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The bill below is aimed at shoreland protection:
HB 1540: Restoring municipal authority over accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in protected shoreland
ADUs are small, independent living units, such as in-law apartments or backyard cottages on the same lot as a single-family home.
What the amendment does: The amendment would give municipalities the option to permit ADUs within the Protected Shoreland Area—the 250-foot area surrounding New Hampshire’s lakes, ponds, and rivers where special environmental protections apply.
Importantly, it ensures that any local regulations for ADUs would be no more restrictive than those applied to other accessory structures.
Why it matters: The Protected Shoreland Area is one of the most critical areas for safeguarding water quality. This natural buffer helps filter pollution, reduce runoff, stabilize soils, and protect shoreline habitat.
Automatically allowing ADUs in this area could increase development pressure closest to the water, potentially harming lake health over time.
We recognize New Hampshire’s housing crisis. However, land within the 250-foot protected shoreland accounts for only about 3.5% of the state’s total land area, based on GIS analysis conducted by LSPA.
Automatically allowing ADUs in this small and environmentally sensitive area will not meaningfully solve the housing shortage, but it could weaken protections for water quality and shoreline health.
This amendment strikes the right balance between housing flexibility, local control, and environmental protection.
Take action before tomorrow, March 3 at 10 AM:
Email the committee and respectfully ask them to support the amendment to HB 1540 as drafted.
Copy and paste the email addresses below into the “To” line of your email:
Joe.Alexander@gc.nh.gov; Brian.Cole@gc.nh.gov; Sherri.Reinfurt@gc.nh.gov; thackston3@aol.com; Michael.Aron@gc.nh.gov; Calvin.Beaulier@gc.nh.gov; Dillon.Dumont@gc.nh.gov; George.Grant@gc.nh.gov; Julie.Miles@gc.nh.gov; Sheri.Minor@gc.nh.gov; David.Paige@gc.nh.gov; Efstathia.Booras@gc.nh.gov; ellen4nh@gmail.com; Merryl.Gibbs@gc.nh.gov; Matthew.Hicks@gc.nh.gov; Allan.Howland@gc.nh.gov; Karen.Hegner@gc.nh.gov; Karen.Hegner@gc.nh.gov; Erin.Kerwin@gc.nh.gov
Include in your email subject line:
HB 1540 – Support Balanced Shoreland Amendment (March 3)
Address your email as follows:
Dear Chair Alexander and Members of the House Housing Committee:
And, please cc Andrea LaMoreaux (alamoreaux@nhlakes.org) on your email.
Thank you for your support!
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