HB399

Having been an urban planner for 44 years in both the public and private sectors, I know something about the development of affordable housing in New Hampshire and other states. It is not zoning or the permit process that is preventing affordable housing from being built in New Hampshire. It is the lack of financial resources both with the town and the developer. With the Town, it is usually the lack of water and sewer infrastructure. In contrast, with the developer, it is an endless maze that the developer has to go through to secure financing and the various fees associated with the funding. New Hampshire prides itself on local control, and I fear that if the proposed commission is staffed or facilitated properly, it will take away the municipality's right to plan and zone its community.

I'm neutral on this Bill, more so being suspect of the composition of the Commission being able to research and recommend with open minds. As we've heard from the Legislature over the last years that the housing shortage/unaffordability is "the zoning regulations". I offer this: Towns and Cities within NH have had zoning ordinances since ~1940 and there were no housing/affordability issues. The Lack of Housing/unaffordability is much more complex than "it's the zoning ordinances". Housing shortage/unaffordability is a nationwide situation, not unique to NH.