During their meeting on Tuesday, Jaffrey Planning Board members discussed how several new laws signed by Gov. Chris Sununu at the end of the summer might affect the town’s current zoning.

Planning and Economic Development Director Jo Anne Carr described the contents of several bills which have now become law.

Under a new law passed in July, the state now requires family and group family child care programs to be allowed as an accessory use to any primary residential use. The bill also prohibits requiring site plan review in order to increase availability of affordable child care options through home-based providers.

A law passed in August which may impact some upcoming projects in Jaffrey, including the redevelopment of the St. Patrick’s School into housing apartments, has to do with parking spaces for multiple units. This new law requires that zoning and planning regulations cannot require more than 1½ residential parking spaces per unit for studio or one-bedroom units under 1,000 square feet which meet the requirements for workforce housing, or for multifamily developments of 10 units or more.

Carr said the change is a “rational” one, and that the town has some parking lots which have proven too big for the buildings associated. Jaffrey’s zoning ordinance currently requires two full spaces for residential developments.

Another new law passed this summer narrows the requirements for appealing Zoning Board decisions. Previously, the law allowed “any person aggrieved” to appeal decisions. The bill struck that language and replaced it with the applicant or an abutter, as well as officer, department or board of the town affected by the decision. The same law slightly changes the definition of “abutter,” more clearly defining who qualifies when they are across a street or stream from the property.

Carr said she is more concerned about a change in the requirement for road bonds for new developments. A change in the law would now require road bonds to only be issued after the first certificate of occupancy was issued. Carr said in the past, the town has required road bonds to ensure that if developers begin building a road, they must finish it, not merely to care for the road after it is built.

In another matter, the board held a public hearing on a proposed minor subdivision at 39 Woodbury Hill Road, submitted by property owners Andrew and Rachel Schwartz. The property is in the rural zone without town water.

Andrew Schwartz said the couple owns a little over 37 acres, and hopes to create 15.5-acre and 22-acre lots, one of which includes the Schwartz’s current home. He said the intention is to sell the second lot once subdivided.

After discussion about wetlands on the property and access to a shared driveway, the board agreed to continue the public hearing to allow for more information about wetland delineation on the property, and for the board to conduct a site walk. The board agreed to continue the meeting until a site walk, scheduled for 8 a.m. on Oct. 28 at 39 Woodbury Hill Road.

A proposed 14-unit development on Highland Avenue was continued without discussion.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244. or a saari@ledgertran script.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.