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Meeting report · Zoning Board of Adjustment
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Zoning Board of Adjustment — June 16, 2026

Laconia ZBA OKs 13 duplexes at Governor's Crossing and tables reduced White Oaks plan

Standard variance and rehearing items were handled efficiently with public input addressed and no evident disagreement.

Date Tuesday, June 16, 2026 Duration 0.8h Speakers 1 Public comments 7 Decisions 7 Routine

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Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

On June 16 the Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a variance permitting duplex units on 13 lots in the Governor's Crossing subdivision where single-family homes were previously planned. The change was justified by high blasting costs on phase-two lots and would produce ownership units priced around $450-500k. The board accepted the applicant's findings of fact without recorded dissent and sent the matter to the Planning Board for site-plan amendment.

The same meeting tabled a rehearing request for 238 White Oaks Road for 60 days after a buyer emerged willing to restore the existing home and reduce the project from five lots to two new lots plus the preserved residence. Abutters were reported as receptive to the revised layout.

All seven decisions that night, including fence height variances at 257 Pleasant Street and 3114 Parade Road plus storage-container approval at 398 White Oaks Road, passed by unanimous voice vote.

Jun 16, 2026 0.8h long 1 speakers 7 public comments 7 decisions Routine
Notable statements Drag to browse

“We are not changing the character of the neighborhood; substantial justice is done because there is no benefit to the public that outweighs the benefit to the owner.”

— Grayson Draper · Findings of fact supporting 257 Pleasant Street variance ▶ 16:35
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
What was discussed

Allows 13 duplex units instead of single-family homes, priced $450-500k

What happened

Variance approved unanimously; project must return to Planning Board for site-plan amendment

What was discussed

Reduced from five lots to two new lots plus one preserved existing home

What happened

Rehearing request tabled for 60 days

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Grayson Draper, Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Board conducted roll call, designated alternate voting members to achieve a full board, and reordered the agenda to prioritize 238 White Oaks Road, 257 Pleasant Street, 398 White Oaks Road, 3114 Parade Road, 1034 Main Street, and a rehearing.

What happened

Agenda order finalized; meeting proceeded with the revised sequence.

Speakers: Attorney Cornyn, Grayson Draper
What was discussed

Attorney Cornyn requested tabling of a rehearing for 60 days after a buyer emerged to restore the existing home, reducing the project from five lots to two.

What happened

Motion to table for 60 days passed unanimously.

Speakers: Christine Kemos, Grayson Draper, Board members
What was discussed

Applicant Christine Kemos sought a variance for an 88-ft, 6-ft-tall fence along the side property line on a corner lot for child safety; approved with DPW site review condition.

What happened

Variance granted with DPW site-review condition for line-of-sight safety.

Speakers: Steven Duty, Grayson Draper, Board members
What was discussed

Steven Duty requested a variance to retain two existing conex boxes on a 4-acre residential property; approved with shielding condition.

What happened

Variance approved with condition that containers remain shielded from view of abutters and the road.

Speakers: Attorney John Cronin, Jack Warbeau, Board members
What was discussed

Attorney John Cronin presented a request to allow duplex units on 13 lots within the Governor's Crossing HOA subdivision instead of single-family homes.

What happened

Variance approved; findings of fact accepted as presented in the application.

Speakers: John Healey, Grayson Draper
What was discussed

John Healey requested a 6-ft privacy fence along the front property line, 15-16 ft from the roadway edge on a busy road.

What happened

Variance granted; board found no safety or character impacts.

Speakers: Dennis Breton, Grayson Draper
What was discussed

Dennis Breton sought a 2-ft side-setback variance to construct a carport 8 ft from the neighbor's property line.

What happened

Variance granted.

Speakers: Grayson Draper, Board members
What was discussed

Board considered a rehearing request on application ZB 2026-060 with no new information presented.

What happened

Rehearing request denied unanimously.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

238 White Oaks Road subdivision rehearing

Prior density-increase proposal drew attention; revised plan reducing from five lots to two new lots plus preserved home was presented to address abutters
Board position: Tabled 60 days to allow alternative plan
low concern

