Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Planning Board · Amherst, NH · January 8, 2025.
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Split vote on ADU petition reveals board prioritizing process over housing urgency
Amherst Planning Board voted 1-5 on 1/8 to reject a citizen petition expanding Accessory Dwelling Units. Petitioners argued it would help seniors afford taxes and ease the housing crisis. Board majority said it needed more vetting. Petition may still go to ballot.
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Unresolved economic impact on tradespeople from home-based business ordinance amendments
At the 1/8 Amherst Planning Board meeting, a resident warned that proposed home-based business rules could force contractors to garage work vehicles off-site — a major cost that could push tradespeople out of business or out of town. Second hearing: Jan. 22, 6pm.
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Incomplete document posting acknowledged by board, directed to be corrected before next hearing
Amherst Planning Board (1/8): Home business ordinance was posted showing only amendments, not the full ordinance — making it hard for residents to understand the impact. Board directed staff to repost with full context before the Jan. 22 hearing.
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Summary of all votes taken at the meeting
Amherst Planning Board (1/8): Sign ordinance and abutter definition amendments both passed 6-0 recommendations. Driveway and home business ordinances advanced to second hearing Jan. 22 at 6pm. ADU citizen petition not recommended (1-5).
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🧵 Amherst Planning Board met on 1/8/25 and took votes on five zoning topics. Here's what happened and what's still unresolved. Thread:
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1/ The board heard public comment and voted on: home-based business regulations, driveway ordinance changes, sign ordinance amendments, an abutter definition update, and a citizen petition to expand Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
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2/ Biggest vote: A citizen petition to expand ADUs — allowing detached units and by-right construction on lots 5+ acres — was rejected 1-5. Petitioners said it would help seniors offset rising taxes and ease the housing crisis.
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3/ The board majority's stated reason: the proposal hadn't been thoroughly vetted by the Planning Board. One member said publicly they were 'very sympathetic to the concept.' But sympathy didn't change the vote. The petition was not recommended.
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4/ On home-based business rules: a resident warned proposed amendments could require contractors and tradespeople to garage work vehicles off-site. 'You're going to drive them out of town or out of business,' they said. The posted ordinance was also incomplete — missing full context.
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5/ A board member clarified the intent was to provide 'safe harbor' for existing home businesses, not restrict them. The board advanced the item to a second hearing on Jan. 22 and directed staff to repost complete documents.
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6/ On driveway ordinance changes allowing driveways off private roads: a resident raised concerns about potential unintended consequences, and another flagged the DPW maintenance burden for private spur roads. This was also advanced to a second hearing Jan. 22 at 6pm.
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7/ Sign ordinance and abutter definition amendments both received unanimous 6-0 recommendations from the board and were advanced to the town ballot.
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8/ If any of these issues affect you — home businesses, ADUs, driveways — the next public hearing is Jan. 22 at 6pm.
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Longer-form draft.
On January 8, 2025, the Amherst Planning Board held public hearings and took formal votes on five zoning topics: home-based business regulations, driveway ordinance changes, sign ordinance amendments, the definition of 'abutter,' and a citizen petition to expand Accessory Dwelling Units. The most significant vote of the night was a 1-5 rejection of a citizen petition to expand ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) allowances. The petition would have allowed detached ADUs and permitted by-right construction on lots 5 acres or larger. Supporters argued it would help seniors afford rising property taxes through rental income and would give Amherst a tool to address the housing crisis. One supporter stated: 'We are part of a country that has a severe housing crisis. And unless we as a town want to keep contributing to that crisis, we can go along with what we've been doing.' The board majority voted against recommending it, citing concerns that the proposal hadn't been sufficiently vetted and that removing the conditional use permit requirement for larger lots raised issues. One board member stated they were 'very sympathetic to the concept' but preferred more thorough Planning Board review. Two other issues remain unresolved heading into a second public hearing on January 22nd at 6pm. On home-based business regulations, a resident warned that proposed amendments could effectively require contractors and tradespeople to store work vehicles off-site — a significant overhead cost. A board member clarified the intent was to provide 'safe harbor' for things people understood they were already able to do, not to restrict home businesses. The posted documents were incomplete, showing only amendments without the full ordinance context, so the board directed staff to repost complete documents before the next hearing. On driveway ordinances, proposed changes would allow driveways off private roads approved by the Planning Board, with a new definition of 'principal route of access' recommended by town counsel. A resident raised concerns about potential unintended consequences, and another noted the DPW maintenance burden for private spur roads. The board unanimously (6-0) recommended both the sign ordinance amendments and the abutter definition change for the town ballot. If any of these issues affect you, the next public hearing is January 22, 2025 at 6pm.