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Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Zoning Board of Adjustment · Exeter, NH · May 19, 2026.
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Significant deviation from established zoning standards
At the May 19 Zoning Board meeting, officials approved a massive reduction in lot area requirements for 29 Front Street. Instead of the required 3,500 sq ft per unit, the developer was allowed only 1,428 sq ft. This sets a major... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-05-19/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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Dismissal of specific neighbor concerns regarding property rights
Exeter ZBA approved a height variance for 29 Front Street despite neighbor concerns that the extra 33 inches would obstruct solar panels and lower property values. The Board ruled that no 'demonstrable negative impact' had been... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-05-19/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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Prioritizing developer feasibility over code enforcement
Is the Exeter ZBA making zoning rules optional for downtown lots? At the 5/19 meeting, the Board approved variances for 29 Front St that bypassed nearly 60% of the required lot area per unit. Decisions are favoring development... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-05-19/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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The Exeter Zoning Board of Adjustment is moving toward significant deviations from established downtown zoning rules. Here is what happened at the May 19 meeting regarding the 29 Front Street development. 🧵 #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH
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The Board approved two major variances for a 3-unit building: 1) A height increase of 33 inches, and 2) A lot area reduction from the required 3,500 sq ft per unit down to just 1,428 sq ft. That is a 59% reduction in required space.
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A neighbor testified that the height increase would obstruct his solar panels and impact his property value. The Board’s response? They decided the applicant hadn't 'demonstrated' a negative impact, effectively placing the burden of proof on the resident.
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By citing the 'financial feasibility' of small downtown lots, the Board is essentially creating a new standard that bypasses current zoning laws. Residents should watch closely how these 'special conditions' affect future development in our historic... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-05-19/
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Longer-form draft.
At the May 19 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting, the Board approved significant departures from Exeter's established zoning requirements for a proposed three-unit building at 29 Front Street. Specifically, the Board granted a height variance of 33 inches and a substantial lot area variance. While the code requires 3,500 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit, the Board approved the project with only 1,428 square feet per unit. Board members noted that strictly enforcing the current rules would make development on small, historic downtown lots financially unfeasible, suggesting that the density of the area justifies bypassing the standard requirements. These decisions also brushed aside specific concerns from neighbors. One resident testified that the increased building height would obstruct solar energy production on an adjacent property and diminish property values. The Board concluded that because no direct negative impact had been 'demonstrated' by the resident, the variance could proceed. This raises a critical question for Exeter residents: If the Board begins bypassing zoning requirements whenever a developer claims a project is 'unfeasible,' what does that mean for the future of our neighborhood character and the predictability of our local laws? https://meetingwatch.org/nh/exeter/zoning-board/2026-05-19/ #MeetingWatch #ExeterNH