The New Haven Board of Alders unanimously approved ordinance amendments creating the “Downtown for All Overlay District” for New Haven’s Downtown. The district’s purpose is “to address challenges associated with the housing supply shortage and affordability in New Haven by reducing regulatory barriers to development in the Downtown.”
The ordinance changes for this new overlay district include:
- Reducing minimum average unit density within multifamily buildings from 1,000 square feet to 400 square feet;
- Permitting a Floor Area Ratio of up to 12.0 in the new district’s “inner core” and 6.0 in the “outer core”;
- Reducing setback requirements;
- Reducing common amenity space requirements; and,
- Permitting a broader range of housing types with special permit approval (such as single-room occupancy units with shared bathrooms and kitchens).
This overlay district overlaps with the City’s existing inclusionary zone that requires, with exceptions, between 5%-15% of the units to be affordable units depending on location. Existing development incentives in the inclusionary zone include waived parking minimums. The district’s purpose recognizes the strength of the City’s transit infrastructure, finding that “incentivizing new and higher density construction in areas with existing transit infrastructure will increase housing opportunities, drive down costs, and increase Downtown vibrancy.”
Please contact Carmody’s Land Use team to learn more about how this new Overlay Zone impacts your development goals:
Meaghan M. Miles
Partner
203.252.2642
[email protected]
Lisa L. Feinberg
Partner
203.252.2677
[email protected]
William J. Hennessey Jr.
Partner
203.425.4200
[email protected]
Jason A. Klein
Partner
203.252.2669
[email protected]
This information is for educational purposes only, to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.