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Historic District Commission — June 18, 2026

Exeter HDC approves 29 Front Street mixed-use building with window and bracket conditions

The session consisted of standard procedural items and a single design review that concluded with unanimous approval and no public testimony.

Date Thursday, June 18, 2026 Duration 0.9h Speakers 1 Decisions 3 Routine
Large format architectural renderings and elevations unrolled on table Video still
Large format architectural renderings and elevations unrolled on table Frame from meeting video ▶ 11:52

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Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

On June 18 the Exeter Historic District Commission reviewed and approved an application for a new three-story mixed-use building at 29 Front Street. The project includes vertically proportioned windows, Hardie board and Azek materials, and a peak height of 37.5 feet. Approval carried two conditions: elimination of decorative brackets and revision of the third-floor front elevation from a triple window to two windows.

Commission discussion included comments that siding material was not a priority. The board also handled routine items including prior minutes approval and officer elections, naming Amanda as chair and Pam Gjettum as vice chair after a resignation. Member recruitment remains on the agenda for the next meeting.

Jun 18, 2026 0.9h long 1 speakers 3 decisions Routine
Notable statements Drag to browse

“We didn't care about siding.”

— Kevin Kahn · Confirming conditions of approval did not address siding choice ▶ 43:05

“We don't like orange.”

— Julie Gilman · Informal comment on color preference after approval ▶ 43:36
This meeting — choose a section

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Kevin Kahn, Gwen English, Julie Gilman, Pam Gjettum
What was discussed

Vice Chair Kevin Kahn opened the June 18, 2026 Exeter Historic District Commission meeting and conducted introductions.

What happened

Meeting formally opened with quorum established via introductions.

Speakers: Kevin Kahn, Rachel Jones, Stephen Eddy
What was discussed

The commission reviewed the application by Stephen Eddy for a new three-story mixed-use building at 29 Front Street, discussing design compatibility, height, windows, materials, and site layout.

What happened

Application was first accepted as complete, then approved as appropriate with two conditions: eliminate the proposed brackets and change the front triple window to two windows by removing the middle section.

Speakers: Kevin Kahn, Julie Gilman, Pam Gjettum
What was discussed

The commission approved prior minutes, elected new officers due to a resignation, discussed member recruitment, and received an update on a historic building documentation grant project.

What happened

Minutes approved; officers elected (Amanda chair, Pam Gjettum vice chair). Recruitment discussion tabled for next meeting.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Accept HDC Case 26-3 application as complete
Motion by Julie Gilman, seconded; all in favor.
Approved unanimously
Approve new construction at 29 Front Street with conditions
Conditions: remove brackets; change front third-floor triple window to two windows. Motion by Julie Gilman.
Approved unanimously
Elect new officers
Amanda elected chair; Pam Gjettum elected vice chair.
Approved unanimously

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specific design approval and conditions on Front Street project
Exeter HDC approved new 3-story mixed-use building at 29 Front Street on June 18. Conditions: remove proposed brackets, change third-floor triple window to two windows. Application by Stephen Eddy. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/historic-district-commission/2026-06-18/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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board's explicit choice not to regulate siding on new construction
At the June 18 meeting, HDC member Kevin Kahn stated they 'didn't care about siding' for the 29 Front Street project. Siding material (Hardie board/Azek) was not conditioned in the unanimous approval. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/historic-district-commission/2026-06-18/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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leadership change and ongoing recruitment needs
Exeter HDC elected new officers June 18 after a resignation: Amanda as chair, Pam Gjettum as vice chair. Member recruitment discussion tabled to next meeting to maintain quorum. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/historic-district-commission/2026-06-18/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
277/280 chars

X thread

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Exeter Historic District Commission met June 18 and approved a new three-story mixed-use building at 29 Front Street. The design uses traditional elements but received two conditions: remove brackets and change the front triple window to two separate... #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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Commissioner Kevin Kahn confirmed during discussion that siding choice was not a concern. The board also noted a preference against orange but did not impose color conditions in the final unanimous vote.
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No public testimony was recorded. The commission also elected Amanda chair and Pam Gjettum vice chair following a resignation, and tabled further discussion on member recruitment. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/historic-district-commission/2026-06-18/
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Facebook — long form

On June 18 the Exeter Historic District Commission reviewed and approved an application for a new three-story mixed-use building at 29 Front Street. The project includes vertically proportioned windows, Hardie board and Azek materials, and a peak height of 37.5 feet. Approval carried two conditions: elimination of decorative brackets and revision of the third-floor front elevation from a triple window to two windows.

Commission discussion included comments that siding material was not a priority. The board also handled routine items including prior minutes approval and officer elections, naming Amanda as chair and Pam Gjettum as vice chair after a resignation. Member recruitment remains on the agenda for the next meeting. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/historic-district-commission/2026-06-18/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Revise plans to remove brackets and change front triple window to two windows
Assigned: Applicant (Stephen Eddy / Artform Architecture)
Schedule discussion on member recruitment
Assigned: Commission · Due: Next meeting

Member ⁠positions

3 issues · 0 explicit · 15 inferred
Present
Accept HDC Case 26-3 application as complete YES ~
Approve new construction at 29 Front Street with conditions YES ~
Elect new officers YES ~
Present
Accept HDC Case 26-3 application as complete YES ~
Approve new construction at 29 Front Street with conditions YES ~
Elect new officers YES ~
Present
Accept HDC Case 26-3 application as complete YES ~
Approve new construction at 29 Front Street with conditions YES ~
Elect new officers YES ~
Julie Gilman (Select Board Representative)
Select Board Representative
Present
Accept HDC Case 26-3 application as complete YES ~
Approve new construction at 29 Front Street with conditions YES ~
Elect new officers YES ~
Gwen English (Planning Board Representative)
Planning Board Representative
Present
Accept HDC Case 26-3 application as complete YES ~
Approve new construction at 29 Front Street with conditions YES ~
Elect new officers YES ~

Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”

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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-22.