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Senate hearing previews bill to expand residential uses in commercial zones
Summary
Senator Keith Murphy presented SB 90 to require that where commercial or high-density residential uses are allowed, municipalities must allow residential development (with an amendment narrowing scope); home builders and housing advocates supported the bill; municipal groups raised concerns about density, infrastructure, and local control.
Senator Keith Murphy opened the public hearing on Senate Bill 90 on March 11, describing the bill as an effort to encourage adaptive reuse and mixed use development by requiring municipalities that permit commercial or high‑density residential uses to also allow residential development in those areas. Murphy said the goal is to increase housing near jobs and to reuse existing commercial space such as malls and office parks for housing.
Murphy explained an amendment (0610s) negotiated with the New Hampshire Home Builders Association that would narrow the bill so it applies to traditional commercial uses — retail, offices, medical offices and tech parks — and would not compel residential development in…
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