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ONE SIZE FITS ALL: CONCORD'S WAR ON LOCAL CONTROL CONTINUES
- NH Muckraker
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
CONCORD'S LATEST POWER GRAB
Two more housing bills have been signed, pushing New Hampshire one step closer to state-directed development and one step farther away from local decision-making.
šļø HB 1010: Local Zoning Takes Another Hit
This legislation limits the ability of cities and towns to enforce their own zoning rules when existing structures are converted into multi-family housing. If a building already violates dimensional requirements, municipalities must waive certain restrictions as long as the conversion does not make those violations worse. It also allows multi-family housing on commercially zoned land, subject to planning board infrastructure review and limited grounds for denial.
š§ HB 1588: Build the Infrastructure, Build More Housing
This bill authorizes municipalities to create special assessment districts to finance roads, water lines, sewer systems, sidewalks, traffic controls, and other infrastructure designed to support new housing developments. It also expands the state's housing infrastructure grant program to encourage these projects.
ā ļø THE BIGGER PICTURE.
NH continues the steady transfer of land-use authority from local communities to Concord. Every new statewide mandate narrows the discretion of local planning boards, zoning boards, and voters to shape the character of their own neighborhoods.
š¢ THE MESSAGE
Today's "housing reform" becomes tomorrow's statewide mandate.
When Concord dictates zoning policy for every town and city, local officials and residents have fewer tools to decide what belongs in their own communities.
NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS BUILT ON LOCAL CONTROL.
If every community is forced into the same housing model, local government becomes little more than an administrative arm of the state.
WHAT NEW HAMPSHIRE REALLY NEEDS?
**LESS OF CONCORD. MORE LOCAL CONTROL.**
The senate bill referenced here was NOT signed by Governor Ayotte
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