Council divided over proposed changes to state affordable-housing law in resolution to General Assembly

A lengthy debate consumed the council chamber after members considered a resolution seeking amendments to RIGL 45-53 (the state's low- and moderate-income housing statute). The measure requested elimination of the statute's 10% threshold for receiving streamlined development treatment and the 25% minimum affordable-unit requirement, and it proposed making statutory provisions optional at the municipality's discretion.

Council members sharply disagreed on the policy effect. One councilor said the change was necessary to protect local zoning authority and suggested raising affordability thresholds; another warned that forcing 100% affordable developments would recreate segregated public-housing outcomes and lead to blight. Councilman Trombbley and others flagged how counting rules (deed restrictions, monitoring and 30-year covenants) influence whether units count toward a town's 10% target. "We do count section 8 vouchers as affordable housing," Councilman Trombbley said, urging careful attention to how units are counted.

The solicitor and planner advised the council that the resolution as drafted contains ambiguous citations and that any legislative proposal would need more detail; the council voted to send the town's request to the General Assembly while asking staff to refine statutory references before the bill stage. The record shows the council moved and approved sending the resolution to the state house with the recommendation that legislative staff flesh out precise language.