EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

Housing is the foundation of a community, and right now too many people who work in Conway can’t afford to live here. Plenty of homes are being built, but they aren’t the homes our neighbors need. We’re short on workforce housing: modest homes on smaller lots that teachers, nurses, tradespeople, and young families can actually buy or rent. To change that, I’d work to modify local rules so smaller lots are allowed, making it possible to build the kind of housing Conway’s people have been asking for.

Housing can’t be built without infrastructure. Roads, water, sewer, and electric capacity all must be in place before new homes can go up, and the costs shouldn’t fall unfairly on existing taxpayers. Before we move forward, we need clear information on what our infrastructure needs are, what they will cost, and a credible plan for how they’ll be funded. Residents deserve that transparency, and good planning is what keeps growth from becoming a burden.

Energy costs are part of the affordability picture too. New Hampshire already has some of the highest electric rates in the country, and I support expanding the net metering capacity caps and reinstating solar incentives. Net metering encourages households and businesses to adopt solar, which eases the burden on ordinary families, supports local businesses, and moves us toward a cleaner, more affordable energy future. Tax incentives for affordable housing may also help, though as with any policy, the devil is in the details, and we should look closely at how they’re structured before committing.

Above all, we want to keep Conway a place where people want to live. That means expanding housing opportunities thoughtfully, with respect for our town’s character, our natural surroundings, and the people who call it home. If we do this the right way, we can build a community that works for neighbors of every age and income.