Zoning Board Of Adjustments

The Hinsdale Zoning Board consists of five elected members, each serving a three-year term.

 

Pursuant to RSA 673:1, IV, “Every zoning ordinance adopted by a legislative body shall include provisions for the establishment of a zoning board of adjustment.” Thus, to have a valid zoning ordinance, you must have a ZBA to act as the “constitutional safety valve” in a quasi-judicial capacity to interpret the zoning ordinance for the protection of the citizens.

There are five basic functions of a Zoning Board of Adjustment in New Hampshire:

1. Interpreting the terms of the zoning ordinance, or the application of those terms to a particular set of facts.

2. Determining whether a proposed use or project, or some aspect thereof, is “grandfathered” from having to comply with the terms of the ordinance.

3. Determining whether to allow a legalized violation of the ordinance (“variance”) is necessary to prevent the ordinance terms from being unconstitutional as applied.

4. Granting a special exception as specifically allowed by the ordinance if the criteria set out in the ordinance are met.

5. Granting an “equitable waiver” which would legalize a dimensional violation when it would be unfair to require correcting it.

 

 

Contact Info

Joshua Green

Community Development Coordinator

Hinsdale Town Hall

11 Main Street

P.O. Box 13

Hinsdale, NH 03451

Telephone: 603-336-5727 ext. 17

Fax: 603-336-5711