Councilors expected to finalize zoning amendments Monday night

LACONIA — City councilors will discuss potential changes to the zoning ordinance over short-term rentals, appropriating funds to the Belknap Mill for structural repairs, and recommended changes to an ordinance establishing the Human Relations Committee, during their meeting on Monday, March 9.  

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 9, downtown at City Hall. 

A proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance is intended to address conflicting or confusing language within the regulations pertaining to short-term lodging, according to a city staff report attached to Monday night’s agenda.

The city’s legal counsel drafted the proposed language in accordance with state law and recent decisions made by the New Hampshire Supreme Court. The proposed language is meant to include better-defined performance standards and requirements to facilitate greater enforcement. Additionally, the special exception application would be updated to require applicants to sign and acknowledge their obligation to comply with the requirements for short-term lodging, outlined in city code.

A public hearing was held on Feb. 23, on the proposed amendment, which includes a change to the definition of short-term lodging as less than 28 consecutive days, and not permitting use of properties in the residential single-family zoning district. Following that public hearing, councilors amended proposed language and referred the matter back to the planning board for their consideration.

The planning board reviewed the proposed changes on March 3, and held their own public hearing on the matter, ultimately voting 4-1 to approve the proposed language, sending it back to council, who will consider the item Monday night.

In other business, councilors will consider suggested changes to the ordinance pertaining to establishing the city’s Human Relations Committee.  

During previous council meetings, councilors referred the matter to the subcommittee on government operations and ordinances. At a March 4 meeting of that subcommittee, members recommended several changes to the ordinance, including reducing the number of seats on the committee from 13 to 7; six of those members will be appointed by councilors, and one by the mayor; the mayor’s appointment is for two years and aligns with their term in office; two appointments will be one-year terms, two will be two-year terms, and two will be three-year terms; and terms would expire in March of the year the member’s term ends.

At that meeting, subcommittee members created a potential statement of purpose, according to the minutes. “The purpose of the committee is to handle ongoing events seen in the past like Martin Luther King Day, the Holocaust remembrance event, 'Kristallnacht' or the night of the Broken Glass and to assist as participants in Laconia’s Multicultural Day. And/or any other projects as approved by the city council with a majority vote by the city council.”

That statement is being referred to city legal counsel for review, and will appear as a separate agenda item during a future council meeting on March 23.

And councilors will hold a public hearing regarding, then later consider allocating, $20,000 of health insurance rebate money to the Belknap Mill, to assist in repairs needed to address problems with the building’s foundation. 

In January, the city received $86,316 from New Hampshire Interlocal Trust, its former health insurance provider, as a rebate for an earlier over-assessment. At the Feb. 23 council meeting, councilors approved a motion to give the Belknap Mill $20,000 of those funds, and deposit the remaining $66,316 into a health insurance reserve fund. 

If approved following a public hearing Monday night, the balance of that reserve fund would be $266,543.