PUBLIC NOTICE

THE MONT VERNON PLANNING BOARD will hold a public hearing on December 12, 2006 at 7:30 PM in the Mont Vernon Town Hall on the following proposed amendment to the town Zoning Ordinance. The Board will then decide whether or not to accept or revise the regulation. If the board accepts it, the amendment will appear on a ballot on voting day March 13, 2007. The public is invited to attend the hearing.

ZONING REGULATIONS

FOR THE TOWN OF MONT VERNON

I-310 HOUSING FOR OLDER PERSONS

I-310.1 DEFINITION. Housing for Older Persons means residential housing intended for persons 62 years of age or older, as defined in RSA 354-A:15.II, and conforming to FHA 42 USC 3601-3613. The housing is primarily intended for seniors over 62 years of age. Proof of age must be provided. One hundred percent of the units in the senior housing development must have at least one party 62 or older. The age minimum for all residents is 45 with an exception for permitted health care residents and short term guests (short term guest = staying less than 60 days per year). 80 percent of the total population in the development shall be age 62 or older. Therefore the housing satisfies the legal definition of senior housing and may legally exclude families with children.

I-310.2 PURPOSE. It is in the public interest and the general welfare of the Town of Mont Vernon to encourage the development of Housing for Older Persons, as that term is defined in RSA 354-A:15.II. The purpose of this section is to establish the special conditions that such a case must satisfy. Where these regulations differ from other sections of the town zoning law, the provisions of this section shall take precedence. However, any housing must meet all other provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, Building Code and Subdivision Regulations.

(a) Housing for Older Persons shall be permitted in any zone.

(b) Housing for Older Persons shall be exempted from I-205 of this Zoning Ordinance, which requires a Special Exception for two-family and multi-family dwellings.

(c) Density shall be as follows: 4 bedrooms shall be permitted for every 2 acres of District 1 soils. 4 bedrooms shall be permitted for every five acres of District 2 and 3 soils.

Example 1: A lot containing 20 acres of District 1 soils may support 40 one-bedroom units, or 20 two-bedroom units, or a combination, provided that the total number of bedrooms on the lot does not exceed 40.

Example 2: A lot containing 20 acres of District 3 soils may support a total of 16 bedrooms.

(d) Each dwelling unit shall include one, but not more than two, bedrooms. The maximum square footage of living space in each dwelling unit shall be 1500 square feet.

(e) Each dwelling unit shall include at least one covered parking spot and one additional spot for resident parking. There shall be a minimum of one visitor parking spot per unit.

(f) At least 40% of the net tract area shall be open space, which shall include 100 feet of undisturbed continuous buffer zone around the perimeter of the parent lot. This buffer may include landscaped entrances.

(g) Where there are multiple structures, there shall be 50 feet between structures that are not appurtenant.

(h) The planning board may disallow Housing for Older Persons if, in the Board's opinion, there is inadequate accessibility to main roads and/or town services.

(i) Supporting on-site facilities such as community rooms and shared dining rooms shall be permitted at the discretion of the Planning Board.

(j) Building height shall be limited to 35 feet. No bedroom window shall be more than 26 feet from the ground.

(k) Roads shall be public and built to town standards.

(l) Lots of less than 15 total acres shall not be considered for Housing for Older Persons developments, but there is no minimum lot size for the subdivided lots.

(m) The Planning Board shall review all covenants for the development.

(n) Housing for Older Persons developments shall be exempt from the III-421 Phasing ordinance.

(o) Proposed plan information must include exterior lighting plan and any proposed signs to be located on the site. Exterior lights shall be downward-facing.

(p) Housing for Older Persons developments shall be assessed any impact fees in place at the time of building permit application, but shall be exempt from school impact fees. Assessment of impact fees for multiple housing units shall be based on total square footage. Certificates of occupancy shall be issued for each unit when the monies due for that unit, based on its square footage, are paid.