Board clarifies workforce‑housing scope, seeks design help with Plan New Hampshire charrette

At the same meeting the board reviewed draft workforce‑housing language and agreed the workforce provisions should apply in the residential agricultural district rather than the commercial‑industrial zone to avoid conflicting rules.

Board members discussed monitoring of deed‑restricted workforce units and how to ensure rental and sale income limits are enforced. Members and residents said monitoring has historically been handled by the select board or a designated monitoring agent; several commenters urged that deed‑restriction compliance documentation be submitted at the time of sale or annually so the town can verify eligibility. The board did not adopt a final monitoring mechanism at the work session but asked staff to prepare language for public notice and to consider assigning reporting responsibilities to property owners and the select board.

Separately, the board voted to support submitting a Plan New Hampshire charrette application to fund a technical charrette and community workshop focused on creating site‑plan and design tools for development along Route 125. S6 explained the charrette would bring professionals to produce technical guidance the town can use to shape development; the board approved the application and requested a letter of support be sought from the select board. The charrette fee is typically about $6,500; the board discussed potential additional modest local expenses for logistics and outreach if the grant is awarded.

Next steps: staff will refine workforce‑housing regulatory language (including district applicability and monitoring language) and will post the charrette application and seek select‑board support. The workforce and multifamily drafts will be coordinated to avoid internal conflicts before the scheduled public hearings.