Greenwich — often depicted by housing advocates as a prime example of exclusionary zoning and a lack of diversity.
But is that image accurate? No. It isn’t.
Greenwich has:
- More affordable housing units than all but 21 of the state’s 169 towns
- A higher percentage of affordable housing than 2/3 of towns in the state
- 63% of residents living on less than 1/3 acre
- 38% of housing in buildings with two or more units
- As of right (no public hearing) for two-family housing in parts of town
- As of right Accessory Dwelling Units everywhere
- Zoning that allows 2, 4, 6, and over 10 units per acre
- 38% of housing in buildings with two or more units
- Incentives for inclusionary development (projects with below market units)
- Housing density around the main train station
- Parking requirements consistent with average CT ownership of 1.8 cars per household
- A Housing Trust to advance affordability
- One of the longest standing Housing Authorities in the State
- About 28% minority population
Could we do more?
Yes!
- 7% of Greenwich’s population lives below the Federal poverty line,
- 20% of residents are Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE)
- Workers may have long commutes because they can’t afford to live in town
Greenwich has been steadily advancing housing diversity and affordability. It has approved hundreds of apartments in the last few years.
And Greenwich is not the only town striving to advance affordability. Across the state, other towns are doing the same, each using approaches tailored to local needs.
Economics and infrastructure, not zoning, are the biggest obstacles to successfully addressing the need for affordable housing in Connecticut. Housing bill HB 5002, as passed by the Connecticut Legislature, doesn’t address these critical issues or consider employment. HB 5002 could be revised but for now it’s not what Connecticut needs.
Margarita Alban
Greenwich, CT
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The Greenwich League of Women Voters awarded its 2025 Community Impact Award to Margarita Alban for her commitment to transparent democratic process and inclusive leadership. This letter to the editor is written as a private citizen although she is a longtime member and current chair of the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission.