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Testimony splits on HB 1006 requiring municipal approval for off‑site ADU parking
Summary
Bill would require municipal approval for legally‑dedicated off‑site parking for accessory dwelling units; NHMA and some local officials favor verification to prevent overuse of public parking and safety risks, while builders and realtors say municipal approval risks blocking ADU creation.
Representative David Priess presented HB 1006 to clarify on‑site and off‑site parking requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs): the bill would require parking to be on‑site or — if off‑site — to be allowed only with municipal approval (building permit process or designated municipal official).
NHMA (Brody Deshaies) argued that municipal verification prevents private agreements from improperly using public parking or creating hazards that impact fire access and neighborhood circulation; the municipal association stressed that "municipal approval" would be administrative (not necessarily legislative) and typically handled in the building permit review to confirm an enforceable private agreement.
Opponents — builders and the New Hampshire Association of Realtors — said the bill shifts private property choices to municipal discretion and could be used to deny ADUs or impose unduly onerous conditions, increasing uncertainty and cost for homeowners seeking to add units. Some planning advocates (Ivy Vann) opposed additional municipal constraints, saying mandated parking limits raise housing costs. Committee members asked whether public parking versus private off‑site parking should be treated differently; several witnesses suggested a targeted municipal review for off‑site public parking while allowing private off‑site arrangements by right subject to simple verification.
