HB1006

Letter of Support for HB 1006 To the House Housing Committee Dear Chair and Members of the Committee, I write in strong support of HB 1006, which restores local authority and basic common sense to how parking for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) is regulated in New Hampshire. ADUs can be a valuable part of a community’s housing mix — but they only work when the real-world impacts of added residents, vehicles, and neighborhood capacity are addressed honestly. Parking is not an abstract issue. It affects emergency access, road safety, snow plowing, drainage, neighborhood congestion, and the ability of first responders to do their jobs. These are all matters that municipalities, not distant lawmakers or individual property owners, are best positioned to evaluate. Current law wrongly strips municipalities of the ability to ensure that required parking is located where it belongs — on the site being developed or at a location the town has approved. That creates predictable conflicts: cars overflowing into narrow streets, blocked driveways, unsafe winter conditions, and pressure on towns to solve problems they were prohibited from preventing. HB 1006 fixes this by doing something entirely reasonable: it requires that parking for ADUs be provided either on-site or in an off-site location that has been reviewed and approved by the municipality. This does not block housing. It does not ban ADUs. It simply ensures that development is done responsibly, transparently, and in a way that does not shift costs and risks onto neighbors and taxpayers. This bill also protects homeowners who are already playing by the rules. When parking is left entirely to private discretion, the result is unfairness — some properties absorb the consequences while others reap the benefits. HB 1006 creates a level playing field and reinforces the principle that growth should be planned, not imposed. Most importantly, this bill respects New Hampshire’s long-standing commitment to local land-use control. Towns and cities know their road widths, sight lines, soils, snow loads, fire access needs, and neighborhood layouts. They should not be forced to accept parking arrangements that are unsafe, unworkable, or simply fictional. HB 1006 supports housing while protecting safety, infrastructure, and community trust. That is exactly the balance good public policy should strike. I respectfully urge the Committee to recommend Ought to Pass. Sincerely, David John Preece State Representative, Hillsborough District 17

Position recorded without written comment.