Municipal association, fire chiefs oppose bill to forbid road‑length and lot caps; builders support flexibility

Senate Bill 564 seeks to prohibit certain municipal land‑use restrictions, including numerical caps on dead‑end road lengths and limits on the number of housing lots permitted at the end of a road. Sponsor Sen. Dan Innes said the bill is intended to remove arbitrary development barriers and ease creation of housing lots.

The New Hampshire Municipal Association opposed the bill in testimony, arguing that removing road‑length limits could create fire‑access problems because pumpers and hose lengths have limits and municipalities cap dead‑end lengths to ensure adequate access. The association cited concerns about water supply, drainage, transportation and long‑term public costs if municipalities are forced to retroactively provide services for scattered development.

Fire chiefs who testified urged maintaining local discretion to ensure adequate access and multiple egress points for public safety during floods or fires. The association flagged a potential conflict with RSA 674:36 as a statutory basis for municipalities to limit subdivisions posing safety risks.

Builders and housing advocates testified in support, saying the bill prevents municipalities from hampering reasonable development and protects private‑property rights. They described real cases where strict local caps limited development of large lots behind capped roads.

Committee members heard both public‑safety and development arguments and closed the hearing after the scheduled testimony; no vote was recorded at this session.