Planning Board Public Hearing
TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
2155 Main Street
Bethlehem, NH 03574
PUBLIC HEARING
Bethlehem Planning Board
Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting In-Person/Zoom
The Bethlehem Planning Board will hold a public hearing at the Town Hall on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to receive public comment on the following amendments proposed for the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire.
Proposed Amendment No. 1 would reduce the required parking from 2 spaces to 1 space for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that are no larger than 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area to make it easier to provide an ADU, while reducing stormwater runoff and visual impact (Article II. General Provisions H. Parking Requirements). Also adds “Gross Floor Area” to Article XXII. Definitions.
Proposed Amendment No. 2 would allow a single-family home to have one detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) up to 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area with two bedrooms as a Permitted Use in Districts II, III, and IV and by Special Exception in District I Main Street and District I. (Article II. General Provisions, B., and Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls) Also revises Article XXII. Definitions to differentiate between “Attached” and “Detached” ADUs and add “Gross Floor Area.”
Proposed Amendment No. 3 would make it easier to convert existing buildings to multi-family dwellings as a Permitted Use in District I Main Street and District I and by Special Exception in Districts II, III, and IV. Would allow the building coverage for multi-family dwellings in District 1 Main Street and District 1 to be 25% like all other land uses. (Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls and Article XI. Multifamily Dwelling Unit Development) Also adds “Residential Conversion” to Article XXII. Definitions.
Proposed Amendment No. 4 would increase housing opportunity by allowing dwelling units above first-floor businesses as a Permitted Use in District I Main Street and District I and by Special Exception in Districts II, III, and IV. (Article II. General Provisions, B., and Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls) Also revises Article XXII. Definitions to add “Mixed Use.”
Proposed Amendment No. 5 would add Cluster Development as a Permitted Use everywhere except District I Main Street and the Landfill District (Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls), provide additional guidance for the Planning Board when reviewing proposed Cluster Developments, and provide a density bonus to encourage developments with homes no larger than 1,200 sq. ft. gross floor area with a two-car garage (Article XII. Cluster Developments). Also adds “Gross Floor Area” to Article XXII. Definitions.
Proposed Amendment No. 6 would define renting one or two rooms in an owner-occupied home to be an accessory use not requiring any special permission, make Bed and Breakfast a Home Business, and add Short-Term Rentals as a Permitted Use in single-family homes or in one unit only in an owner-occupied two-family dwelling or owner-occupied single-family dwelling with accessory dwelling unit. Would provide a definition for all other Public Accommodations which would now include Campground. (Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls and Article XXII. Definitions) Would also add a New Article with basic health and safety requirements for Short-Term Rentals.
Proposed Amendment No. 7 would remove Article XVII Impact Fees in its entirety (has never been used), along with the Definitions in Article XXII that are only used in that section of the Zoning Ordinance.
The public can participate in this hearing either in person or by Zoom videoconference by following the link found on the Town of Bethlehem website bethlehemnh.org. The complete text of the amendments is available for review on the Town website and in the Planning and Zoning Office at the Bethlehem Town Hall during regular business hours. Written comments must be received by the hearing to be considered. Mail to: Bethlehem Planning Board, P.O. Box 189, Bethlehem, NH 03574.
PUBLIC HEARING
Bethlehem Planning Board
Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting In-Person/Zoom
The Bethlehem Planning Board will hold a public hearing at the Town Hall on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to receive public comment on the following amendments proposed for the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire.
Proposed Amendment No. 1 would reduce the required parking from 2 spaces to 1 space for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that are no larger than 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area to make it easier to provide an ADU, while reducing stormwater runoff and visual impact (Article II. General Provisions H. Parking Requirements). Also adds “Gross Floor Area” to Article XXII. Definitions.
Proposed Amendment No. 2 would allow a single-family home to have one detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) up to 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area with two bedrooms as a Permitted Use in Districts II, III, and IV and by Special Exception in District I Main Street and District I. (Article II. General Provisions, B., and Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls) Also revises Article XXII. Definitions to differentiate between “Attached” and “Detached” ADUs and add “Gross Floor Area.”
Proposed Amendment No. 3 would make it easier to convert existing buildings to multi-family dwellings as a Permitted Use in District I Main Street and District I and by Special Exception in Districts II, III, and IV. Would allow the building coverage for multi-family dwellings in District 1 Main Street and District 1 to be 25% like all other land uses. (Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls and Article XI. Multifamily Dwelling Unit Development) Also adds “Residential Conversion” to Article XXII. Definitions.
Proposed Amendment No. 4 would increase housing opportunity by allowing dwelling units above first-floor businesses as a Permitted Use in District I Main Street and District I and by Special Exception in Districts II, III, and IV. (Article II. General Provisions, B., and Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls) Also revises Article XXII. Definitions to add “Mixed Use.”
Proposed Amendment No. 5 would add Cluster Development as a Permitted Use everywhere except District I Main Street and the Landfill District (Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls), provide additional guidance for the Planning Board when reviewing proposed Cluster Developments, and provide a density bonus to encourage developments with homes no larger than 1,200 sq. ft. gross floor area with a two-car garage (Article XII. Cluster Developments). Also adds “Gross Floor Area” to Article XXII. Definitions.
Proposed Amendment No. 6 would define renting one or two rooms in an owner-occupied home to be an accessory use not requiring any special permission, make Bed and Breakfast a Home Business, and add Short-Term Rentals as a Permitted Use in single-family homes or in one unit only in an owner-occupied two-family dwelling or owner-occupied single-family dwelling with accessory dwelling unit. Would provide a definition for all other Public Accommodations which would now include Campground. (Article V. Section B. District Objectives and Land Use Controls and Article XXII. Definitions) Would also add a New Article with basic health and safety requirements for Short-Term Rentals.
Proposed Amendment No. 7 would remove Article XVII Impact Fees in its entirety (has never been used), along with the Definitions in Article XXII that are only used in that section of the Zoning Ordinance.
The public can participate in this hearing either in person or by Zoom videoconference by following the link found on the Town of Bethlehem website bethlehemnh.org. The complete text of the amendments is available for review on the Town website and in the Planning and Zoning Office at the Bethlehem Town Hall during regular business hours. Written comments must be received by the hearing to be considered. Mail to: Bethlehem Planning Board, P.O. Box 189, Bethlehem, NH 03574.
