The Lyndeborough Select Board is not in favor of two bills under consideration in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and is making this sentiment known in Concord. 

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board directed Town Administrator Geoffrey Allen to write to the town’s representatives in the House expressing their disapproval with two pieces of legislation that they say usurp local control in terms of zoning. 

HB 342 would allow for property owners “to build on their property without seeking a variance for minimum lot size or percentage of lot coverage if the proposed building conforms to the density of the neighborhood as follows: The building density shall not exceed that of the 10 percent most densely built properties within a 1,000-foot radius of the property, and conformity shall be assessed based on the density of 90 percent of the properties within the 1,000-foot radius.”

HB 457, if enacted, would prevent any municipality from adopting “any ordinance that restricts the number of occupants of any dwelling unit to less than two occupants per bedroom, and the governing body thereof shall not enforce any such ordinance. Such legislative body shall not adopt any zoning ordinance within a municipality that discriminates based on the familial or non-familial relationships or marital status among the occupants of the dwelling unit, including but not limited to college students, and the governing body thereof shall not enforce any such ordinance.” 

Discussion of HB 457 included a suggestion that this bill would allow for “boarding houses or dormitories” if passed. The resident who made this point did not identify himself. 

Board Chair Mark Chamberlain directed T.A Allen to write to Lyndeborough’s representative in the House, Rep. Lisa Post, and convey that they do not support these pieces of legislation. 

“Please inform our rep that we’re in favor of local control, and that that is not a bad thing,” said Chamberlain.  

In other news, the board directed Code Enforcement Office Leo Trudeau to conduct water testing in town as summer and recreational use of Goss Park for swimming approach. Among the sites that Trudeau will be testing is the headwaters of Brandy Brook. 

The board also approved notifying owners of unlicensed dogs that they are not in compliance with the town ordinance on this matter, and will be assessed $7 in addition to the licensing fee due to this tardiness. Allen explained that licenses that have not been renewed and a state law requiring veterinarians to provide rabies vaccination records to municipalities allow the town to know which dog licenses are not current.