Photo courtesy Julia Furukawa/NHPR
A new statewide project is pushing for more young and diverse voices on local land use boards. These boards hold a lot of power over zoning and what is built in New Hampshire communities, and could play a large role in fighting the current shortage of affordable housing in the state.
Yet around half of New Hampshire’s land use boards have at least one vacancy, and most boards consist mainly of longtime homeowners. NowWhatNH is a coalition of educators, housing experts and community leaders trying to make it easier for people to serve on these boards.
NowWhatNH advisory board member Molly Lunn Owen says it’s important to get input from underrepresented groups that provide diverse viewpoints and life experiences.
“These boards have an incredible opportunity to shape what a community looks like, what types of housing are available, and also how much they cost for a renter or an owner to buy,” Owen said.
Owen spoke with NHPR’s All Things Considered host Julia Furukawa about the power of land use boards and why she believes more people, especially renters and younger people, should join them.
