Articles tagged as

zoning

Hollis dunkin donuts

Smith: Hollis Dunkin Donuts

Hollis Dunkin Donuts is unlike other locations in many ways.  It’s in a repurposed building multiple times its age, it doesn’t have the usual bright orange and pink signs and it doesn’t have a drive-thru despite it being a former site of a bank with one. While I can’t speak intelligently to the finer details … Read more

papers report or manifesto on a desk

Smith: Unbundling The Sorens Manifesto

Zoning is an institution often misunderstood by many, myself included, so let’s delve into a 22-page treatise written by the founder of the Free State Project.  To use Ray Guarino’s favorite word, ACRIMONIOUS, as many recent discussions, both online and in person, have been just that, so it’s important to say that I mean zero … Read more

qurstions question marks image by qimono pixaby

Bowers: Answering the Wrong Question

If asked about some issue, “Should the Towns decide or should the State decide?” many people would answer that the Towns should decide. But for many issues that is the wrong question. The right question is “Should the Towns decide or should individuals decide for themselves?” Should Towns decide what firearms you might possess? NO! … Read more

Stop Lying About Zoning

Let’s first briefly mention the Underwood book, Stop Lying About ESAs, after which I named this article. I encourage everyone to read it, not only because of the controversy and misunderstandings involved regarding EFAs, but also because the polarization and vitriol present among everyone who’s not a Democrat are very similar.   One institution controversy (EFAs) … Read more

NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte

Tell Ayotte to Make It Stop

On April 16, 2024, the UL published an op-ed by Rep. Len Turcotte of Strafford County. It has never been more applicable than it is today, with dozens of bills proposed by those attempting to remove local control of zoning with ‘death by a thousand cuts’. Turcotte compared this to Chairman Mao Zedong’s attempt to … Read more

digigng a tunnell

A Deeper Dig Into Housing Bills

My recent article on Housing Bill Madness was published while Nurse Terese and Keith Hanson had Senator Murphy and a few other guests on the air for a ‘polite’ discussion.  When time was up, it was definitely a “to be continued” situation, though both chambers are set to meet today.  That means some of what … Read more

guy with beer pitcher and beer on his face

A Commoner’s View On Housing Bill Madness

Let’s be clear.  This isn’t about preventing a family from converting their garage into a studio apartment for Granny so she doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life in assisted living or any other commonly used argument to gaslight people sounding the alarm on potential loss of local control.  A few other scenarios … Read more

GrokTALK logo with torch

GrokTALK!: Len Turcotte Bad Zoning Bills’ Two-fer.

Bad zoning bills persist in the State Legislature after crossover, and we must stop them. I also didn’t have time to do a new show this week (divine intervention?), so it’s an excellent time to revisit this. Len Turcotte was on Granite State Live this week. I had a similar conversation with Len in March … Read more

City of Nashua seth-dewey-EOlo15oy8Ks-unsplash

Asphalt Plant and/or Housing, Local Control Or Not?

It was my understanding that the formerly pending asphalt plant site at 145 Temple Street Nashua was in “mixed use” zoning, which could/would have been their argument had they not withdrawn their litigation against the City.  I haven’t been paying attention to this matter since the last city election came and went, and they apparently … Read more

Houses Housing neighborhood Photo

Towns, not the State, are Engaging in Central Planning

A battle is brewing. It has been brewing for years, or even decades. It is a battle over property rights and it may not be what you think it is. It isn’t a battle between the State and the Towns. It is a battle between Towns and property owners.  The NH Constitution states, “All men … Read more

Rep Len Turcotte GT Interview screen grab

Testimony In Opposition to HB577

Expanding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) I personally believe strongly in private property rights, I live on 34 acres with the closest house ¼ mile away for a reason, love my privacy. However, I do NOT believe politicians and bureaucrats should use central-planning and state mandates to remove the property rights of the many for the … Read more

Legalizing Residential Uses in Commercial Zones …

In many areas of New Hampshire it is literally illegal for shop owners, employees and customers to live in an apartment above or next to a business. Yet places that do allow such mixed uses are among the most vibrant and desired areas in the state, for both businesses and residents.  As state and local … Read more

Houses Housing neighborhood Photo

Legislature Moves 15 Housing Bills in One Day

New Hampshire’s housing shortage, and the price spike that it created, has made housing the No. 1 problem facing the state, according to University of New Hampshire polling. Fixing the state’s housing shortage is such a priority for voters that a 2024 UNH poll found more than 1/3 of voters rating it as the top problem, … Read more

NH State House - Pic by SteveM

Follow-Up On Bad Zoning Bills In the Legislature

On March 20, a slew of Senate Commerce bills regarding Housing were fought valiantly by Bedford Senator Denise Ricciardi. She managed to kill SB55 but of the ones that passed, all did not get universal approval. Example: SB84 – passed 13-10 (opposed by Republican Senators Ricciardi, Rochefort, Birdsell, Lang, Gray, Ward, Abbas, Gannon, Avard, and … Read more

GrokTALK logo with torch

This Week: Losing Local Control and Making Parents Into Criminals

New Hampshire House Rep Len Turcotte joins me in the first half-hour to discuss zoning laws and bills in the legislature that chip away at local control, “… in small bites in hopes you don’t realize it until it is too late.” Note: The bill he couldn’t recall the number of is HB631 (permitting residential … Read more

Houses Housing neighborhood Photo

FYI – Housing DEI

Last year 68 so-called “Republicans”​ voted with 152 Dems to pass HB 1291. Fortunately we knew who they were because it was a roll call vote. Thankfully one Senator killed it when it crossed over. On the 13th of March “Republican” anarchists pushed through a number of damaging House bills on voice votes. Is there … Read more

Zoning (In Nashua) is FUN!

Nashua residents and defenders of liberty are encouraged to attend Nashua Code Week, May 6-10. Nashua is a member of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

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Construction worker Photo by Josh Olalde on Unsplash

New ‘Green’ Building Code to Dominate Housing Construction

The announcement of a “model” international building code might understandably elicit yawns. However, the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is cause for Americans to bolt upright and pay close attention. The vain imaginings of corporate and NGO “stakeholders” who propose to completely dominate American housing construction in the name of saving the planet promise … Read more

Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massganistan

Since the 1930s, governments, politicians, leaders, and members of freedom-crushing movements have been using the word “Crisis” to accomplish goals that “The People” would never have voted for or allowed to occur if we were not told that it would “Solve a Crisis” of some type.

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