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Amherst, ⁠NH

Tracking 11 boards and committees in Amherst. Every meeting transcribed, every vote logged.

11 boards 34 meetings analyzed Latest May 26 History since Apr 2025 📅 Weekly digest · May 25–31, 2026
At a glance
This town in numbers.
28
Worth watching
212
Decisions logged
127
Public comments
34
Meetings analyzed
34
Meetings analyzed
11
Boards tracked
127
Comments tracked
28
Worth watching

Worth ⁠watching here

Recent meetings flagged as heated, off-agenda, or otherwise consequential.
Babusik Greenway Rail Trail Project
Conflict between municipal infrastructure goals and private property rights. Landowners argue the town is attempting to overstep existing narrow easements to build a full bike path, potentially involving unlawful trespassing.
Board of Selectmen 2026-05-05
Heated
Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Oversight
Citizens alleged the BPAC is acting outside its advisory mandate, engaging in deceptive communication, and attempting to influence other boards. This was an off-agenda topic, meaning residents had no prior notice to prepare for this specific accountability discussion.
Board of Selectmen 2026-05-05
Heated
Carlson Manor Subdivision and Site Plan
The project faces intense opposition regarding density, loss of rural character, and property neglect (trash/squatters). Additionally, the board is legally constrained by a court remand, limiting their ability to reject the project based on previous grounds.
Planning Board 2026-05-06
Contentious
Arboleda Realty, LLC Subdivision - Bike/Pedestrian Path Easement
A request for a public easement through private property was denied by the applicant due to liability and security concerns, leaving community members frustrated about lost connectivity.
Planning Board 2026-05-06
Contentious
North O2 Rail Trail Project
The project faces significant friction regarding private property rights, potential trespassing caused by misleading town maps, and environmental concerns raised by the Conservation Commission (ACC) regarding wetlands and endangered species.
Board of Selectmen 2026-04-22
Contentious
Application Completeness for 7 Carriage Road
The applicant and supporting members argued that the Commission was applying unwritten rules by requesting information not explicitly required by the zoning ordinance, leading to significant delays.
Historic District Commission 2026-04-16
Contentious
Carlson Manor 52-Unit Age-Restricted Housing Density
Residents and the Heritage Commission strongly oppose the density of 52 units on land base-zoned for only 14 homes. The IIHO density bonus mechanism is being used to nearly quadruple allowable units, and multiple residents explicitly stated the development is incompatible with Amherst's rural character. The case was already denied once and remanded from court, signaling deep prior controversy.
Planning Board 2026-04-01
Contentious
Rosemary Lane Variance Request
The request involves a subdivision variance for reduced frontage and lot area. While it was approved, the discussion regarding the expiration of vested rights (noted by a speaker) suggests potential complexity regarding land use legality and pre-existing conditions.
Zoning Board of Adjustment 2026-05-19

Community ⁠responsiveness

How well does each board address what residents say in public comment? Higher is better.
1
Heritage Commission
100%
→
2
Historic District Commission
78%
→
3
Board of Selectmen
67%
↘
4
Zoning Board of Adjustment
67%
→
5
Planning Board
33%
→
Based on 125 public comments across 5 boards. Trend compares recent vs. older meetings.

Boards & ⁠committees

Click any board to see meeting reports.
B
Board of Selectmen
12 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-05-26 67% responsive 12 heated
P
Planning Board
11 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-05-20 33% responsive 9 heated
H
Historic District Commission
5 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-05-21 78% responsive 1 heated
H
Heritage Commission
3 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-05-14 100% responsive 3 heated
Z
Zoning Board of Adjustment
3 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-05-19 67% responsive 3 heated
C
Capital Improvements Committee
0 meetings tracked
C
Cemetery Trustees
0 meetings tracked
C
Conservation Commission
0 meetings tracked
R
Recreation Commission
0 meetings tracked
S
School Board
0 meetings tracked
W
Ways and Means Committee
0 meetings tracked

Upcoming ⁠& in progress

Upcoming meetings first, then recent items still being processed. Briefs publish here as agendas are posted; full reports follow each meeting.
Show 38 more in progress

Recent ⁠reports

Published reports across every board.
Board of Selectmen — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
EMS Budget Reallocation — A significant shift of $85,000 from leadership salary lines to part-time and overtime staffing to maintain service levels.
3 public comments 13 decisions
Routine Other High Impact
Historic District Commission — Thursday, May 21, 2026
The meeting featured direct confrontations between applicants and the board regarding the subjectivity of historic preservation standards.
3 public comments 8 decisions
Routine
Planning Board — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Golden Valley Way Holdings LLC - Industrial Site Plan & Conditional Use — Potential risk to groundwater quality and wetland ecosystem health via industrial runoff.
3 public comments 10 decisions
Routine Zoning Change
Zoning Board of Adjustment — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
0-rosemary-lane-variance — Approval of reduced lot area and frontage requirements via subdivision variance.
2 public comments 6 decisions
Routine Zoning Change
Heritage Commission — Thursday, May 14, 2026
Digitization of historical records — Potential significant expenditure for the municipality to move from basement files to digital archives.
1 decision
Routine Other High Impact
Board of Selectmen — Monday, May 11, 2026
Amherst School District Impact Fee Requests — Approval of approximately $69,000 in impact fee expenditures for school-related architectural and surveying services.
2 public comments 13 decisions
Routine Other High Impact
Planning Board — Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The meeting was marked by high emotional tension, with residents expressing deep distrust of the developer and frustration with the board's perceived legal helplessness.
9 public comments 11 decisions
Contentious Zoning Change
Board of Selectmen — Tuesday, May 5, 2026
The meeting was marked by heavy public testimony regarding trespassing, deception, and property rights, exacerbated by significant off-agenda discussions regarding committee oversight.
9 public comments 1 decision
Heated Other High Impact
Board of Selectmen — Monday, April 27, 2026
Health Trust Plan Cost Share — Changes in cost-sharing percentages for dental, life, disability, and medical insurance plans.
1 public comment 8 decisions
Routine Other High Impact
Board of Selectmen — Wednesday, April 22, 2026
The meeting featured intense criticism from landowners regarding property rights and significant pushback from the Conservation Commission regarding procedural oversight.
7 public comments 3 decisions
Contentious Other High Impact
Zoning Board of Adjustment — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Subdivision variance for 0 Rosemary Lane — Potential precedent for granting variances based on historical subdivision layouts versus current density and frontage requirements.
2 public comments 2 decisions
Routine Zoning Change
Historic District Commission — Thursday, April 16, 2026
The meeting featured a 'heated discussion' and a direct confrontation between an applicant and the Commission regarding the legality of the board's requirements.
5 public comments
Contentious
Planning Board — Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Regional impact determinations for various developments — Determines the level of notification and potential scrutiny required from neighboring municipalities regarding septic, schools, and stormwater.
Routine Zoning Change
Board of Selectmen — Monday, April 13, 2026
The meeting featured heavy, emotional testimony from 15 public speakers, particularly regarding the Rail Trail project, which created a high-tension atmosphere.
23 public comments 11 decisions
Contentious Other High Impact
Heritage Commission — Thursday, April 2, 2026
Environmental Cleanup at Boston Space Force Station — Potential environmental impacts and health/safety implications related to cleanup efforts at a federal installation.
1 public comment 3 decisions
Routine Safety Change

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