Letter to the Editor: Solving Housing Requires Leadership

To the Editor:

I serve as both a state legislator and a member of the Planning Commission for East Lyme. Recently, we held a regional housing planning meeting with the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SECOG) to discuss housing needs in our region. The discussion reminded me of a challenge Connecticut faces far beyond housing: too often, we begin by explaining why something cannot be done rather than asking how it can be done.

Housing is a perfect example. Nearly everyone agrees that housing costs are too high. Nearly everyone agrees that young people are struggling to stay in the communities where they grew up. Nearly everyone agrees that seniors should be able to age in place without being priced out. Yet when solutions are discussed, the conversation frequently turns to all the reasons action is supposedly impossible.

The reality is that towns have more tools available than many people realize. State law provides options. Local zoning regulations can be updated. Plans of Conservation and Development often already identify areas appropriate for future growth. Regional planning organizations exist specifically to help municipalities navigate these challenges.

The question is not whether we have tools. The question is whether we are willing to use them. What frustrates me is that many of the goals people say they want are entirely compatible. We can build housing while preserving open space. We can create opportunities for young families while helping seniors remain in their communities. We can grow our tax base and reduce pressure on property taxes. In many cases, thoughtful infill development helps accomplish all of those goals at once.

But none of that is possible if we start from the assumption that change itself is the problem. Connecticut’s housing shortage did not happen overnight, and it will not be solved overnight. However, if we genuinely want the next generation to have the same opportunities that previous generations enjoyed, we must move beyond a politics of impossibility and start using the tools already available to us.

The future of our communities depends on it.

Sincerely,
State Rep. Nick Menapace, D-East Lyme

Editor’s Note: Menapace represents East Lyme and parts of Montville and Salem.