SANBORNTON ZONING
ARTICLE 16 STEEP SLOPE CONSERVATION DISTRICT 
      A. Purpose and Intent The purpose of the Steep Slope Conservation 
      District is to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare 
      by controlling and guiding the use of land with slopes greater than 
      15%, because these areas are especially subject to erosion and excess 
      runoff. It is intended that the provision of this ordinance shall: 
 
      (1) Promote the general health, safety, and welfare of the community 
      through restrictions on the uses of land within the Steep Slope 
      District; 
 
      (2) Reduce damage to streams and lakes from erosion, runoff of storm 
      water caused by improper or excessive construction, or effluent from 
      improperly sited sewage disposal systems; 
 
      (3) Preserve vegetative cover and wildlife habitat, protect unique and 
      unusual natural areas and maintain ecological balance; and 
 
      (4) Permit those uses of land which can be harmoniously, appropriately 
      and safely located on steep slopes. 
 
      B. Definition and Delineation 
 
      (1) Definition: "Steep Slopes" - A Steep Slope is any area with a 
      dominant slope greater than 15%. 
 
      (2) District Delineation - The Steep Slope Conservation District 
      includes all areas shown as having steep slopes on the Sanbornton 
      Slopes Map (SP77001). 
 
      (3) District Incorrectly Delineated - Where it is alleged that an area 
      has been incorrectly delineated as a Steep Slope, or that an area not 
      so designated is a steep slope, the Planning Board will determine 
      whether the regulations contained herein apply. 
 
      (4) The Planning Board shall have the discretion to waive the six-acre 
      minimum lot size requirement for proposed lots in which more than fifty 
      (50%) percent of the proposed lot area contains slopes of less than 
      fifteen (15%) percent, provided that the proposed lot satisfies the 
      following further requirements: 
 
      (a) Contains at least one contiguous area of 40,000 square feet, e.g. a 
      two hundred (200') foot by two hundred (200') foot rectangle within 
      which all slopes are less than fifteen (15%) percent, suitable for the 
      location of a dwelling, garage and other appurtenances; and 
 
      (b) Unless accessible to public sewer, contains an additional 
      contiguous area with less than 15% slopes and soils suitable for a 
      septic system which is located and which: 
 
      (i) Measures at least one hundred (100') feet by two hundred (200') 
      feet; or 
 
      (ii) Contains sufficient area which the Board finds satisfies the 
      intent of this subsection; and 
 
      (c) Provides for reasonable access from a Class I through Class V 
      public highway to the buildable area defined in Section (1) above. The 
      Board may consult the fire and police department to assess the ability 
      of emergency vehicles to safely access the site. 
 
      C. Relation to Other Districts When the Steep Slope Conservation 
      District is superimposed over another zoning district, the more 
      restrictive regulations shall apply. 
 
      D. Uses Permitted by Owners or Agents 
 
      (1) Recreation: Steep slope areas may be used for recreation purposes; 
      such as hiking, hunting, cross country skiing and others which do not 
      alter the natural surface configuration or vegetative cover of the 
      land. 
 
      (2) Agriculture: Steep slope areas may be used for agricultural 
      purposes which can be and are conducted in a manner consistent with 
      optimum soil conservation practices. 
 
      (3) Logging: Logging is permitted subject to the provisions of RSA 149, 
      Section 8-a, to minimize soil erosion or long-term damage to the area. 
 
      (4) Development: Low density, single-family residential development is 
      permitted if detailed on-site investigation determines that sewage 
      disposal systems and access roads can be constructed and maintained 
      without having an adverse impact upon the ecology of the area. 
 
      E. Special Conditions 
 
      (1) Lot Size: The minimum lot size in the Steep Slope Conservation 
      District is 6 acres. 
 
      (2) Development: Any proposal for construction or development within 
      the Steep Slope Conservation District shall include: 
 
      (a) A plan indicating how the proposed development will adequately 
      provide for stormwater runoff. 
 
      (b) A plan for maintenance and/or reclamation of vegetative cover. 
      These plans must be approved by the Planning Board before any permits 
      can be issued. In addition, the Selectmen may require a performance 
      bond to assure that the approved plans are implemented. 
 
      (3) Reclamation: In all situations where construction or use has caused 
      a disturbance of the natural terrain and/or vegetative cover, such 
      terrain/cover shall be restored as closely as feasible to the original 
      condition by the owner/agent and maintained until conditions are 
      stabilized. 
 
Description of Historical Preservation Area: 
 
The Historical Preservation District shall be an area surrounding Sanbornton 
Square, bounded on the east by Parsonage Brook, on the north by the line of 
the Forest Conservation Area, on the west by Interstate 93, and on the south 
by the town line of Tilton as shown on Drawing #SP72001.