It is good to hear that we are not losing young people as other states are trying to avoid. There is continued support of the point, NH is just a great place to live for a variety of reasons.

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The New Hampshire legislature has given me a lot of material for my blog. It is appreciated and I look forward to what is going to happen next in the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act for New Hampshire.

Dear Prospective NHSA Members,

SENATE UPDATE:  the NH Senate voted yesterday to approve the amendment to HB-1151 that moves the effective date of the CSPA to October 1, 2008. 

Click here to read the amendment.

This amendment will have to be approved in the NH House, which is not expected until mid-April.  There is confusion about what happens between April 1^st and the House vote.  More as this develops…

Thank You,

Board of Directors

NH Shorefront Association

http://www.nhshorefront.org/

I was just talking with one builder who was told by a senator and the town, that he was all set and there was no need to push his client or suppliers, now he does not know what to think. This is going to be interesting.

Dear Prospective NHSA Members,

SENATE UPDATE:  the Senate did not act on the amendment to HB-1151 so the CSPA will take effect on April 1^st.  There is still discussion about changing the effective date, but any changes would only take place after April 1^st.

SHORELAND RULES:  The JLCAR approved the latest version of the CSPA rules at its meeting today. Click here to review the latest version of the rules.

A significant component of the rules is the section regarding “vested rights”.  If you have a project in the final stages of planning, or underway, you should become familiar with this section very soon.

However, there was considerable discussion about the fact that this is not perfect and that many clarifications will be necessary to issues surrounding the CSPA statute and that these changes can only happen legislatively. 

We addressed these on-going issues briefly with a number of legislators after the JLCAR meeting and stressed the importance of these clarifications being completed prior to the June legislative recess.

DES presented the JLCAR members with a copy of the new CSPA permit application, permit checklist, waiver form, and the variance form.  As soon as these forms are available, we will add a link on the website.

Thank You,

Board of Directors

NH Shorefront Association

http://www.nhshorefront.org/

More updates 

Dear Prospective NHSA Members,

Here is a quick update on SB-417:

SENATE BILL 417 – CSPA CHANGES:

As you know, it appeared the CSPA would be pushed back to Oct. 1, 2008.  Things are happening quickly and there have been discussions about changing the effective date to July 1, 2008.

However, the full Senate did not vote on the amended bill on Thursday (3/13) but will be considering it next Wednesday (3/20).  There now appear to be two issues:  the resolution of the effective date and what will happen between April 1 and October 1 and the issue regarding the exclusion of the waterfront buffer from the 50% undisturbed land calculations.

Regardless of the Senate’s actions on SB 417, the House will still need to act on the proposed Senate changes.  We are contacting Senate members in our attempt to reach a workable resolution.

As always, we appreciate your support and encourage you to get involved.  Feel free to e-mail the Board if you have any questions or comments. Click here for E-mail and contact information.

We are trying to grow our membership.  Please tell your friends and neighbors to get involved and join today!!!  Please pass this along and encourage them to click here for membership information.

Thank You,

Board of Directors

NH Shorefront Association

http://www.nhshorefront.org/

Dear Prospective NHSA Members,

Here is a quick update on the Shoreland Protection Act:

SHORELAND RULES:

The new CSPA Final Proposed Rules were discussed at the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) meeting on 3/7/08.  These proposed rules were not adopted. 

SENATE BILL 417 – CSPA CHANGES:

The NH Senate Energy, Environment, and Economic Development Committee voted 4 – 0 on Friday (3/7) to pass an amended version of SB-417. 

This amended bill includes language that changes the effective date of the CSPA from April 1, 2008 to October 1, 2008. 

We expect the full Senate to vote on this amended bill on Thursday (3/13).  Of course, the amended bill will then have to move through the NH House process. 

More on this in the near future as it develops…

As always, we appreciate your support and encourage you to get involved.  Feel free to e-mail the Board if you have any questions or comments. Click here for E-mail and contact information.

Get involved and join today!!!

Thank You,

Board of Directors

NH Shorefront Association

http://www.nhshorefront.org/