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Rye Planning Board advances review of Conservation Land Development rules and a 'cottage‑court' housing model
Summary
The Rye Planning Board discussed revising the town’s Conservation Land Development ordinance and explored a cottage‑court cluster housing model at its April 28 meeting, scheduling public engagement for May 19 and continuing work under an NHHOP grant that sunsets in September.
The Rye Planning Board on April 28 discussed possible changes to the town’s Conservation Land Development (CLD) ordinance and heard about a cottage‑court cluster housing model that could allow denser housing without the CLD conservation requirement.
Member Steve Carter, chair of the Long‑Range Planning Committee, said the committee will present the cottage‑court concept to the public on May 19, 2026, from 5–6 p.m. at the Rye Library as part of outreach on proposed zoning changes. The board is considering the cottage‑court model alongside revisions to the CLD ordinance, which currently requires 20% of a development be set aside for workforce housing, a 20‑acre minimum lot size, and at least 50% of the site preserved in perpetuity.
RPC Circuit Rider Maddie DiIonno told the board Rye is in Phase III of a New Hampshire Housing Opportunities Program (NHHOP) grant; earlier phases produced a housing needs assessment and a land‑use audit that generated recommended zoning amendments. DiIonno said the NHHOP grant sunsets at the end of September 2026 and that the Rules and Regulations committee has begun reviewing the CLD ordinance with consultant support.
Chair Pat Losik cited examples in other municipalities and consultants (including TF Moran) and asked staff to follow up with contacts to better understand how cottage‑court regulations and economics (unit sizes roughly described as 1,200–1,500 square feet) could preserve the town’s workforce housing goals while lowering land‑use barriers.
The board did not take formal votes on ordinance language at the meeting; next steps include the May 19 public engagement session and continued committee work to draft amendments for future public hearings as required under RSA procedures.
