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Housing Commission asks about multifamily, lot sizes and conversions in revised bylaws
Summary
Patty Eisenhaur of the Housing Commission raised multiple questions about whether multifamily dwellings could be allowed in village districts, hotel-to-emergency-housing conversions, inconsistent terminology and group-home limits; commissioners noted wastewater constraints and suggested possible one-half-acre lot sizes in some areas.
Patty Eisenhaur, representing a subset of the Housing Commission, presented a series of specific concerns and questions about the draft dimensional standards and how they would affect housing options in Londonderry.
Eisenhaur asked why the draft assigns 1-acre zoning in Village Residential and Village Commercial districts and why front setbacks were increased. She asked, "Would you consider multifamily dwellings in Village and R1, based on a site plan review that demonstrates sufficient placement of a well/septic system or a community wastewater system?" and whether hotels converted to emergency housing should be treated separately from multifamily conversions.
Commissioners and staff responded that wastewater capacity and state law (ACT 181) are constraints; Brent Bammarito and the Wastewater Committee discussed lot-size guidance and suggested one-half acre in some locations where existing houses sit on half-acre lots. Eisenhaur also flagged inconsistent terminology ("footprint" vs. "lot coverage") and asked that group homes with more than seven residents be addressed explicitly in the tables.
The commission did not enact changes at the meeting; staff (William Goodwin) said he would follow up on questions raised and provide clarifications to ensure terminology and references align across narrative and tables.
