Reducing zoning and subdivision requirements is a process of matching local land use rules with the existing built character of a place, with community needs, with contemporary real estate economics, and with a community’s vision for its future. This process of “right-sizing” regulations can open up housing opportunities. Too often, a community’s land use regulations will mandate development that doesn’t complement well-loved neighborhoods and architecture, unnecessarily increasing housing costs, and removing open space. Sometimes, these regulations have been passed from one community to the next out of convenience, without much thought to the particularities of the place. Often, these regulations have not been substantially revised in decades. According to a study from the Wharton Residential Land Use Regulatory Index, New Hampshire is one of the most regulated states for home construction. Today many municipalities in our State have super-sized regulations, especially for new residential construction, which add significantly to the cost of housing and can limit housing production altogether.
Most cities and towns in New Hampshire have historic downtowns and villages that are cherished by residents. If your community’s historic downtown or village couldn’t be built under its current standards, you may not have right-sized regulations. As well as looking to the past, look to the future vision in your community’s master plan, which should also include specific recommendations for achieving that vision.
To get development that a community actually wants, an audit of current regulations is critical. Scrutiny should be given to numerical values in ordinances, such as those for minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, height restrictions, road design standards, and parking requirements.
Reducing zoning and subdivision requirements can…