I urge all New Ipswich voters to reject Article 2, the zonign ordinance amendment regarding cluster subdivisions.
The Planning Board is rushing an amendment to the voters that is incomplete, ignores the master plan, doesn’t address affordability and ignores the current master plan. The amendment lacks specificity and protections New Ipswich residents and potential abutters would want and deserve for a cluster development proposal.
The amendment allows more houses than is permitted in the zoning regulations if the builder provides amenities augmenting the development. It is vague and allows too much discretion to the board and developers without providing residents protection against overbuilding and diminishing their property values.
The amendment reduces the minimum acreage for a cluster development from 10 acres to five acres. This makes very little sense in any of the districts. The current two-acre minimum zoning in the rural districts would be limited to two homes on a five-acre plot. Even with a proposed bonus, two homes would be the maximum. It makes no sense.
The amendment reduces or removes setbacks, current open space requirement, frontage requirements and protection to abutters without any rationale or explanation. During the public comment meeting of the board, there was unanimous opposition to the amendment. Finally, the proposal does nothing to ensure that cluster housing is “affordable.” It only reduces costs to developers without requiring the savings to be passed down to the home buyer.
I urge you vote no on Article 2. This amendment is not ready for prime time.
John D. Low
New Ipswich