URGENT: Action Needed on Budget Bill

Dear Friends,

We've emailed you before about problems with the Housing Appeals Board (HAB), a state-level, 3-person panel of appointed, industry 'professionals' who are now allowed to override your town vote by defying the decisions of any of your town boards (planning, zoning, conservation, school, etc) The HAB has in most cases already trampled on local control and the rights of towns. Since the HAB was not legally created by a vote of the legislature, it is still our opinion that this board should be disbanded immediately...

We are writing to you today regarding an amendment to HB2 (the budget bill) that affects the Housing Appeals Board (HAB):

A proposed amendment to HB2 (see it linked HERE) would seek to increase the powers of the Housing Appeals Board by changing it to a "Land Use Appeals Board". (see also HB2, line 107)

This would dramatically increase the scope of the board to hear appeals from local land use decisions to include anything ranging from excavation permits to commercial construction! NHTPC does not support the HAB having these expanded powers.

ACTION: EMAIL the Senate Finance Committee and ask them to OPPOSE expanding the powers of the HAB as provided for in the amendment to HB 2.

James.Gray@leg.state.nh.us,Daniel.Innis@leg.state.nh.us,Regina.Birdsell@leg.state.nh.us,Howard.Pearl@leg.state.nh.us,Jeb.Bradley@leg.state.nh.us,Cindy.Rosenwald@leg.state.nh.us,Lou.Dallesandro@leg.state.nh.us,debra.martone@leg.state.nh.us

PLEASE TAKE ACTION ASAP AS THIS AMENDMENT MAY BE DISCUSSED and VOTED ON BY THE COMMITTEE AS EARLY AS MONDAY MAY 22.

Thank you for helping save the NH Advantage.

~ NHTPC