The Housing Appeals Board is a 3-person state-level monster that was created by 3 Republican NH Senators. It repeatedly failed as a normal bill so these legislators sneaked it into the budget. HB 288 (2021) was a bill to repeal it, but did not come to a full House vote before the session ended.

What does the HAB do? Just three people involved in the real estate and development business are allowed to override ANY town board decision regarding housing. This includes planning and zoning boards, conservation commissions, and even school boards.

The legislature has repeatedly defeated or laid on table many bills that would have enabled developers to get tax breaks for building high-density, low-income apartment buildings where they are not wanted or needed. It’s all part of Governor Sununu’s plan to “mitigate” a supposed housing shortage.

We maintain that his plan (including the HAB) is unconstitutional on its face. There is no provision in the NH Constitution that allows the state to mandate or control what types of housing each town may build, especially in defiance of the voters’ wishes. Additionally, two of the three HAB members listed, have serious conflicts of interest.

The HAB has made its first ruling against the Planning Board of Francestown for its decision regarding a portion of land listed in the National Register of Historical Places: http://bedfordresidents.com/bra/2021/05/16/housing-appeals-board-hab-violates-rights-of-voters-in-francestown/

If you want to maintain the NH Advantage, and the property values of your single-family homes, you will do all you can to advise the legislature and the Governor that the HAB should be repealed and dissolved immediately. Otherwise, your town meeting vote can be nullified by just 3 people with conflicting interests.

Three other cases are pending.

Get ready Windham, Pembroke and Chichester, as you are their next targets.

HAB Website: https://hab.nh.gov/hearings.aspx.

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