Myra Mansouri, chairman of the Zoning Board, asked me to assist in letting Walpole ciizens know about this new legislation. – Lil

New Law Requires Expanded Municipal Notice Requirements to Property Owners When Considering Changes to Zoning Districts

HB 1210 (Chapter Law 161)

NHAR had Introduced proactive legislation this session to expand notification requirements to property owners when zoning amendments are being considered.  The language in that bill, SB 228, was substantially amended and eventually tucked into HB 1210.

Currently, towns notify the public of a hearing to discuss amendments to zoning by publishing that notice in a paper of general circulation as well as posting it in at least two places.

The new law expands that notification requirement in three ways:

• It allows for any person owning property in the municipality to request notice of all public hearings on proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance. The municipality must provide that notice, at no cost to the person, electronically or by first class mail.
• If a proposed amendment to a zoning ordinance would change a boundary of a zoning district and the change would affect 100 or fewer properties, notice of a public hearing on the amendment must be sent by first class mail to the owners of each affected property.
• If a proposed amendment to a zoning ordinance would change the minimum lot sizes or the permitted uses in a zoning district that includes 100 or fewer properties, notice of a public hearing will be sent by first class mail to the owner of each property in the district.

Petitioned amendments as authorized in RSA 675:4 are not subject to any of the notification by mail requirements.

The bill is effective immediately.