RE: HB685 – permitting in all residentially zoned areas by right the construction of manufactured housing.
Good afternoon Senators, Next Thursday, you will be voting on HB685 which would mandate that mobile homes be permitted on any property or lot zoned for residential use within the entire State of New Hampshire. Yes, you read that correctly, mobile homes anywhere without the ability for citizens of municipalities to decide.
The title of the bill includes the words “manufactured housing”, which is intentionally misleading. So misleading in fact, that two members of the House’s “Housing Committee” which had already voted to pass this bill out of their committee, believed the legislation referred to modular housing, to include Chairman Alexander himself. He had described the legislation in a Facebook post initially as an excellent bill. I also spoke in person to Senator Murphy about this legislation at a Bedford town meeting event. When I explained it referred to mobile homes, not modular construction, he responded “well that will need to be changed”. Well, the legislation you are voting on next week has not been changed.
As with every other one of the dozen plus state-imposed, top-down zoning dictates that have been introduced, each municipality already has the ability to alter their zoning regulations using the warrant article process. Therefore, none of these bills are needed. Personally, I do not care what a town or city does with their zoning as long as it is their citizens who decide. I personally lived the first five years of my life in a mobile home, so I can assure you that this is not a case of NIMBYism.
While there are several obnoxious zoning bills being thrust upon us this term regarding the elimination of local control (most sponsored by the same small group of four individuals), this particular one certainly ranks in the top three.
It’s extremely disturbing that legislation having such a major impact on our citizens can be passed when those promoting it do not even know what they are voting on. It is now up to the Senate to ensure this legislation never sees the light of day.
Regards, Representative Len Turcotte
Former Chairman Municipal and County Government
Current 5th Term Representative – Barrington/Strafford