New laws are taking effect targeting what voters say is the No. 1 issue in New Hampshire: the lack of affordable housing.While some of the most sweeping policy bills did not pass this year, advocates say progress is being made in key areas.”This is a great year for housing reform in New Hampshire,” said Michael Skelton, of the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire. “There were 15 significant housing bills that passed. That’s up from only three bills that passed last year. We saw a big step forward in terms of results.”Skelton helps lead the Housing Supply Coalition, which was formed this year. He’s touting bills that might not have drawn much attention but that he believes will make a real impact. An expansion of the state’s accessory dwelling unit law will allow people to build detached ADUs on their property, while a bill aiming to boost mixed-use projects will allow multi-family residential developments on land zoned for commercial use.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Another bill just signed into law creates a new commission to study zoning law and consider changes that could lower barriers to development. Local control has become a big part of the debate.”All of the rhetoric that occurred this session about housing has really been focused on how can we override local zoning? What mandates can we create?” said Margaret Byrnes, of the New Hampshire Municipal Association. “And there hasn’t been a lot of conversation about really incentivizing affordable housing, investments in affordable housing or other factors that can affect affordability.”The issue does not break down neatly along partisan lines, and analysts said voters see it differently between the state and local level.”That’s where it gets complicated, because people will say, ‘Well, OK, yeah, I recognize housing is a problem, but do I want an apartment building or multifamily housing going in my town?'” said Dante Scala, of the University of New Hampshire. “So that’s where it tends to cut both ways as a political issue.”
New laws are taking effect targeting what voters say is the No. 1 issue in New Hampshire: the lack of affordable housing.
While some of the most sweeping policy bills did not pass this year, advocates say progress is being made in key areas.
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“This is a great year for housing reform in New Hampshire,” said Michael Skelton, of the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire. “There were 15 significant housing bills that passed. That’s up from only three bills that passed last year. We saw a big step forward in terms of results.”
Skelton helps lead the Housing Supply Coalition, which was formed this year. He’s touting bills that might not have drawn much attention but that he believes will make a real impact. An expansion of the state’s accessory dwelling unit law will allow people to build detached ADUs on their property, while a bill aiming to boost mixed-use projects will allow multi-family residential developments on land zoned for commercial use.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Another bill just signed into law creates a new commission to study zoning law and consider changes that could lower barriers to development. Local control has become a big part of the debate.
“All of the rhetoric that occurred this session about housing has really been focused on how can we override local zoning? What mandates can we create?” said Margaret Byrnes, of the New Hampshire Municipal Association. “And there hasn’t been a lot of conversation about really incentivizing affordable housing, investments in affordable housing or other factors that can affect affordability.”
The issue does not break down neatly along partisan lines, and analysts said voters see it differently between the state and local level.
“That’s where it gets complicated, because people will say, ‘Well, OK, yeah, I recognize housing is a problem, but do I want an apartment building or multifamily housing going in my town?'” said Dante Scala, of the University of New Hampshire. “So that’s where it tends to cut both ways as a political issue.”