While the uproar amongst many conservatives (all while democrats applaud) centers around many great Republican bills Governor Ayotte has vetoed, we mustn’t overlook a few bills she signed off on that force state mandates onto municipalities regarding zoning. When Kelly Ayotte ran for Governor, her catch slogan was “Let’s not Mass up NH”, a rather legitimate and lauded goal. She also campaigned on “working on the housing issue while maintaining local control”. Chalk that up to yet another conservative campaign promise vacated for the sake of left-coast socialist policies of extremist ideologues of both parties, and as special deals, for special interests. We are now far beyond her pledge of not “Massing up NH”; we’ve been “Californicated”.
With her recent signing of several zoning bills that remove local control and use totalitarian-type mandates from the state, she has instead knowingly put New Hampshire on a path similar to that of left-coast metropolitan cities. The following statement from Ayotte is from a Union Leader article in August of 2024.
“Local decision making is a very important part of the New Hampshire way, and I don’t want the state telling the locals what to do. There is a state role to play, being a helpful partner, and I’m committed to doing that.”
And from her recap of the first 100 days in office, April 2025.
“Ayotte emphasized the importance of local decision-making in zoning policies while encouraging the development of accessory dwelling units.”
Yet, with her recent signing of several zoning mandate bills, she has done the exact opposite of what she promised, removing the local control of zoning and forcing state, top-down zoning mandates. There is no enabling or encouraging, just forced compliance. And the reader must understand a crucial point. Every zoning mandate imposed on municipalities can already be accomplished by towns/cities themselves, just as they have been for a hundred years, through the warrant article process. This is simply about state vs. local control of zoning.
Ayotte signed HB577, which creates an expanded mandate on the use of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), probably the most detrimental of all the bills put forth and survived this term that will change NH’s landscape over the next few years. Under the new state law, every municipality will now be forced to allow detached housing/rental units on any land zoned for residential use. In other words, your neighborhood of single-family houses will now be transformed into a rental zone, as a second home/building is now mandated to be allowed on every lot. And a previous restriction that required ADUs to be occupied by a family member is eliminated. Other previous restrictions on ADUs are also tossed. Builders, investors, landlords, realtors, ideologues unite! While those who bought homes in a single-family neighborhood watch their surroundings forever change, and not for the better.
The second of many bills I’ll mention of those that Ayotte signed is HB631, which would force residential housing into all commercially zoned districts. Oddly enough, most cities and many towns already permit what this bill mandates. Municipalities already know what is best for their local zoning ordinances; they thrive or suffer the consequences of their policies. Call me a cynic, and I’m certain you’ll be shocked, but this bill appears to have been pushed onto some towns for the benefit of a few specific, special interest developers currently unable to build as they wish in those towns.
Governor Ayotte has blatantly taken a one hundred and eighty-degree turn on her campaign promises. She was made aware many months ago of the special interest groups and ideologues behind the massive push to chip away at the property rights of the vast majority for their own benefit.
There are several other bills, as well as details on the “players” operating behind the scenes against your town’s best interests, that this op-ed space simply will not provide the room to describe. In the coming weeks, I will be outlining these issues in the “News and Blog” section of my website at “LenTurcotte.org”. As in previous op-eds on the zoning subject, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the matter. You must get involved before NH becomes unrecognizable. The “players” have repeatedly stated and outlined in writing, interviews, and social media posts that chipping away at your town’s zoning is their end goal. Add in the special interest groups’ desire to build wherever they want, and we are well on our way past being “Massed UP”; we are being Californicated.
Authors’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its sponsors, readers, authors, or advertisers.
Got Something to Say, We Want to Hear It. Comment or submit Op-Eds to steve@granitegrok.com
