Amendment 2023-0810s to SB78 (2023)

Relative to subdivision regulations on the completion of improvements.


Revision: March 8, 2023, 8:17 a.m.

Election Law and Municipal Affairs

March 7, 2023

2023-0810s

10/07

 

 

Amendment to SB 78

 

Amend the bill by replacing section 1 with the following:

 

1  Subdivision Regulations; Completion of Work.  Amend RSA 674:36, III and IV to read as follows:

III. The subdivision regulations of the planning board may stipulate, as a condition precedent to the approval of the plat, the extent to which and the manner in which streets shall be graded and improved and to which water, sewer, and other utility mains, piping, connections, or other facilities shall be installed. The regulations or practice of the planning board:

(a) May provide for the conditional approval of the plat before such improvements and installations have been constructed, but any such conditional approval shall not be entered upon the plat.

(b) Shall provide that, in lieu of the completion of street work and utility installations prior to the final approval of a plat, the planning board shall accept a performance bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or other type or types of security as shall be specified in the subdivision regulations; provided that in no event shall the exclusive form of security required by the planning board be in the form of cash or a passbook. As phases or portions of the secured improvements or installations are completed and approved by the planning board or its designee, the municipality shall partially release said security to the extent reasonably calculated to reflect the value of such completed improvements or installations, and the cost of remaining work, at least one time every 365 days or when substantial improvements are made. Cost escalation factors that are applied by the planning board to any bond or other security required under this section shall not exceed [10] 15 percent per year. No cost increases shall be allowed for engineering, administration, or other similar reasons. The planning board shall, within the limitations provided in this subparagraph, have the discretion to prescribe [the type and amount of security, and specify] a period for completion of the improvements and utilities to be expressed in the bond or other security, in order to secure to the municipality the actual construction and installation of such improvements and utilities. The municipality shall have the power to enforce such bonds or other securities by all appropriate legal and equitable remedies.

(c) May provide that in lieu of the completion of street work [and], utility installations, landscaping, and final pavement prior to the final approval of the plat, the subdivision regulations may provide for an assessment or other method by which the municipality is put in an assured position to do said work and to make said alterations at the cost of the owners of the property within the subdivision.

(d) The planning board limitations under this paragraph shall not require letter of credit, cash, or passbook as the only method securing the completion of the work nor shall there be a requirement to bond installation of infrastructure, including but not limited to utilities and roads, prior to actual building structures for human occupation.

(e) Inspections required by the municipality for release of a bond shall be completed within 20 business days of written request delivered by hand or sent by courier or service.  Any requirements not recognized by the municipality as complete or non-compliant shall require written notification be sent, delivered by hand or sent by courier or service, within 3 business days of the inspection, to the bonded party. The bonded party shall complete the work within 20 business days of receipt of notification.  The municipality shall inspect for completion of the work cited as incomplete or non-compliant in the first inspection, within 2 business days of written notification delivered by hand or sent by courier or service.  All bonds shall be released within 30 days of completion.

IV. In accordance with RSA 153:5, III, the planning board shall not require, or adopt any regulation requiring, the installation of a fire suppression sprinkler system in proposed one- or 2-family residences as a condition of approval for a local permit. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a duly adopted regulation mandating a cistern, dry hydrant, fire pond, or other credible water source other than a fire suppression sprinkler system. [Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent an applicant from offering to install fire suppression sprinkler systems in proposed one- or 2-family residences and, if the planning board accepts such offer, the installation of such systems shall be required and shall be enforceable as a condition of the approval. The applicant or the applicant's successor in interest may substitute another means of fire protection in lieu of the approved fire suppression sprinkler system provided that the planning board approves the substitution which approval shall not be unreasonably upheld or delayed.]