[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6164071,"mediaKeyId","5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a","parentId",5431726,"title","Planning staff asks select board to schedule hearings on Mid State cross‑access easement; Loon Lake culvert replacement nearing completion","audioSeconds",327,"startMs",190000,"endMs",517000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a&start=190&end=517","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a/thumbnail_190000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164071/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-staff-asks-select-board-to-schedule-hearings-on-Mid-State-crossaccess-easement-Loon-Lake-culvert-replacement-nearing-completion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164071-1d5d79c47198fab1f61395645f09dc07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770821868&Signature=SprA2kUdeteCsUBVbdF-4NFXJjfbiaWUFF~O9G38-LvzWHjoXq4GOltlcU0tMUdat6OCg-c1eHsRxPun3PBr4-WgHKI75uo0hF9Dp-LYQLUNFsXgULIWH-VzTX5VFx2twSYMyTmVDgBaqmP0-6g7pyc24s~0RICIc2YABPMAB8yJ81vRytVoTbkjxFfPAzUl9j63lSEkpklTn6e-kSOGcYVp2qPlOrrVaNS8LWBuoG7ZB-XKNxlJUi4seeE1BAyS3Ntg4nG4YYkWGcMOo1oUTDT0LNPSe3JQUGWTkWHQiyavEJVlnnlUMJPuE2qJGIAdtaTJ6-T5tVUH1Hgh-DUWlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Plymouth, NH","date","2025-07-20T20:07:56.11Z","article","Planning Director Joseph told the Planning Board that the applicant for the Mid State downtown redevelopment has provided a cross‑access easement plan and text that meet the town attorney’s specifications. That easement was a planning condition tied to a prior site‑plan approval and, if accepted by the Select Board after two public hearings required under RSA 41:14, will close an outstanding condition that the planning board had placed on the 2022 approval.

Joseph said the Conservation Commission reviewed the easement and recommended in favor; the next procedural step is Select Board review and public hearings. He said the Select Board will have discretion after the hearings to accept or deny the easement on behalf of the town.

Separately, Joseph updated the board on the Loon Lake Road culvert replacement: the project is replacing an undersized corrugated metal pipe with a much larger open‑bottom box culvert designed to replicate the natural streambed and allow fish passage. He said all engineering and construction funding for the culvert came from a New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services grant that required no local match, and the contractor expected to complete the remaining work in a few weeks.

Ending: Planning staff said they will bring the easement packet to the Select Board and notify the Planning Board of the scheduled hearings so the town can close an item remaining since the 2006 record and the 2022 site‑plan approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Plymouth Planning Board - 7/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","Planning Director Joseph told the board that the Mid State downtown redevelopment applicant has delivered easement text and plans meeting the town attorney’s specifications and that town staff will recommend Select Board hearings required under RSA 41:14.","taxTitle","Plymouth, Grafton County, New Hampshire","taxId",61623,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164074,"Plymouth planners weigh sweeping state law changes that will force zoning rewrites",1632,2861000,4493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a&start=2861&end=4493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a/thumbnail_2861000.jpg","/articles/6164074/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Plymouth-planners-weigh-sweeping-state-law-changes-that-will-force-zoning-rewrites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164074-aa48c955e3d072d5b7e215c53959b0de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770821868&Signature=bpucvtEBEOfkNpg2GpAgZ07zDlmZIIDKuQLHhIUk-YMhAz159Wru9vkuV~oC~jXp~misaRJjGr9vwu~opKTIozquDdu56fq0E69P8uWjcseBML~ylnO4VPX5UofQknFQzoyXrlp8rW6PPGpOuCVZbof7RFDs-CZJQC6vOoL71ex8PjYblb5fmhQLvs7uiPdC4ZSwTYsbiezPds034a~mkgVskiWCL-fmuNNrfGLy7lOVkzOPtX18KXaSgRwBkqqZH1MZtB4wNfrjswW-dNiyTqitJpjX9U9f497qllTWpo6wS3ZLmCanxQKnE-uCJtZBll4ySgnQmKYzZo5WDnBEtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Joseph, the town planning director, told the Planning Board that the planning department has been monitoring a package of state law changes signed this month that will require Plymouth to change its zoning and some planning regulations.

The new laws include a requirement that multifamily housing be permitted in commercial zones that allow retail or office uses, a change that the town will need to address in the Highway Commercial district and possibly the Civic/Institutional district. Another law requires accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be permitted “by right” in any zone that allows residential uses, and it allows conversions of existing nonconforming accessory structures into ADUs. A separate statute removes local authority to limit occupancy based on familial relationship and generally requires occupancy limits to be expressed as a per‑bedroom metric rather than by whether occupants are related.

