Jane Haigh

I support this bill because we need to find more ways to enable construction of smaller starter homes all over New Hampshire. Most young families afford a 4,000 square foot $650,000 home on a large lot. Yet New Hampshire has made it difficult to build starter single-family homes by requiring large lots. An analysis of the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas found that only 15% of buildable land allowed for smaller single-family homes, which are well-suited for downsizing and starter homes.. This bill aims to allow the creation of more starter homes by setting baseline standards for lot sizes. In a majority of single-family zoned land without water and sewer infrastructure, lot size would be determined by the Department of Environmental Services soil standards. In lots serviced by water and sewer infrastructure, no ordinance could require lot sizes greater than 22,000 sq ft.