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Holderness, ⁠NH

Tracking 8 boards and committees in Holderness. Every meeting transcribed, every vote logged.

8 boards Latest Jun 29 History since Mar 2026
At a glance
This town in numbers.
13
Worth watching
71
Decisions logged
10
Public comments
15
Meetings analyzed
Weekly Digest · Jun 1–7, 2026 Read the full digest →

The Holderness Planning Board voted unanimously to re-open the town's Master Plan survey after discovering a mailing error. This decision was made to correct potential bias caused by missing resident addresses, which ⁠places the Land Use chapter on hold until new data arrives.

Beyond the survey updates, officials addressed a resident inquiry regarding the status of a cell tower decommissioning bond. While the board assigned a formal status check to this matter, they provided no immediate details regarding ⁠enforcement or coverage levels.

Residents should watch for the arrival of new postcards in the mail to ensure ⁠accurate community feedback is captured. The board's next steps will depend on comparing these new results against the existing data to resolve the Master Plan discrepancies.

Browse Holderness — choose a section

Worth ⁠watching here

Recent meetings flagged as heated, off-agenda, or otherwise consequential.
Holderness Select Board approves $10,000 in spending and incorrect minutes in deviation from published agenda.
Select Board 2026-06-29
NHDOT Route 3 & 25 Intersection Project
The proposal to convert the intersection to an all-way stop is being weighed against potential negative impacts on traffic congestion, noise, pollution, and large vehicle movement in the town center.
Select Board 2026-06-15
Master Plan Survey Validity
The board questioned if the initial survey results accurately reflected the community's wishes because the mailing process may have excluded residents in favor of non-resident property owners.
Planning Board 2026-05-19
Cell Tower Decommissioning Bonds
A resident raised concerns regarding the long-term liability of cell tower infrastructure and whether the town is protected if technology becomes obsolete.
Planning Board 2026-05-19
Squam Valley Masonic Association Tax Abatement
The board is debating whether the organization qualifies for a charitable tax exemption or if it should be classified as a fraternal organization, which impacts the town's tax revenue and the group's financial standing.
Select Board 2026-05-18
7 Trivet Lane Septic Expansion
The variance request includes a provision for future expansion up to five bedrooms within a 125-foot well setback, which may raise questions regarding long-term density and environmental impact on local water resources.
Zoning Board of Adjustment 2026-05-12
Master Plan Survey Methodology
The validity of the current Master Plan data was questioned because the initial survey may have excluded residents by only sending postcards to non-resident property owners. This affects the accuracy of the town's long-term planning goals.
Planning Board 2026-04-21
Holderness ZBA approves septic variances that bypass standard shoreline and water supply setbacks.
Zoning Board of Adjustment 2026-04-14
Boyajian Septic and Addition Variance (Case # 520-02-02)
Abutters raised specific concerns regarding the potential for construction-related damage to a shared water supply, the removal of vegetation, and potential violations of existing restrictive covenants.
Zoning Board of Adjustment 2026-03-10
Fish and Game Club Noise and Range Expansion
This involves potential noise ordinance violations and range expansion requests, which often pit local recreational clubs against residents concerned about noise and safety.
Select Board 2026-05-18
Off-Agenda Administrative Directives
Several significant matters—including employee handbook legal updates, property revaluation, and parking enforcement—were introduced through the Administrator's report rather than being listed as formal agenda items, limiting public preparation.
Select Board 2026-05-18
Pemigewasset Valley Fish and Game Club Noise
Residents on Beede Road are experiencing noise disturbances from the gun range, creating a conflict between recreational land use and residential peace.
Select Board 2026-05-04
Master Plan Chapter Review (Off-Agenda)
The board performed substantive reviews of Chapter 1 and Chapter 4, including addressing resident concerns about parking and land preservation, despite the agenda specifically listing a meeting with the LRPC instead of an internal review session.
Planning Board 2026-04-21
Cell Tower Decommissioning
A resident raised concerns about the long-term necessity of cell technology and whether the town is financially protected if a tower becomes obsolete.
Planning Board 2026-04-21
Property Assessment Equity
There is a perceived imbalance in assessment ratios between lakefront and off-lake properties. Residents not on the lake may feel they are disproportionately subsidizing lakefront property owners.
Select Board 2026-04-20
PSU Policing Agreement
Negotiating a policing agreement with Plymouth State University involves complex inter-municipal relations and potential implications for public safety and town resources.
Select Board 2026-04-20
Sale of undeveloped town land
Residents may have interests in land preservation or personal acquisition, and the sale of public assets often triggers debates regarding long-term town value and community character.
Select Board 2026-04-06
Food Composting Pilot Project Proposal
While presented by students, the proposal involves the use of municipal infrastructure (the Transfer Station) and requires navigating environmental permitting and logistical resource allocation.
Select Board 2026-03-23
Master Plan Survey Mailing Failure
The USPS failed to mail notification postcards to residents, effectively disenfranchising the community from participating in the Master Plan process. This delay impacts the accuracy of the town's long-term vision and requires a timeline extension.
Planning Board 2026-03-17

Issues & ⁠legislative events

Ongoing debates and upcoming votes, plus scheduled legislative events.
NHDOT Route 3 & 25 / Rte 113 Intersection All-Way Stop Proposal
Proposal to install all-way stop at key town-center intersection raises concerns over traffic flow, noise, pollution, and large-vehicle access versus safety gains. 2 meetings
Issue
Cell Tower Decommissioning Bonds
Residents question whether the town holds adequate financial protections if proposed cell towers become obsolete and require removal. 2 meetings
Issue
Pemigewasset Valley Fish and Game Club Noise
Residents on Beede Road report ongoing noise disturbances from the gun range, creating conflict between recreational use and residential peace. 2 meetings
Issue
All issues in Holderness
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Boards & ⁠committees

