affordable housing plan committee meeting #3 11/15/21

Danbury Affordable Housing Plan

Affordable Housing PlanCommittee Meeting #311/15/21


Agenda1. Brief review of project scope and schedule2. Review of 2020 Census housing numbers3. Vision Statement discussion4. Review of draft online survey5. Discuss public workshop6. Next steps


Project Scope• Conduct monthly meetings with this Committee over the course of the

plan development• Collect data relevant to housing

• Demographic and socioeconomic trends• Housing and housing cost trends• Inventory of housing and affordable housing

• Conduct community engagement• Virtual public meeting• Online survey

• Develop Plan Document


September October November December January February March May

Project Schedule8 months +/-

Collaboration w/ Committee

Public Engagement

Adoption

Data Collection

Plan Development

April


Danbury’s Qualified Affordable Housing Supply• According to the 2020 Census, Danbury

now has 33,562 units (an increase of 2,408 units from the 2010 Census)

• This reduces the City’s share of affordable housing to 11.14%


Establishing a Vision for Affordable Housing(What we heard from you)• What are Danbury’s strengths with respect to housing and affordable housing?

• Varied housing market with robust pricing (size dependent)• Good range of prices for purchasing• Rental options• Property tax friendly/low tax burden for homeowners and renters• Leader in affordable housing in the region• Large land area• Diversity of housing types and character• Partnerships in addressing housing needs• Community groups, organizations, Active developers in the City• Variety of housing in a variety of areas• Financing through CHFA abundant in Danbury• Growing population, attractive place to move to and live in• Good access to parks and recreation, open space• Good job market, live where you work• Downtown area zoning• Diversity of the community/its residents


Establishing a Vision for Affordable Housing(What we heard from you)• What are Danbury’s needs with respect to housing and affordable housing?

• Housing needs for those below median income including very low income households may not be addressed• Rework zoning to allow for development of more units, address constraints such as lot width. Reduce lot width

requirement?• Determine what kind of city Danbury wants to be in the future. What is the vision for the City?• Affordable housing should be spread out in City, need is across different areas of the City.• Danbury has few/no high density/large scale apartment buildings, may need more to meet housing demand• New housing in proximity of the train station and downtown.• Affordable rents (Kennedy Flats are not affordable)• Samuels Court is a good example (Scuppo Road) of affordable housing, may need more housing like this• Senior housing, more is needed: affordable age-restricted, assisted living, multi-generational• Housing for young adults that is affordable• Cost of land is high, which makes development challenging. Is there State or City-owned property that could be

used for housing development?• Potential north of North Street for more housing development?• Consider resources available for zoning enforcement


Draft Vision StatementDanbury will continue to provide a diversity of housing options while expanding its supply of affordable housing. The City will work towards increasing housing choice for its most vulnerable residents including those living in poverty and in households with very low incomes. New affordable housing will include rental units, homeownership units, and a range of sizes and types including apartments, town houses, and single-family homes. Affordable housing will be targeted towards, but will not be limited to, areas that have the infrastructure and services to best accommodate housing development and increased population. The community will continue to be a place that multiple generations call home, and it will have a housing supply that meets the needs of residents throughout different stages of life. Danbury will foster sustainable growth of its housing supply and its housing will accommodate a range of residents from new arrivals to life-long residents.


Draft Vision Statement (marked up)Danbury will continue to provide a diversity of housing options while expanding its supply of affordable housing. The City will work towards increasing housing choicefor its most vulnerable residents including those living in poverty and in households with very low incomes. New affordable housing will include rental units, homeownership units, and a range of sizes and types including apartments, town houses, and single-family homes. Affordable housing will be targeted towards, but will not be limited to, areas that have the infrastructure and services to best accommodate housing development and increased population. The community will continue to be a place that multiple generations call home, and it will have a housing supply that meets the needs of residents throughout different stages of life. Danbury will foster sustainable growth of its housing supply (put this line first) and its housing will accommodate a range of residents from new arrivals to life-long residents.


Revised Vision Statement (Working Draft)

• Danbury will foster sustainable growth of its housing supply options accommodating all of its residents, with a focus on inclusion, equity, and those with lower incomes through different stages of life.


Online Survey


Public Meetings• An in-person public workshop for the POCD will be on Thursday, December 2nd at 6:00 pm

at the Palace Theater. There will be a break-out session covering housing.• An online POCD workshop will be conducted on Thursday, December 9th at 6:00 pm for

those that cannot attend the in-person event.• We will conduct a public workshop for the Affordable Housing Plan on Monday, January

24th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Danbury Public Library.


Next Steps1. Finalize summary memorandum of findings2. Identify strategies for increasing affordable housing3. Release online survey (first week of January)4. Conduct public meeting (January 24th)


Next Meeting• 12/20 at 3:00 pm

affordable housing plan committee meeting #3 11/15/21

Documents