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Denmark committee reviews which new state housing and zoning laws apply locally
Summary
Committee members reviewed recently passed state laws (notably LD 2173, LD 2003) and concluded many provisions may not apply to Denmark because the town lacks mapped growth areas and public sewer/water; staff will list applicable LDs for the next meeting.
Committee members reviewed a list of recent state laws (LDs) to determine which changes Denmark must incorporate into its zoning ordinance. Meredith said she had started mapping LDs and that many of the new laws "don't pertain to us" because Denmark lacks mapped growth areas and municipal sewer or water.
Members discussed LD 2173, which includes a flowchart on minimum lot size and density that can require a municipality to allow three units per lot in certain residential districts. Committee members flagged LD 2173 and LD 2003 for further review and asked staff to prepare a targeted list of which LD-driven amendments actually apply to Denmark's land-use context.
Meredith noted that if the town does not adopt amendments that implement state changes, state law may nonetheless preempt local rules in some areas, but she emphasized that applicability depends on the statute's intent (whether it sets minimums the municipality must allow or maximum restrictions). The committee agreed to focus staff research on statutes that explicitly affect growth areas, density rules, and public-sewer/water thresholds.
The committee decided to: (1) have staff compile a short list of LDs that likely apply, (2) mark which chapters of the draft ordinance require targeted edits, and (3) bring that list to the July 1 meeting so the group can decide whether to draft minimal compliance text now or request external support (e.g., a consultant paid by grant funding) to complete the LD-driven amendments ahead of town-warrant deadlines.
The committee expects to present near-final drafts of Chapters 1 and 2 to the select board at a July workshop and to confirm which LD-driven amendments must be on the town-meeting warrant.
