Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Planning Board · Amherst, NH · October 16, 2024.
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Off-agenda discussion regarding application extension limits
At the Oct 16 Planning Board meeting, members discussed implementing limits on application extensions—a topic not on the public agenda. Residents weren't given prior notice to weigh in on potential changes to how land use... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/planning-board/2024-10-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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Upcoming regulatory changes and ordinance reviews
Amherst Planning Board is moving toward changing ordinance and regulation reviews. Members discussed preventing 'perpetual extensions' of outdated applications. Draft changes are due by mid-November. Stay tuned for how this... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/planning-board/2024-10-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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Policy shift regarding developer vesting and extensions
The Planning Board is looking to curb the ability of developers to use 'perpetual extensions' to bypass current regulations. While the goal is regulatory clarity, these policy shifts were discussed off-agenda on Oct 16. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/planning-board/2024-10-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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At the Oct 16 Planning Board meeting, a significant policy discussion took place that wasn't on the public agenda: the potential to limit how long development applications can be extended. 🧵 #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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Board members expressed concern that outdated applications are staying in a state of 'perpetual extension.' This can allow developers to bypass current regulations through 'vesting' rules. If they don't meet new standards, they use old ones instead.
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The Board has now tasked itself with drafting ordinance and regulation changes to address this, with a deadline of mid-November. Because this wasn't on the original agenda, residents didn't have the chance to prepare or comment on these specific shifts. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/planning-board/2024-10-16/
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Longer-form draft.
During the Town of Amherst Planning Board meeting on October 16, 2024, board members engaged in a substantive discussion regarding application extensions and ordinance reviews that was not listed on the public agenda. The board addressed concerns that certain applications may be staying in a state of 'perpetual extension.' This practice can create uncertainty in land use planning and may allow developers to bypass updated regulations by relying on outdated rules through a process known as vesting. As a result of this off-agenda discussion, board members have been tasked with preparing draft changes to town ordinances and regulations, which are expected to be presented at a mid-November meeting. Because these policy directions were not formally scheduled for public discussion, residents were not given the opportunity to prepare or provide input before the board moved toward drafting new rules. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/planning-board/2024-10-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH