Affordability Crisis Drives New Housing Development Wave

Westport is addressing a growing affordability crisis with multiple new housing projects in development. Westport currently has only about 420-424 units of affordable housing, well below the state's mandate that 10% of housing stock be affordable. Recent developments include the Villages at Saugatuck with 48 affordable and 30 middle-income units nearing completion, an 18-unit Garden Homes Fund project proposed for Compo Road North, and a 157-unit Spinnaker development with 18 affordable units on Riverside Avenue. The state's 8-30g statute allows developers to bypass local zoning if at least 30% of units are affordable, a controversial tool that has driven development but also spurred community debate. Westport currently has 420 units of affordable housing and needs approximately 500+ more units to reach the 10% state requirement. Garden Homes Fund's Compo Road North proposal demonstrates the strategy of exceeding the 8-30g requirement by making all units affordable, targeting low and moderate-income families.