Bow voters will have a chance to extend the town’s growth management ordinance and limit the number of elderly housing built in one year.

In addition to voting for town and school candidates on Election Day, May 13, Bow residents will be asked to vote on seven zoning amendments.

All seven amendments are under Warrant Article 2, beginning the Amendment A, which asks voters to re-enact the town of Bow Growth Management Ordinance, which has been extended each year since it was put into place in 1997.

In addition to extending the ordinance for another year, Amendment A asks the town to eliminate the exemption for housing for the elderly. Previously, when elderly living developers such as White Rock Senior Living Community came to town, there was no limit on the number of units that could be built. Now, if the amendment is passes, these developers will be limited to 20 multi-family units or five single-family units per year.

In its first year in Bow, White Rock developers built 73 units, and in another year built an additionional 36 units.

“The Planning Board concluded that having built 300 units in about five years, we no longer needed to encourage that,” said Bill Klubben, director of community development.

“We no longer need this bonus to encourage elderly housing. With the number we had built, it should support the community’s need for the time being.”

Klubben said the growth management ordinance has been key to the town each year it has been extended.

“The GMO has had the effect of flattening out the residential growth rate in town. Years before we had it, we were subject to significant swings. With that in place, we avoid the big peaks,” Klubben said. “It makes it a little more manageable. Growth has a lot of financial impact on the town. If it flattens the growth rate, we can financially plan for the financial burden that growth entails.”

Amendment B would add a section to zoning rules that would prevent companies for submitting applications to the Planning Board that are trademarked. Klubben said because of the application process, it is necessary to photocopy the materials along with way.

If Amendment C is passed, applicants for certificates of occupancy will have to provide an affidavit of compliance with conditions of approval, and must provide a financial guarantee to the Planning Board.

Both amendments D and E deal with state regulations. Amendment D asks voters to update the flood plan to comply with federal and state regulations. Amendment E asks residents to approve the provisions of the New Hampshire Building Code.

The final amendment on the May 13 ballot asks voters to adopt a policy to limit the number of signs that can be put on a property to one per lot, except business directory signs in areas near Route 3A.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 13, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Bow Community Building.