A lawsuit against a Connecticut town’s decision concerning affordable housing highlights the difficulties developers face for such projects in the state.
Simsbury homeowner Dylan Gagne filed a suit alleging that a town commission illegally approved a 64-unit multi-family housing development by New York City-based company Vessel, CTInsider reported.
Vessel is already entangled in legal disputes with at least two other Connecticut towns — Glastonbury and Rocky Hill — that have also rejected the company’s requests for housing projects.
The Simsbury Zoning Commission already denied Vessel’s proposal, which the company’s CEO, Neil Rubler, said the company will appeal in Superior Court if a settlement isn’t reached.
Gagne’s lawsuit is against the town’s inland wetlands and conservation commission, alleging that it exceeded its authority by approving Vessel’s permit. Gagne argues in the lawsuit that the decision would have adverse effects on wetlands.
Gagne had previously voiced his concerns about the development.
“My vision of raising a family in a town with great schools, green space, and community is at risk with this development,” Gagne wrote in a March 1 email to Simsbury officials, according to CTInsider.
Soil and wetlands scientist James Sipperly, however, disagreed with Gagne’s claims, stating that there would be minimal disturbance at the proposed site. Instead, Sipperly believes that community members are primarily concerned about the presence of affordable housing affecting property values.
The dispute has brought sharp focus to Simsbury’s shortage of affordable housing, with only 6 percent of its housing stock meeting the state-mandated requirement of 10 percent. Simsbury is hardly the only town in Connecticut to not meet the threshold.
Opinions on the project vary among Simsbury residents.
Steven Mitchell, a local business owner, said he welcomes housing suitable for younger workers with lower incomes, citing the town’s insufficient affordable housing percentage.
Mark Scully, chair of the Simsbury Sustainability Committee, supports the project from an energy standpoint, as it would feature all-electric systems, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
However, pushback from community members has also been attributed to the building’s design, with some considering it visually unappealing and not in harmony with the surrounding neighborhood.
— Ted Glanzer