Affordable housing and a healthy environment is the goal

TO THE EDITOR:

We are writing in response to your article “UNH prof links land conservation to higher housing costs” published in the July 29-Aug. 12 edition of NH Business Review.

The headline is surprising as it appears to blame land conservation for higher housing costs. This is not true and not what the research concludes. Further, the article seems to imply that we can either protect our natural resources or have lower housing costs. That is a false choice, and not the conclusion of Professor England’s research.

First, as is clearly stated on page 22 of the report upon which the article was based, the “scarcity of private land in New Hampshire and its more populous counties is not a major obstacle to homebuilding and other types of construction.”

Second, Professor England establishes, and we agree, that restrictive zoning and other local land-use regulations — such as multi-acreage minimal lot size — are leading to sprawl, higher housing costs and a shortage of affordable housing. This type of land-intensive sprawl development has also become the chief threat to our state’s natural resources.

As it turns out, conservation and housing advocates share a common goal of supporting local land-use ordinances that allow for housing development at higher densities in those areas most appropriate for development. Conservationists also believe that land-use policies should also seek to conserve larger natural resource areas that provide “ecosystem services” like drinking water protection, habitat for a diversity of species, recreational opportunities, and a land base for forestry and farming.

A vibrant and resilient community has both a robust economy, affordable housing and a healthy environment. Those are not a one or the other choice. Far from being an obstacle, land conservation can be a catalyst to achieving both of those outcomes.

New Hampshire is a small state, with a history of diverse stakeholders coming together to collaborate on challenging problems through open dialogue focused on solutions. The conservation community is ready to engage in such a dialogue that achieves these shared goals.

BRIAN HART
VICE PRESIDENT
NH LAND TRUST COALITION

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