LEBANON, N.H. (WCAX) – Lebanon is considering changes to its zoning regulations to make room for more housing units, but public pushback could cause delays.
Like many communities, Lebanon needs housing. Open land to develop is scarce. Because of that, the city is considering changes to its zoning regulations, including on the busy Route 120 corridor.
Traffic is high on most days in West Lebanon’s busy 12A shopping corridor.
But residents all over the city will likely tell you that what’s in short supply is housing.
“There is no housing here in Lebanon. People looking for apartments, nothing comes available,” said Catherine Durkee of Lebanon.
In recent years, hundreds of new units have been built along Route 120, which is just off Interstate 89 and a straight shot up the hill to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. But they go fast.
“It’s for the med students and the doctors that are close by the hospital, and if you need subsidized housing, there is like a two-year waiting list,” Durkee said.
“It took me two or three years to get into affordable housing. I applied and I waited,” said Raine Leonard of Lebanon.
The 26-year-old eventually got what she was looking for. She says she is one of the lucky ones.
“I literally don’t know. I assume first I would have to get rid of my animals. And I don’t know, maybe end up in a shelter. I actually have no idea. It’s actually quite a scary thought,” Leonard said.
The City Council is now considering zoning changes in light industrial areas of Route 120 to pave the way for mixed-use development.
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte recently stressed the importance of new housing in her state of the Granite State address.
“We want businesses to be able to recruit and retain the best and brightest to come and work here. And as parents, we want our children to stick around and build their future here,” said Ayotte, R-New Hampshire.
But Lebanon’s plan, which would essentially turn this section of the city into a third village center, has its critics who are worried about more traffic and potential strains on existing resources. Because of that, city officials say they plan to take another look before green-lighting more development.
“Concerns that residents of the city of Lebanon raise are really important. How does this impact our infrastructure? Our schools? Staffing of our public safety departments? All of that needs to be taken into consideration,” said Andrew Hosmer, Lebanon city manager.
In all, the city is looking at roughly 2,400 acres. City officials are not saying how many housing units they are hoping to develop. That will likely depend on what, if any, zoning changes are made.
