Bedford rejected a warrant article to allow its Town Councilors to approve zoning without public vote in 2010.
This attempt must be defeated once again. If the Council can approve zoning decisions and changes without a public vote, this means that zoning changes recommended by the Regional Planning Commissions due to their HUD grants could be implemented with absolutely ZERO approval by the people.
This must not happen in Bedford or anywhere else.
November 07, 2013 8:09 PM
Bedford voters may be asked to let council decide zoning
By SUSAN CLARK
Union Leader Correspondent
BEDFORD — Voters may be asked to allow the Town Council to rule on which zoning amendments will become town law in the future, without amendment proposals going on the ballot.
The change in the zoning ordinance process was first brought to voters in March 2010 but was rejected. That proposal had been recommended by the town’s Economic Development Committee in 2009. If the Town Council and the Planning Board agree to put a similar zoning amendment on the March 2014 ballot, voters would be asked to authorize the Town Council to approve future zoning amendments, which is within the council’s purview under state law and the Bedford Town Charter, said Town Manager Jessie Levine.