Why it matters: the changes affect common local controls — whether multifamily requires special exception or is permitted, how Plymouth treats ADUs and conversions of commercial buildings to housing, how the town counts occupants in a unit and how many parking spaces the town may require for a new dwelling.

At the meeting, Joseph walked the board through high‑level implications and timing: some provisions take effect immediately or within 60 days of the governor’s signature; others (notably the multifamily change identified in House Bill 631) take effect after town meeting, giving the town a chance to prepare warrant language. He said the department will prepare draft amendments for the town’s warrant but recommended packaging required updates together to keep the ballot concise.

Key provisions discussed by the board:
- Multifamily in commercial zones: The statute requires multifamily residential to be allowed where zoning permits retail and office uses. Planning staff advised that Highway Commercial (HC) is the district most clearly affected; Village Commercial (VC) already allows multifamily under town rules; Civic/Institutional (CI) may or may not fall under the statute’s definition, and staff recommended further legal review before drafting changes.
- ADUs: House Bill 577 requires ADUs to be permitted by right in any zone that permits residential uses, including detached ADUs; it also allows conversion of existing nonconforming accessory buildings to ADUs. The board flagged local ADU rules that reference aesthetic or special requirements (for example, a current requirement that exterior ADU stairways be covered) and discussed whether those specific local requirements would need to be applied equally to the primary dwelling or removed.
- Occupancy and family definitions: A state change removes the distinction between “related” and “unrelated” family for zoning‑based occupancy restrictions; Joseph noted the town’s ADU rule limiting ADU occupancy by number of adults will require updating to comply with the new state standard (the state law uses a per‑bedroom occupancy metric).
- Parking limits: Senate Bill 284 restricts municipal authority to require more than one parking space per residential unit. Board members noted that Plymouth’s existing zoning also caps how many extra spaces a project may supply (a 125% cap in some commercial zones) and that the interaction of the new state limit and the town’s 125% policy will require targeted edits to the off‑street parking table so houses and small multifamily projects remain workable.
- Vesting and timelines: House Bill 413 extends the “active and substantial development” window used to vest site plan approvals from 2 years/5 years to 3 years/7 years for qualifying projects; the planning board’s site plan regulations will need parallel edits.
- Appeals and inspections: The board heard that some building code appeals will now go to the state building‑code review board rather than the local zoning board of adjustment; Senate Bill 188 also permits licensed third parties to perform certain inspections/certifications, which may affect small towns’ inspection options.

Board members asked about immediate enforcement in the interim period — where town code still says one thing but state law has changed — and Joseph said staff will seek guidance and draft conforming warrant language so local ordinances align with state law promptly. Multiple members recommended packaging the technical, state‑required updates into a single omnibus warrant article for the upcoming town meeting, while doing separate public outreach on larger policy choices (for example, whether the town should mandate first‑floor commercial in some districts).

The board directed staff to draft amendment language for review at an upcoming work session and to coordinate public engagement as part of the housing master‑plan outreach already underway.

Ending: Planning staff will return with model warrant language and a redline of affected zoning sections; the board set a goal of preparing proposed changes for public review before the fall warrant deadline.","Planning staff outlined several recently signed state laws that change how towns must treat multifamily housing, accessory dwelling units, occupancy rules, parking requirements and other land‑use matters. The board discussed which local zoning districts will need amendments and a likely omnibus warrant article for town meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164064,"Planning Board appoints two members to new Select Board economic development committee",366,9674000,10040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a&start=9674&end=10040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a/thumbnail_9674000.jpg","/articles/6164064/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-Board-appoints-two-members-to-new-Select-Board-economic-development-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164064-4c0dfe3329a1a7f99c9fd13b78e2b971/orig.mp4?Expires=1770821868&Signature=kgRbVpZObcGbtEmLLe2kPOlm5SnwkFmUCQmJvqs5LLCVfcGFjyOZ7L8Vq3MmMQjqyyZhViOdH-Yq3Ya1gs7BX7Uqa1HphanaER8OzuXlwvI6MyZWRQ7PkbVxt7ZX0pfGb-duiF9bTpm9Ef4jfiUSsfqTIu-VXAg0ta2rmeePP0Hl2MHzmwS6-BFYsCGlujXDciRswpfxxaC5z5THbyBfZrCJ72D8boConLqYqy1iUFOXzPBqMyxXYE13Lho8yDjXCvt5jGCAYVn-Rr~W9U3QuGpHxSJbPU81QJ9e3-eJPY4wTE4~PXMM~0SADmbf2qv4TqIrGixj8jVh47hR9iJ5CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning Board considered a request from the Select Board to provide two planning‑board representatives for a newly created Select Board subcommittee focused on economic development. The Select Board’s draft structure calls for a seven‑member committee: two Select Board members, two Planning Board members and three members of the public.

