Posted this is the regional forum for NE

[rigrider08]

I know this isn't a kioti Question but a lot of you have chimed in from the New England area.

So my wife and I own 80 acres in the upper valley of NH which we have cleared leveled and seeded 20 acres for pasture. We went to town hall the other day to seek a building permit for a 12 stall barn and 80x200 riding arena. We knew we were living in the "country" it's a dirt road and it is zoned forestry and recr. Guess the yuppy liberals think since there isn't a Starbucks within eye sight it's the country. Anyways we were under the impression when we purchased the place 4 years ago it was grandfathered from current zoning laws since it was built and occupied since 1958. Zoning went in in 61. Even the bank agreed. The town denied our petition and has stated we are living out there year round illegally and could be forced to move. I've never heard such a load of crap in my life. Anyways point is does anyone up here in the NE know of or used a good zoning lawyer?

 

[krazsk]

A lot of people voted for Obama. There doesn't seem to be a lot of intelligence or common sense out there. I am on your side, but I know that doesn't help much.

 

[mj007]

AND it's gonna get worse - WELCOME TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES'

 

[krazsk]

Isn't New Hampshire's slogan "live free or die", but not on the 80 acres you own that we zoned for forestry?

 

[rigrider08]

Yea tell me about it... Funny part is every one of my neighbors fully supports what we are doing. They totally think its making the area look better. We opened a beautiful view of a mountain range that was gone for the longest time... Politicians man

 

[seacap04]

I live in a very rural town. The state a while back wanted every town to develope a comprehensive plan. Not a bad idea. But they wanted a one plan fit all type plan. Well we had our town meeting with the state people to hack out our plan. Everything went pretty well until we came to zoning. The state wanted a buisness zone. Every buisness in this town started in a basement, garage, or spare room of someone's house. To take that away and say you can only have a buisness in a certain part of town would be the death of this town. Long story Form there short, we have a plan, considered in noncomplaince by the state. The plan fits us not the state. I love where I live.

Does your town have an appeal board? You can usuall go to that level without a lawyer. In Maine, you then go to the county level with a lawyer

 

[Gil Case]

In CT (I am not sure about NH) you must go to the Zoning Board of Appeals before you can do anything else i.e. take them to court.

If the land is in some sort of land bank which means you pay little or no taxes on it, then they may have a case about the reclassification of the land from open space to active recreation, but the house is for sure grandfathered in if it was there prior to the zoning regs.

We have lots of land use lawyers down here, I would be happy to send a few up there.

 

[rigrider08]

Yes I have dealt with the zoning board it's a nightmare the legal text is insane an example is agriculture. I hate horses but they are my wife's business, you would think that would qualify. However, they view it as crops being sold for primary means of income or livestock being sold to slaughter as primary income...

The property is not in what is known as current use in NH. I took it out a few years ago anticipating this building project. I figured I give them a little extra tax money they scratch my back when this day came.