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Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Zoning Board of Adjustment · Exeter · April 21, 2026.
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The decision to approve the development despite community opposition.
At the 4/21 Zoning Board meeting, the Board approved Phillips Exeter Academy’s request for three duplexes at -2 River St. Despite neighbor concerns about traffic and safety on a dead-end street, the Board moved forward with the... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-04-21/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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The Board prioritizing the applicant's evidence over resident critiques of property value impacts.
Residents at the 4/21 Zoning Board meeting argued that the appraisal used to justify the -2 River St. project was flawed and didn't account for the specific density of a dead-end street. The Board ultimately accepted the... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-04-21/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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The dismissal of direct community safety concerns in favor of a procedural deferral.
Safety concerns were high at the 4/21 Zoning Board meeting. Even after a 9-year-old resident testified about wanting a safe place to play, the Board approved the -2 River St. duplexes, passing the safety review responsibility to... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-04-21/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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The Exeter Zoning Board approved a new multi-family development at -2 River Street on April 21, despite significant pushback from neighbors regarding safety and neighborhood character. Here is what happened. 🧵 #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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Neighbors testified that adding six units to a dead-end street would increase traffic congestion and endanger pedestrians. A 9-year-old resident even spoke up about the need for safe places to play. The Board acknowledged these risks but approved the project anyway.
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The Board also faced scrutiny over property values. Residents argued the submitted appraisal was speculative and didn't reflect the impact of high-density housing on this specific street. The Board ultimately relied on the applicant's appraisal to justify approval.
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The approval includes a proviso: the Planning Board must now review the site plan specifically for safety, visibility, and emergency access. The decision moves the density to River Street, leaving the technical safety specifics to a future review. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-04-21/
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Longer-form draft.
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. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-04-21/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH