SB163

I listened to the hearing today, you go, Rep Perez! <3 and I echo everything Brodie from NHMA said. To Mr Mayberry -- you told a story about a developer upset by something someone one a town board apparently said (great story, btw, way to include details) and said they might sue -- I hope they do. Because that is the proper recourse, not a state law to override properly agreed upon local zoning. If I have to sue when my Right to Know -- my right as a citizen -- then a developer who is going to make money (and probably already has more than enough cash and doesn't need the project) should have to do the same. No special treatment.

Honorable Housing Committee members, The Town of Newington Board of Selectmen are in opposition to SB163. This would prohibit local moratoria and limitations on building permits thus taking away local control. Thank you for your consideration, Martha Roy, on behalf of the Board of Selectmen Town Administrator Town of Newington

Please vote NO! It will destroy our historic state even further.

The Select Board of Town of Dalton opposes this bill. This bill erodes the local control and decision making which is important to our residents and to the State. Local control in zoning related matters is critical because of the variety of situations unique to each community, and therefore it is imperative that municipalities retain their ability to dictate regulations that fit their community, and allow them to take into account their geography and other unique considerations.

I emailed the letter below to each of the members of the House Housing Committee. Dear House Housing Committee, SB84, SB163, SB281 and SB282 are among the many House and Senate bills this session that slowly chip away at local control of zoning and planning. I urge you to oppose these bills that are part of the fundamental shift of control away from municipal authorities (AND VOTERS) to the central state. One size fits all is not a good policy, especially in NH with its varied communities. My Town of North Hampton with its seasonal tourism and ocean has different priorities and needs than a town like Candia or a city like Manchester. Of particular concern is SB84 which mandates zoning ordinances to allow smaller lot sizes for all single-family homes, overriding current zoning regulations. Admittedly, from an outsider's consideration some NH Towns require excessive lot sizes. However, that is just it, from an outsider's perspective; an outsider who doesn't have an inkling of what it is like to live in your community, what makes the community tick or what the Town voters want or need. Lot sizes are a very sensitive issues for a Town and is one of the main parameters that define its character. SB84 would be the start of State control and forever alter the maintaining or fulfillment of the vision the citizenry has for their Town. The changes that SB84 and many of these Housing bills mandate can and SHOULD be done at the local level with the input and vote of the citizenry...through the warrant process for example. Statewide dictates marginalize the vote of every single citizen of a Town. Why should I even bother voting for a Planning Board candidate when I know his or her decision is going to be mitigated or mandated by Concord. Please oppose SB84, SB163, SB281 and SB282. Preserve local control. Thank you! Regards, Jim Avallon North Hampton

It is hard to believe that NH of all states, is trying to take away local control. Each town is unique with it's own geography and infrastructure and "one size fits all" laws have no place in this state.

This bill would mean the State will FORBID any town or village from preventing any and all building; from massive Section 8 complexes, to tenements, to subdivisions, to nuclear plants. It would prevent towns and villages from being able to protect themselves,. their property values, conservation areas, historical districts, open or wooded areas. It's the death of the small, lovely towns in NH, and a giveaway to deep pocket stakeholder companies who will trash an area, lower property values, build and run. This is appalling authoritarianism, and NOT what NH wants; the state to be ruined. I don't think the NH Congress realizes how many people are utterly against this. You may not have heard from even half of them, but it will definitely impact the next round of elections. This bill eliminates the right of homeowners to vote for their town officials, to approve budgets and building, to protect their home values (often the single greatest measure of their wealth), and of towns being able to preserve their areas. It is undemocratic and a seizure of power not befitting NH. NO on this bill. Absolutely NOT on this bill.

I am concerned this bill will remove local authority from the decision making on these critical issues in our small town.

This is unacceptable governmental overreach and will have drastic impact on the entire state and robs individual towns from charting their own destiny and vision for their municipality. It stops individual towns from deciding the speed and level of development in their community, and puts ALL the cards in the hands of developers. The community will have NO say. Unacceptable.

This is unacceptable governmental overreach and will have drastic impact on the entire State and citizens and robs individual towns from charting their own destiny and vision for their municipality. It stops individual towns from deciding the speed and level of development in their community, and puts ALL the cards in the hands of developers. The burden for additional services, Police, Fire, DPW etc falls upon the town with no method to adjust as needed. The community will have NO say. Unacceptable.

Moratoriums should be driven by towns as they see fit! Not all development is good. This is unacceptable governmental overreach and will have drastic impact on the entire state and robs individual towns from charting their own destiny and vision for their municipality. It stops individual towns from deciding the speed and level of development in their community, and puts ALL the cards in the hands of developers. The community will have NO say. Unacceptable.

SB 163 is a detriment to small towns like Newfields, NH where I am a select board member and recently zoning board participant. The autonomy for small towns with fragile infrastructure is essential to keep residents safe and having access to potable water, functional sewer treatment, and to pace growth responsibly. The ability for NH towns to delay or restrict permitting is a critical responsibility that local town officials have the nuanced information to manage responsibly.

Surely there are occasions when a moratorium is needed, such is when infrastructure will not be completed by then. This bill should be amended to ban only unreasonable moratoria.

The state should not be mandating one size fits all zoning.

I submit my opposition to this Bill on behalf of the Wolfeboro Board of Selectman. It takes away local control.

I OPPOSE this bill. Will these mandates actually encourage the building of affordable housing? How will the proposals be interpreted and implemented at the local level? Will costly lawsuits follow? Will the values and vision of voters in our local communities be disregarded? We have a process to amend zoning laws at the LOCAL LEVEL.

This is terrible for so many city's and all towns

SB163 A town must maintain control over a decision for a moratorium or limitation on building permits and approvals for subdivisions and site plans. The local control must be maintained for the town.