We have an important meeting coming up this week. It's an information session being held by the Affordable Housing Committee so the members can hear from people who live in Easton about housing needs and possible housing strategies for the future.
The information session is part of a process put in place by Public Act 21-29, which was signed last year. It requires that we, as a town, draft an affordable housing plan. The plan will specify how Easton intends to increase the number of affordable housing units in town. All 169 municipalities in Connecticut must draft and submit a plan to the state by June 1st.
This is a chance for this community to set the course for the future. Establishing a plan will allow us to decide what will, and what will not, work in Easton. We can define the types of affordable housing that can, and cannot, be built. We can take the necessary steps to protect the watershed and public water supply.
I've heard accusations that this is all about bringing high-density housing to Easton. That's not what this is about. It's about putting a plan in place so that we can maintain control, so we have a proposal that is feasible for the unique community that we are. We can either set our own path forward, or risk being put on a path that we didn't choose.
The members of the Affordable Housing Committee volunteered to serve in this capacity. They have a lot of work to do, in a short amount of time. They want to hear from you. Provide your input but be constructive. Support the committee's efforts. Let's all be part of the solution.
The information session is this Thursday, February 10th at 6:00pm at Samuel Staples Elementary. You can also watch the session live on Facebook. Anyone who wants to comment or ask a question needs to attend in person. I hope to see many of you there.
Kristi Sogofsky
Easton Board of Selectmen