Land Use Boards

There were several bills introduced last session that sought to address issues regarding affordable housing development. House Bill 1661 was the omnibus bill to survive and contains new provisions that will encourage affordable housing and require land use boards to improve transparency and speed up the local approval process.

Building inspectors, code enforcement officers, fire chiefs, health inspectors, and various other municipal officials are responsible for the enforcement of a variety of codes, regulations, and ordinances related to the use of land. These include both local regulations, such as zoning ordinances, site plan and subdivision regulations, health regulations, and the conditions of approval that accompany many land use board approvals, as well as state law, such as the State Building and Fire Code and statutes governing junkyards.

This webinar is geared for new planning board members and alternates, as well as seasoned veterans who want a refresher course on planning board basics.

New Hampshire’s current use law (RSA 79-a) was enacted in 1973 as a property tax strategy designed to help landowners keep their open land undeveloped.  Instead of being taxed at its highest potential use, land is assessed at its present use.  This refresher course will cover the role municipal officials play in the administration of the State’s current use program.

Class 6 - How to Run an Effective Meeting

NHMA's Legal Counsel, Stephen Buckley and William Phillips, Staff Attorney and Director of Policy Services for the New Hampshire School Boards Association lead a discussion on how to run an effective meeting that complies with the Right-to-Know Law.