KEVIN EVANS | Oppose HB1691

Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony for House Bill 1691. I personally own 90 acres of land in Coos County; I am a professional forester with 40 years of management experience in Northern NH. I am opposed to this bill. I also manage land in an unincorporated town in northern NH; limiting towns to only 75% of rural zones could endanger timberlands that encompass entire townships. This bill seems to be overly restrictive and subjective and limits the private property rights of owners. The bill contradicts the purpose of current use by requiring specific forestry uses that seem to be covered in existing forestry laws. Clearcutting is a silvicultural tool used by licensed professional foresters in the state and thus shouldn't be regulated by current use. I hope this committee will kill this bill. Thank you for your consideration.