plan was not adopted on time and indicate the date by which the Plan shall be adopted and submitted.
Statutory Requirement
Sec. 8-30j. Affordable housing plan. Submission to Office of Policy and Management. Hearing and adoption. Filing requirement. Review and amendment of plan. (a)(1) Not later than June 1, 2022, and at least once every five years thereafter, each municipality shall prepare or amend and adopt an affordable housing plan for the municipality and shall submit a copy of such plan to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Such plan shall specify how the municipality intends to (A) increase the number of affordable housing developments in the municipality, and (B) for any affordable housing plan submitted after October 1, 2023, improve the accessibility of affordable housing units for individuals with an intellectual disability or other developmental disabilities.
(2) If, at the same time the municipality is required to submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management an affordable housing plan pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the municipality is also required to submit to the secretary a plan of conservation and development pursuant to section 8-23, such affordable housing plan may be included as part of such plan of conservation and development. The municipality may, to coincide with its submission to the secretary of a plan of conservation and development, submit to the secretary an affordable housing plan early, provided the municipality's next such submission of an affordable housing plan shall be five years thereafter.
(b) The municipality may hold public informational meetings or organize other activities to inform residents about the process of preparing the plan and shall post a copy of any draft plan or amendment to such plan on the Internet web site of the municipality. If the municipality holds a public hearing, such posting shall occur at least thirty-five days prior to the public hearing. After adoption of the plan, the municipality shall file the final plan in the office of the town clerk of such municipality and post the plan on the Internet web site of the municipality.
(c) Following adoption, the municipality shall regularly review and maintain such plan. The municipality may adopt such geographical, functional or other amendments to the plan or parts of the plan, in accordance with the provisions of this section, as it deems necessary. If the municipality fails to amend and submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management such plan every five years, the chief elected official of the municipality shall submit a letter to the secretary that (1) explains why such plan was not amended, and (2) designates a date by which an amended plan shall be submitted.
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