A proposal that advocates say would help address New Hampshire’s housing crisis by letting homeowners build more dwellings on their properties is working its way through the legislature.A special committee on housing is considering expanding homeowners’ rights to construct more accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, on their properties.The law addressing ADUs went into effect in 2017, and while most people testifying Friday spoke in support of the bill, others said it’s not needed.”We are in a housing crisis, as many people have said over the past months and years, and I think we need to act like it,” said Bryce Kaw-uh, chairman of the Manchester Planning Board.The bill under consideration by the committee would allow homeowners to have two ADUs on their properties, instead of just one. Supporters said it’s necessary to address the housing shortage in New Hampshire and would provide some much-needed housing for workers. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Opponents of the bill, including the New Hampshire Municipal Association, said that while they support diversity in housing, state mandates are unnecessary."Communities where we have seen high levels of development have looked at ADUs," said Natch Greyes, of the New Hampshire Municipal Association. "They've been expanding and changing exactly how those are integrated into their communities, and I think they're doing a good job to that effect."The bill would also give homeowners the right to construct an ADU that is not attached to the principal dwelling unit. Advocates said it would provide increased opportunities for caregivers to take care of elderly parents, and other groups said it would make a big difference."They believe the expansion of rights to build accessory dwelling units without the barriers of added costs and additional red tape would have a positive impact on the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the people who support them," said Vanessa Blais, of the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities.The legislative process is just getting started on the bill. It still needs to be voted on by the committee before it can go to the full House and Senate.
A proposal that advocates say would help address New Hampshire’s housing crisis by letting homeowners build more dwellings on their properties is working its way through the legislature.
A special committee on housing is considering expanding homeowners’ rights to construct more accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, on their properties.
Advertisement
The law addressing ADUs went into effect in 2017, and while most people testifying Friday spoke in support of the bill, others said it’s not needed.
“We are in a housing crisis, as many people have said over the past months and years, and I think we need to act like it,” said Bryce Kaw-uh, chairman of the Manchester Planning Board.
The bill under consideration by the committee would allow homeowners to have two ADUs on their properties, instead of just one. Supporters said it’s necessary to address the housing shortage in New Hampshire and would provide some much-needed housing for workers.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Opponents of the bill, including the New Hampshire Municipal Association, said that while they support diversity in housing, state mandates are unnecessary.
“Communities where we have seen high levels of development have looked at ADUs,” said Natch Greyes, of the New Hampshire Municipal Association. “They’ve been expanding and changing exactly how those are integrated into their communities, and I think they’re doing a good job to that effect.”
The bill would also give homeowners the right to construct an ADU that is not attached to the principal dwelling unit. Advocates said it would provide increased opportunities for caregivers to take care of elderly parents, and other groups said it would make a big difference.
“They believe the expansion of rights to build accessory dwelling units without the barriers of added costs and additional red tape would have a positive impact on the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the people who support them,” said Vanessa Blais, of the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities.
The legislative process is just getting started on the bill. It still needs to be voted on by the committee before it can go to the full House and Senate.