Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Zoning Board of Adjustment · Exeter · March 17, 2026.
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Board questioning institutional hardship vs. legal requirements
At the 3/17 ZBA meeting, Phillips Exeter Academy withdrew a request to build high-density townhouses in an R2 zone after the board questioned if their institutional housing needs actually met the legal definition of a 'property hardship.'... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-03-17/ #MeetingWatch
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Dismissed/unaddressed community concerns regarding infrastructure
Residents at the 3/17 ZBA meeting raised serious concerns about the proposed PEA housing expansion, specifically regarding drainage/flooding, increased traffic, and neighborhood density. The application was withdrawn before... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-03-17/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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Prioritizing legal standards over institutional requests
Can an institution's need for more faculty housing count as a zoning 'hardship'? At the 3/17 ZBA meeting, the board pushed back, noting that hardship must come from the land itself, not the owner's desire for more space. #Exeter... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-03-17/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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The recent attempt by Phillips Exeter Academy to bypass R2 zoning requirements highlights a major tension in Exeter: institutional needs vs. neighborhood character. Here is what happened at the March 17 ZBA meeting. 🧵 #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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PEA proposed merging tax maps to build four townhouse-style units on a 49-acre lot. Neighbors voiced concerns over flooding, traffic, and the scale of the development. The board, however, focused on a key legal hurdle: the 'hardship' requirement.
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A zoning variance requires proof that the land itself has a unique problem. The board questioned if PEA's 'housing crunch' qualifies. If the board allows institutional needs to dictate zoning, it sets a precedent that could reshape our residential neighborhoods.
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The application was ultimately withdrawn. While the immediate threat is paused, the core questions regarding drainage, traffic, and density remain unanswered. We will continue to monitor how these issues are handled in future filings. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-03-17/
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Longer-form draft.
At the March 17 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting, a controversial proposal from Phillips Exeter Academy was withdrawn, but the underlying issues remain unresolved. The Academy sought a variance to build high-density, townhouse-style residential units in an R2 district—an area intended for single-family homes. While the applicant argued the project addressed an institutional housing shortage, the Board held a firm line on the legal definition of 'hardship.' Board members noted that a variance must be based on the specific conditions of the property, not simply the needs or desires of the owner. Local residents provided significant testimony, raising specific concerns that the board did not fully address before the application was pulled. Neighbors on River Street and Brown Court warned of increased traffic, lack of sidewalks, and—most critically—drainage issues that could cause stormwater to flood private driveways. Because the application was withdrawn 'without prejudice,' this project could return. We need to stay vigilant about whether future proposals will prioritize institutional expansion over the established zoning laws and the infrastructure stability of our residential neighborhoods. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-03-17/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH