As the New Hampshire gubernatorial race heats up, both Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Joyce Craig are tackling the state’s housing crisis while navigating the issue of local control. Both candidates have emphasized the need for new housing development while respecting the autonomy of local communities to make zoning decisions.
Craig’s approach focuses on incentivizing towns to update their zoning codes voluntarily, while also proposing state-level actions such as capping parking spaces for housing developments and allowing homeowners to build accessory dwelling units. On the other hand, Ayotte has stressed the importance of local voices in decision-making, but also expressed openness to working on legislation to expand the number of accessory dwelling units allowed.
Both candidates have released comprehensive housing plans that prioritize offering incentives to towns to build housing rather than imposing zoning changes. Craig’s plan includes measures such as density bonuses for affordable housing developments and historic rehabilitation tax credits. Ayotte’s plan involves expanding existing programs like InvestNH and selling unused state land for housing development.
Despite political challenges, both candidates are committed to addressing the housing crisis in New Hampshire, which has been identified as a pressing concern for voters. With projections indicating a need for 60,000 new housing units by 2030, Ayotte and Craig are vying to find a balance between promoting development and respecting local input. It remains to be seen how their proposals will be received by voters as the race for governor enters its final days.
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