FREEDOM — The town of Freedom’s ordinance regarding short-term rentals is being challenged before the New Hampshire Housing Appeals Board by a couple who splits their time between Freedom and Reading, Mass.
The case is James and Susan Cotter v. the Town of Freedom Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Cotters are being represented by the same lawyer who defeated Conway at the New Hampshire Supreme Court when Conway attempted to shut down short-term rentals.
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(2) comments
Short term rentals should be banned.
Air b n b should be shut down.
Greed should be banned.
These things artificially inflate housing prices and deny locals the ability to live in their home towns. STR's destroy nieghborhoods.
Stop the insanity.....
You should be banned from posting. Stop spewing your communistic nonsense.
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