TOWN OF FREEDOM

A PUBLIC HEARING AND A PUBLIC MEETING of the
Freedom Planning Board will be held
On Thursday, January 21, 2021
at 7:00 p.m. at the Freedom Town Hall

Due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus crisis and in accordance with Governor Sununu’s Emergency Order #12 pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04 and following the declaration of an emergency by the Chair of the Freedom Planning Board, this Board is authorized to meet electronically.  This meeting will be held at the Freedom Town Hall (16 Elm Street) and can also be accessed via zoom or telephone.  Join Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84493696402

Meeting ID: 844 9369 6402.  If you do not have internet access, please use this phone number: 929 205 6099.  If anyone wanting to join the meeting has a problem accessing the meeting, please call 603-539-3858 at the time of the meeting.

PUBLIC MEETING

• Senior housing-Harrison Kanzler, Mount Washington Valley Housing Coalition
• Review minutes of November 19, 2020 meeting

PUBLIC HEARING

• Discuss, take public comment, and vote to approve the following zoning ordinance changes to put on the March ballot:

1. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows: Add as Article 6, Stormwater Management to require property owners to manage stormwater runoff caused by any building construction or lot development on lots that are adjacent to a stream, could cause water to flow onto a Class V road or higher or onto an abutter’s property if the property is not regulated by other state or town regulations? The planning board is proposing this article to bring the Freedom zoning ordinance into line with the Master Plan dated March 7, 2020.  

2. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows: Add as Article 7, Shoreland Protection by moving language from section 304.6 (Shorefront District-Other Requirements) to an article focused on protecting Freedom’s water quality and to add some language from the state Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act to educate shorefront district property owners on their rights and responsibilities under the law? Having this language in the Freedom Zoning Ordinance allows the town to enforce these provisions rather than referring violations to the state.  The planning board is proposing this article to bring the Freedom zoning ordinance into line with the Master Plan dated March 7, 2020.  

3. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 3 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows: Amend Article 15, Home Occupation, to add exclusions to restrict the sales, rental, maintenance, or repair of automobiles, motor vehicles, or small engines or other listed special exceptions as a home occupation? 

4. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 4 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows: Add a section to Article 2101.2 Application for a zoning permit to require a foundation/footing certification before the pouring of concrete on lots where the zoning officer is uncertain that a structure’s location meets setbacks and when the Zoning Board of Adjustment grants a variance for a structure to encroach into any setback? This will ensure that the placement of the structure conforms with the zoning ordinance or variance conditions without requiring a full lot survey.

Detailed language for these proposed changes is available from the Freedom Town Office (603-539-6323) and is posted on the Town of Freedom website.

• Public Comment
• Any other business to come before the board