Press Releases
GOV. MALLOY: STATE AWARDS GRANTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
Nine Municipalities to Share $210,000 in Planning Funds
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein, today announced that nine towns have each been awarded grants for predevelopment costs associated with establishing Incentive Housing Zones (IHZ) in their communities. The towns are Andover, Barkhamsted, Canaan, Clinton, Enfield, Guilford, North Stonington, and Windsor Locks.
"Incentive Housing Zones are good public policy because they promote both affordable and market-rate housing and mixed-use developments in residential and business districts," said Governor Malloy. "These zones can help communities relieve congestion and avoid sprawl by creating more vibrant neighborhoods near businesses and existing transportation connections - allowing people to walk or take public transit to work, to visit cultural attractions, or just to enjoy an evening out."
The Department of Housing will award a total of $210,000 in funding through the Housing for Economic Growth Program, also known as HomeCT. This is a voluntary program that provides financial incentives such as technical assistance grants, predevelopment funds, zone adoption grants and building permit grants to municipalities that create affordable housing by designating areas as an IHZ within the municipality.
An IHZ allows for residential or mixed-use developments that set aside a minimum of 20% of the units for households earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI) for minimum of 30 years. A unit is affordable if it costs no more than 30% of a person's annual income.
"This funding is vitally necessary and an important tool for those municipal leaders that are taking on the issues of housing and affordability within their communities," said Commissioner Klein. "Incentive Housing Zones are still a relatively new concept. These grants help communities better understand their needs, plan and analyze developments, and establish the structure and framework that can help them move projects quickly from the planning stage to the permit and construction phase."
The awards are as follows:
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Andover - The town will receive $20,000 to identify three prime locations for IHZ, septic suitability analysis, preliminary traffic analysis and draft IHZ regulations that may help the town's planning and zoning commissioners amend zoning regulations as per IHZ requirements.
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Barkhamsted - The town will use its $20,000 grant to identify various parcels for inclusion in the IHZ along Route 44, draft IHZ regulations, develop wastewater management options, and design standards, as needed.
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Canaan - A $50,000 pre-development Phase II grant will help the town prepare preliminary site plan/renderings, site assessment, draft option agreements, and purchase option for a site in Falls Village that has already been adopted as an IHZ and approved by DOH.
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Clinton - The town will receive $20,000 to bring multiple targeted properties to the point of application readiness for multi-family housing development. Funds will be used for survey and septic system design, soil testing, and drafting of IHZ regulations.
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Enfield - The town will propose an IHZ within the Village of Thompsonville with its $20,000 grant. Funds will be used for drafting IHZ regulations, outreach, and public hearings.
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Guilford - The town will receive a $20,000 grant to identify parcels, evaluate its suitability for sewage disposal, design criteria and draft IHZ regulations.
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Madison - A $20,000 grant will be used to collect data about existing housing, solicit public input, examine IHZ program, drafting of IHZ regulations and adoption.
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North Stonington - The town will use its $20,000 grant to hold stakeholder meetings, foster community engagement, and develop IHZ regulations and associated text/map amendments.
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Windsor Locks - A $20,000 grant will help to analyze workforce housing needs, identify potential IHZ locations, draft potential IHZ regulations and design standards.
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For Immediate Release: April 10, 2014
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