The Planning Board nominated and approved Molly McCann and John to serve as the planning‑board designees to the committee. Both appointments were motioned, seconded and approved at the meeting.

Why it matters: the committee is intended to coordinate local economic development work, link master‑plan economic recommendations with implementation, and provide a forum for business outreach and coordination with regional and state economic development resources. The Select Board will appoint the public members and the subcommittee will be chaired by a Select Board representative; the planning‑board designees will serve in an ex‑officio capacity representing the board.

Ending: Staff said the Select Board will review public member applications and finalize committee leadership; planning‑board designees will be notified of the committee’s first meeting.","The Planning Board nominated and approved two members to serve as board representatives on a newly formed Select Board subcommittee on economic development. The Select Board is recruiting additional public members and plans to name the committee chair(s).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164068,"Planning board debates short‑term rentals, tourist‑home rules and temporary permits as ADU and state law changes loom",826,837000,1663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a&start=837&end=1663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431726-c175537e4eed5826da2f66cf6337d98a/thumbnail_837000.jpg","/articles/6164068/Plymouth/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-board-debates-shortterm-rentals-touristhome-rules-and-temporary-permits-as-ADU-and-state-law-changes-loom","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164068-56f4a27dfc5b6976882182f8f6128248/orig.mp4?Expires=1770821868&Signature=DwK9mTKZaJGBvt6VE9VaB571Va9JotkhQTVRU5J91h1sRMJDS-ltNnZLsxf8nL~G5VAa1WH93sju70QYOADEGCTTkYKRtZb5xsDikzAJpgA7pc8rwV-mUQd4ULI~d1g~K8iGZ1lqNM4ed7fKKGSV9ia6l7TYigTiG-KipcQSHnfADfOhYwFgZ~o3yTm7CZCh4CjleXKh-V~leZHBo6zQ4Dyy2znmuSDuJBJ5HuR9gfTPCcEmtjtlcLWoFCn70DR8UImA54sAflUMXR2nkJZM2kSkJ0R0kZFHwvWSABHdrNSUa4mU15E1N5flvQdaR2vQsEmvdm0cl3DZFaKU-Sexhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Planning Board members raised short‑term rental regulation, enforcement and safety during a joint discussion with the Zoning Board of Adjustment representatives and town staff.

A Planning Board member said short‑term rentals “need to be legislated in some way,” and the group reviewed how Plymouth’s existing tourist‑home definition and owner‑occupancy rules interact with state law and the town’s ADU rules. Joseph, planning staff, explained that the town has historically not included permissive short‑term rental language in the zoning ordinance — the existing “tourist home” and owner‑occupancy framework is a carryover that allows some uses by special exception — but that enforcement has been inconsistent where rentals operate in residential zones.

Board members outlined policy alternatives discussed at length: a short‑term rental permit system with annual renewal and safety certifications; temporary special exceptions limited to a defined period (for example, multi‑year or annual permits); clearer enforcement procedures for rooms‑and‑meals tax collection; and a requirement that rental operators demonstrate compliance with life‑safety and fire‑separation standards (the board discussed minimum building separation for detached ADUs and fire access concerns).

Why it matters: Short‑term rentals intersect with housing supply, neighborhood character, safety and tax compliance. The board agreed not to rush legislative changes and instead to fold the short‑term‑rental question into the housing master‑plan outreach and forthcoming public input.

Notable points from the conversation:
- The board discussed a possible temporary or annual permit regime — permitting with renewal requirements is used in other New Hampshire towns as a way to manage short‑term rentals and enforce taxes and safety standards.
- Joseph advised that the state statute governing ADUs and detached accessory units contains owner‑occupancy rules and that detached ADUs used for transient occupancy can raise questions about change‑of‑use; converting an ADU to a short‑term rental could be a change of use subject to review.
- Board members flagged practical enforcement issues: who inspects for life‑safety standards, how on‑the‑ground monitoring occurs, and the difficulty of collecting rooms‑and‑meals tax from homeowner‑managed listings.

Ending: Members agreed to include short‑term rentals and ADU/tourist‑home questions among the upcoming housing master‑plan outreach items and recommended waiting for community input before drafting zoning amendments.","Board members and staff discussed enforcement gaps and policy options for short‑term rentals and tourist‑homes, including permit regimes, temporary authorizations, safety and taxation concerns. Members emphasized public outreach and housing master‑plan engagement before adopting new local rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning staff asks select board to schedule hearings on Mid State cross‑access easement; Loon Lake culvert replacement nearing completion

Plymouth planners weigh sweeping state law changes that will force zoning rewrites

Planning Board appoints two members to new Select Board economic development committee

Planning board debates short‑term rentals, tourist‑home rules and temporary permits as ADU and state law changes loom