Accountability Posts

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Scenic road designation request received limited board engagement

Amherst Planning Board 9/3: Resident Susanna Hargreaves presented verified voter signatures to designate Christian Hill Road as scenic. Board member expressed skepticism about petition-driven ordinances. No commitment to assist. #Amherst

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Community concerns raised during public comment received limited substantive board response

At 9/3 Amherst Planning Board, multiple residents spoke against the 39-unit Transformations development on Christian Hill Road. The board thanked each speaker but did not substantively respond to traffic, environmental, or ordinance concerns raised.

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Development governed by a voter-repealed ordinance proceeding under court order — community opposition expressed

Amherst Planning Board is reviewing a 39-unit development under an ordinance voters repealed. A court forced reconsideration. Resident: 'We cannot surrender our community to a flawed plan.' Next hearing: Nov. 5 at the high school.

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Major capital expenditure discussed during CIP review

Amherst's 9/3 Planning Board CIP review included discussion of a potential $8M community center — in a town that recently rejected a $53M school proposal. No formal action taken, but taxpayers should be aware this is being considered.

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Post these in sequence for maximum impact.

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🧵 Amherst Planning Board — Sept. 3, 2025. A legally complex development review, multiple residents who raised concerns, a scenic road petition, and an $8M spending discussion. Here's what happened. 1/8

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First: the Transformations project. A developer wants to build 39 units on Christian Hill Road under an ordinance Amherst voters repealed. A Supreme Court ruling forced the board to continue reviewing it. The board unanimously postponed its decision to Nov. 5. 2/8

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Multiple residents spoke against the project. One counted 122–137 vehicles on Jones Road in a single 30-minute window. They raised traffic safety, wetlands, construction damage to historic homes, and ordinance compliance. The board thanked each speaker but did not substantively engage with the specific concerns. 3/8

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Resident Susanna Hargreaves arrived with verified voter signatures requesting Christian Hill Road be designated a scenic road — which could add legal protections relevant to the development. The board offered limited guidance on the petition process. 4/8

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Board member Gordon said petition-driven ordinances are 'not as well thought through' as process-driven ones. No commitment to assist was made, leaving residents without a clear path forward for their scenic road request. 5/8

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Also unresolved: the developer is claiming a legal exemption to cut the required scenic road setback from 100 feet to 50 feet. The Chair acknowledged this needs legal review and will meet with counsel before November. The developer must submit a visual exhibit explaining the calculation. 6/8

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Separately, the CIP review included discussion of a potential $8M community center — in a town that recently rejected a $53M school proposal. The board discussed alternative sites and shared concepts but took no formal position. 7/8

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The Nov. 5 hearing is planned for Amherst High School (pending confirmation). The Chair stated the application is 'not a done deal.' If you live near Christian Hill Road or care about this development, that meeting matters. 8/8

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Longer-form draft.

AMHERST PLANNING BOARD — September 3, 2025: What Residents Need to Know

The Amherst Planning Board held a lengthy meeting on September 3rd, centered on the proposed 39-unit Transformations development on Christian Hill Road. The project is being reviewed under a zoning ordinance that Amherst voters have since repealed — but a New Hampshire Supreme Court ruling required the board to continue reviewing the application. Multiple residents spoke in opposition, raising specific concerns about traffic (one resident recorded 122–137 vehicles on Jones Road in a single 30-minute window), potential damage to historic homes from heavy construction trucks, wetlands and stormwater impacts, and questions about whether the developer is in compliance with existing town ordinances. The board thanked each speaker but did not substantively respond to the specific concerns raised. The Chair noted that the board was not making a decision that evening and did not have complete plans before it. The application was unanimously postponed to November 5, 2025, at Amherst High School (pending venue confirmation).

SCENIC ROAD PETITION: Resident Susanna Hargreaves presented verified voter signatures requesting that Christian Hill Road be designated a scenic road — a designation that would add legal protections and could affect the pending development. Board member Gordon explained the petition process but expressed reservations about petition-driven ordinances, saying they are often 'not as well thought through' as those developed through a formal review process. No commitment to assist was made.

SETBACK DISPUTE: The developer is claiming a legal exemption that would reduce the required scenic road setback from 100 feet to 50 feet. The Chair acknowledged the legal question is unsettled and will meet with town counsel before November. The developer must submit a visual exhibit demonstrating how their exemption calculation applies.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: The CIP review included discussion of a potential $8 million community center proposal — notable context given that Amherst voters recently rejected a $53 million school building project. The board discussed alternative sites and shared school-community center concepts but took no formal position.

The Chair stated clearly that the application is 'not a done deal' and that a conditional use permit does not guarantee final approval. The next hearing is planned for November 5, 2025, at Amherst High School. Watch for the official agenda when it's posted.