Click any board to see meeting reports.
S
Select Board
9 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-29 71% responsive 7 active
S
School Board
4 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-02 100% responsive 4 active
P
Planning Board
3 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-05-19 50% responsive 3 active
Z
Zoning Board of Adjustment
3 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-05-12 50% responsive 3 active
B
Budget Committee
0 meetings tracked
C
Conservation Commission
0 meetings tracked
R
Recreation Board
0 meetings tracked
S
School Board
0 meetings tracked

Community ⁠responsiveness

How well does each board address what residents say in public comment? Higher is better.
1
School Board
100%
→
2
Select Board
71%
↘
3
Planning Board
50%
→
4
Zoning Board of Adjustment
50%
→
Based on 23 public comments across 4 boards. Trend compares recent vs. older meetings.

Upcoming ⁠& in progress

Scheduled meetings across every board, soonest first. Briefs publish here as agendas are posted; full reports follow each meeting.
  • MON13JUL
    Select Board
    Meeting held — no recording available.
    No recording
  • TUE7JUL
    Planning Board
    Meeting held — no recording available.
    No recording
  • TUE16JUN
    Planning Board
    Meeting held — no recording available.
    No recording
Show 8 more in progress

Times and locations are mirrored from each board's official calendar and can change. Confirm with the town before attending — every meeting links to the town's official meeting page.

Recent ⁠reports

Published reports across every board.
Select Board — Monday, June 29, 2026
Speare Memorial Hospital Strategic Vision — Expansion of specialty care, telehealth, and behavioral health services
4 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Other High Impact
Select Board — Monday, June 15, 2026
NHDOT Route 3 & 25 Intersection Project — Change in intersection control from current configuration to an all-way stop.
3 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Safety Change
Select Board — Monday, June 1, 2026
Routine approvals dominated but several high-significance decisions (abatement, veterans credit) occurred off-agenda, reducing opportunity for public preparation or response.
2 public comments 6 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine
Planning Board — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Master Plan Development — Significant; dictates long-term town character, land use, and infrastructure priorities.
1 public comment 2 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Other High Impact
Select Board — Monday, May 18, 2026
Property Revaluation Proposal — Potential changes to property assessments and future tax burdens
1 public comment 5 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Other High Impact
Zoning Board of Adjustment — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Septic Variances for The Boulders, LLC — Installation of three replacement septic systems near lake setbacks and existing wells.
4 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Zoning Change
Select Board — Monday, May 4, 2026
Land Use Compliance and Health Officer Oversight — Clarification of the formal appointment process for Compliance Officers and septic system oversight affects the legality and consistency of land use enforcement.
1 public comment 4 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Other High Impact
Planning Board — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Master Plan Development — High; the plan dictates long-term land use, parking, and service priorities for the town.
1 public comment 3 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Zoning Change
Select Board — Monday, April 20, 2026
Property Assessment Disparity — Potential inequity in tax burden distribution based on assessment ratios.
1 public comment 5 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Tax Increase
Zoning Board of Adjustment — Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Septic System Variances for 10 NH Route 113 — Granting of multiple setbacks variances regarding property lines, shorelines, and water supplies.
3 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Zoning Change
Select Board — Monday, April 6, 2026
Property tax collection and liens — Potential loss of property via deeding for nonpayment and upcoming liens.
1 public comment 7 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Other High Impact
Select Board — Monday, March 23, 2026
Ambulance Service Agreement — Renewal of essential emergency medical services through a multi-town agreement.
1 public comment 7 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Other High Impact
Planning Board — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Master Plan Development — The Master Plan dictates long-term land use, housing, and town services, affecting all property owners and residents.
5 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Other High Impact
Zoning Board of Adjustment — Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Septic and building variances at 39 Grapevine Cove Road — Potential impact on shared water security and local property aesthetic/covenants.
1 public comment 4 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine Zoning Change
Select Board — Monday, March 9, 2026
Zero public speakers, unanimous administrative actions, and only routine operational updates with no off-agenda decisions or visible conflict.
9 decisions 📄 Minutes-only · no video Routine

Weekly ⁠digests

A plain-language recap across every covered board, newest first.
Jul 6–12, 2026
Quiet week — no meetings analyzed.
Latest
Jun 29–Jul 5, 2026
Quiet week — no meetings analyzed.
Jun 22–28, 2026
Quiet week — no meetings analyzed.
Jun 15–21, 2026
Quiet week — no meetings analyzed.
Jun 8–14, 2026
Quiet week — no meetings analyzed.
Jun 1–7, 2026
The Holderness Planning Board voted unanimously to re-open the town's Master Plan survey after discovering a mailing error. This decision was made to correct potential bias caused by missing resident addresses, which ⁠places the Land Use chapter on hold until new data arrives.
1 meeting
May 25–31, 2026
The Holderness Planning Board voted unanimously to re-open the Master Plan survey after concerns emerged regarding flawed data collection. This decision comes following allegations that the previous methodology favored non-resident property owners over local inhabitants. The move ⁠pauses the Land Use chapter until a new saturation mailing reaches approximately 1,133 resident addresses.
1 meeting
All weekly digests
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