Zoning Board of Adjustment — April 21, 2026
The meeting featured significant emotional testimony from residents, including a child, and intense debate over the validity of professional appraisals and neighborhood safety.
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At the April 21 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting, the Board approved a special exception for Phillips Exeter Academy to build three duplexes (six units) at -2 River Street.
The decision comes after a contentious public hearing where local residents raised serious concerns about the impact of increased density on a dead-end street. Neighbors expressed fears regarding traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, and the potential for property value depreciation. One resident, a 9-year-old, even testified about the importance of having safe areas to play.
While residents argued that the professional appraisal provided by the applicant failed to accurately reflect the impact of this specific scale of development on a dead-end street, the Board ultimately accepted the evidence and voted to approve.
As a compromise, the Board attached a proviso requiring the Planning Board to conduct a detailed site plan review. This review must specifically focus on safety, visibility, and emergency access regarding driveway placement. The project now moves forward, pending that technical safety scrutiny.
Public impact
Introduction of multi-family duplexes into a residential area, impacting traffic patterns and safety on a dead-end street.
Topics discussed
Chair Bob Prior introduced the Zoning Board members and established the voting members for the evening.
A hearing regarding an application by Phillips Exeter Academy for a special exception to build three duplexes (six total units) at -2 River Street. Neighbors expressed concerns regarding traffic congestion, parking, property values, and neighborhood character, while the applicant argued the project meets zoning requirements and addresses faculty housing needs.
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The applicant presented how the revised proposal (three duplexes instead of two four-unit buildings) meets zoning criteria regarding neighborhood character, parking, and scale.
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Discussion and reading of the McKean appraisal report, which concluded the proposed development would not diminish surrounding property values.
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Local residents expressed concerns regarding increased traffic on dead-end streets, safety for children/pedestrians, and the impact of increased density on the neighborhood character.
The Board of Adjustment deliberated on several criteria required for a special exception, specifically focusing on public safety, convenience, and compatibility with the zone district.
The board discussed the approval of meeting minutes from March 17th.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Phillips Exeter Academy Special Exception (-2 River Street)
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Member positions
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.”
From the meeting
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grok-4.3, grok-4-fast, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-05-31.
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