New Ipswich representatives from the state House and Senate attended Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting to discuss issues relating to the town, with the majority of the conversation dedicated to zoning bills in the Legislature.
Bills include allowing residential units and multi-use developments in commercial zones, limiting parking requirements, restricting minimum lot-size requirements and increasing the affordable housing fund.
One of the bills, SB 84, which has been passed by the Senate and yet to be voted on by the House, would restrict municipalities from requiring lots in single-family residential zones to be larger than an acre if served by town water. Lots on town water and sewer couldn’t be larger than half an acre. In towns without water or sewer, lots could be up to 2 1/2 acres.
Another bill, SB 281, prohibits municipalities from denying permits for building or occupancy on Class VI roads, given certain circumstances, while others look to adopt limits on road frontage requirements and setbacks for wetlands, eliminate mandates requiring occupants of housing units to be related and requirements for large lot sizes, long-road frontage requirements and minimum square-footage requirements.
State Sen. Kevin Avard said he had reservations about bills that override local control.
“Once you open this door, and the state starts micromanaging, what do you need a Zoning Board for? What do you need a Planning Board for?” Avard said.
He said one of the reasons New Hampshire is such an attractive state is because it relies so heavily on local planning.
“Developers don’t protect culture,” Avard said.
Avard added that when the population grows, it also inflates the need for infrastructure and services, saying that was a reason to protect local control.
Selectman Chair Shawn Talbot agreed, noting that the bills don’t always seem to take into account small communities and the realities of how they function, noting that New Ipswich has no water or sewer infrastructure.
State Rep. Diane Kelley said too drastic a change would drive away current residents who live in or moved to the area for the rural atmosphere.
Selectman Jason Somero pointed out that there was still a housing crisis in town, noting that his children would love to live in New Ipswich but struggled to find anything affordable.
“I see this as very much a balancing act,” said state Rep. Jim Kofalt. He said that compromises like accessory dwelling units, which can fit in with the community, allow for multiple generations of families to live on the property, or aging residents to stay in their homes with the help of the rental income. He said there were some “extreme abuses” of zoning that were prohibitive of development that the state wanted to stop.
State Rep. Shane Sirois said he had some major objections to some of the bills.
“I stand with my party always, when it’s right, and it’s always been right. This is not right, and I won’t do it. It’s not right for my constituents in this town,” said Sirois, a Republican.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or a saari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.