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HARTFORD, CT – State Senator Jason Perillo (R-Shelton) voiced strong opposition to H.B. 5002, a sweeping housing proposal that strips local governments of zoning authority, prioritizes developers over residents, and moves forward with little transparency or public input.

Sen. Perillo said, “H.B. 5002 is a top-down mandate rushed through behind closed doors, threatening local planning autonomy and undermining public trust.” He continued, “We have seen state laws on affordable housing already fail neighborhoods in Shelton and Stratford. Projects on Mohawk Drive, Shelton Avenue, and Oronoque Trail are clear examples of these failed mandates. These practices create entitled developers, not empowered communities.”

Key concerns raised by Sen. Perillo include:

• Elimination of local zoning authority, removing control from the municipal leaders who best understand their communities.
• Relaxed parking requirements and high-density mandates without necessary investments in transportation or infrastructure.
• Increased power for large-scale developers, enabling them to bypass local input and potentially exploit neighborhoods.

“Connecticut’s towns are not one-size-fits-all,” Sen. Perillo emphasized. “From urban centers to rural areas, each community faces unique challenges. Local leaders, not Hartford, are best positioned to make land use decisions.”

While acknowledging the need for more affordable housing, Sen. Perillo criticized the bill for its approach. “We absolutely need more affordable housing,” he said. “But this bill fails in both substance and process. More top-down mandates will just give developers more power to use and abuse our neighborhoods. It’s time to go back to the drawing board and craft real, community-driven solutions.”

Sen. Perillo proposed an alternative solution: “A real solution is to incentivize the development of unused and often blighted properties. These properties exist across many of our communities and are perfectly situated for creative redevelopment of residential housing.”