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SB400 Sign On Letter |
SB 400, the Community Toolbox Bill
April 1, 2022
Chairman Tom Dolan
House Municipal and County Government Committee
Legislative Office Building
33 North State Street
Concord, NH 03301
RE: SB 400, the Community Toolbox Bill
Chairman Dolan and Members of the Municipal and County Government Committee:
As leaders come together to address New Hampshire’s affordable housing crisis, a growing number of concerned constituencies have come together to support SB 400. Known as the “Community Toolbox Bill,” SB 400 will provide a foundation of enabling policies, economic incentives, improved timelines, and a more transparent local review process to help New Hampshire communities that are ready to respond to local market demand for more housing.
It is worth noting that SB 400’s proposals have already received strong bipartisan support from your committee. Introduced as two bills in 2020, HB 1629 received Municipal and County Government’s OTP/A recommendation 16-2, and HB 1632 an OTP/A recommendation 20-0. Although these bills did not advance due to 2020’s truncated session, the proposals were endorsed again by your committee in 2021, voting HB 586 OTP 15-3 before it was tabled in a close vote in the House. All of the prior amendments are now incorporated in SB 400. In addition, concerns articulated on the House floor are also addressed in SB 400, noting that municipalities may not use the economic development tools for eminent domain/takings.
With this context in mind, we urge your support for SB 400. This bill is a prime example of New Hampshire leaders coming together to solve our state’s most urgent issues.
SB 400:
Chairman Tom Dolan
House Municipal and County Government Committee
Legislative Office Building
33 North State Street
Concord, NH 03301
RE: SB 400, the Community Toolbox Bill
Chairman Dolan and Members of the Municipal and County Government Committee:
As leaders come together to address New Hampshire’s affordable housing crisis, a growing number of concerned constituencies have come together to support SB 400. Known as the “Community Toolbox Bill,” SB 400 will provide a foundation of enabling policies, economic incentives, improved timelines, and a more transparent local review process to help New Hampshire communities that are ready to respond to local market demand for more housing.
It is worth noting that SB 400’s proposals have already received strong bipartisan support from your committee. Introduced as two bills in 2020, HB 1629 received Municipal and County Government’s OTP/A recommendation 16-2, and HB 1632 an OTP/A recommendation 20-0. Although these bills did not advance due to 2020’s truncated session, the proposals were endorsed again by your committee in 2021, voting HB 586 OTP 15-3 before it was tabled in a close vote in the House. All of the prior amendments are now incorporated in SB 400. In addition, concerns articulated on the House floor are also addressed in SB 400, noting that municipalities may not use the economic development tools for eminent domain/takings.
With this context in mind, we urge your support for SB 400. This bill is a prime example of New Hampshire leaders coming together to solve our state’s most urgent issues.
SB 400:
- Allows for Voluntary Training for Community Volunteers
- Enables Communities to Provide Economic Incentives to Build More Affordable Supply
- Updates Reasonable Timelines for Review
- Improves the Viability of Workforce Housing Projects
- Discloses Application Fees and Improves Documentation of Local Decisions
- Enables Inclusionary Zoning Requirements
- Launches a Housing Champion Communities Program
Addressing Myths and Misconceptions:
- Increased training for planning and zoning board volunteers is VOLUNTARY (not required).
- Participation in the Housing Champion Certification Program is VOLUNTARY (not required).
- Adopting any type of inclusionary zoning ordinance is VOLUNTARY (not required).
- Municipal use of economic development tools to encourage housing projects is VOLUNTARY (not required) and they may NOT use tools for eminent domain/takings.
By supporting SB 400, you can take an important step in helping provide meaningful solutions to New Hampshire’s housing crisis. Thank you for your leadership and ongoing service.
Sincerely,
CC: Speaker Packard
Representative Osborne
Representative Cote
Representative Wallner
Sincerely,
CC: Speaker Packard
Representative Osborne
Representative Cote
Representative Wallner