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
7
Total speakers
6
Addressed
1
Partial
0
Not addressed
John Cronin
Addressed
Attorney representing applicant for rehearing on property subdivision (originally 5 lots, now revised to 2 new lots plus existing home). Requested the board table the rehearing for 60 days to allow a new plan preserving the existing home to proceed instead. Key concern
Tabling the rehearing application to pursue alternative subdivision plan
Board response
Motion made and approved to table for 60 days
Board directly granted the tabling request
Christine Kemos
Addressed
Requested variance for 6-ft fence (88 ft long) along side property line on corner lot at 257 Pleasant Street for safety of 3-year-old twins' play area. Explained placement avoids traffic sightline issues and noted existing 4-ft fencing elsewhere. Key concern
Variance for 6-ft fence height and location within front setback
Board response
Board discussed details, accepted letter of opposition from neighbor, then granted variance with DPW site review condition
Board approved the request after review and public input
Steven Duty
Addressed
Requested variance to retain two conex storage containers on 4-acre residential property at 398 White Oaks Road. Noted containers are 435 ft from road, hidden by elevation/trees, and property is well-maintained; offered to add screening if required. Key concern
Variance to allow storage containers as residential accessory use
Board response
Board discussed visibility concerns and approved variance with condition that containers remain shielded from view of road and abutters
Board granted approval with screening condition
Ward 6 Counselor
Partial
Spoke in support of Steven Duty's application, confirming containers are not visible from the road, property is exceptionally well-maintained, and forcing additional screening might be unnecessary. Key concern
Support for approving the conex containers without added screening
Board response
Board acknowledged comments during discussion before approving with modified shielding condition
Comments noted but board added condition anyway
John Cronin
Addressed
Representing applicant for Governor's Crossing subdivision; requested variance to allow duplexes instead of single-family homes on certain lots to provide more affordable housing options and help complete the stalled development. Key concern
Variance to permit duplexes in single-family residential zone
Board response
Board discussed market needs and approved the variance
Board granted the variance request
John Healey
Addressed
Requested variance for 6-ft privacy fence along front of property at 3114 Parade Road due to busy road noise and privacy needs. Stated 15-16 ft setback from road edge ensures no sightline issues. Key concern
Variance for 6-ft fence height in front setback
Board response
Board reviewed safety concerns and granted the variance
Board approved the fence variance
Dennis Breton
Addressed
Requested 2-ft side setback variance to install carport at 1034 North Main Street for vehicle protection. Noted neighbor consultation and verbal agreement; mentioned possible bedrock issues but wants option if feasible. Key concern
Side setback variance for carport installation
Board response
Board briefly discussed and granted the variance
Board approved the request

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Table rehearing matter for 60 days
Unanimous voice vote
Approved
Approve fence variance at 257 Pleasant Street (ZB 2026-61) with DPW review condition
Unanimous voice vote
Approved
Approve storage-container variance at 398 White Oaks Road with shielding condition
Unanimous voice vote
Approved
Approve duplex variance at Governor's Crossing
Unanimous voice vote; findings accepted from application
Approved
Approve fence variance at 3114 Parade Road (ZB 2026-63)
Unanimous voice vote
Approved
Approve carport setback variance at 1034 Main Street (ZB 2026-64)
Unanimous voice vote
Approved
Deny rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East
Unanimous voice vote
Denied

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zoning change allowing higher density without prior agenda emphasis
Laconia ZBA on 6/16 approved duplexes on 13 Governor's Crossing lots instead of single-family homes. Priced $450-500k, project now heads to Planning Board for site plan changes. All votes unanimous. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/laconia/zoning-board-of-adjustment/2026-06-16/ #MeetingWatch #LaconiaNH
298/280 chars
major subdivision revision handled via tabling after agenda reorder
At the 6/16 meeting, ZBA tabled rehearing for 238 White Oaks Road 60 days after buyer offered to restore existing home, cutting proposal from five lots to two new lots plus preserved house. Abutters reportedly supportive. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/laconia/zoning-board-of-adjustment/2026-06-16/ #MeetingWatch #LaconiaNH
321/280 chars
routine variance approvals on re-ordered agenda items
Laconia ZBA granted multiple variances 6/16 including 6-ft fences at 257 Pleasant St and 3114 Parade Road plus storage containers at 398 White Oaks. All passed unanimously with conditions like DPW review. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/laconia/zoning-board-of-adjustment/2026-06-16/ #MeetingWatch #LaconiaNH
304/280 chars

X thread

1
Laconia ZBA June 16 meeting approved a variance allowing 13 duplex units at Governor's Crossing subdivision instead of single-family homes. Duplexes pitched as more affordable at $450-500k with similar footprint; blasting costs cited as barrier for... #MeetingWatch #LaconiaNH
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Variance passed unanimously. Project must still get Planning Board site-plan amendment. No split votes or recorded objections from board members on the density shift.
166/280
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Other actions included tabling 238 White Oaks Road rehearing for 60 days to pursue reduced two-lot plan preserving existing home. Multiple fence and setback variances also approved same day with minimal conditions. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/laconia/zoning-board-of-adjustment/2026-06-16/
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Facebook — long form

On June 16 the Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a variance permitting duplex units on 13 lots in the Governor's Crossing subdivision where single-family homes were previously planned. The change was justified by high blasting costs on phase-two lots and would produce ownership units priced around $450-500k. The board accepted the applicant's findings of fact without recorded dissent and sent the matter to the Planning Board for site-plan amendment.

The same meeting tabled a rehearing request for 238 White Oaks Road for 60 days after a buyer emerged willing to restore the existing home and reduce the project from five lots to two new lots plus the preserved residence. Abutters were reported as receptive to the revised layout.

All seven decisions that night, including fence height variances at 257 Pleasant Street and 3114 Parade Road plus storage-container approval at 398 White Oaks Road, passed by unanimous voice vote. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/laconia/zoning-board-of-adjustment/2026-06-16/ #MeetingWatch #LaconiaNH

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Obtain DPW site review for fence line-of-sight safety
Assigned: Applicant (257 Pleasant Street) · Due: Prior to installation

Member ⁠positions

7 issues · 0 explicit · 28 inferred
Present
Table rehearing matter for 60 days YES ~
Approve fence variance at 257 Pleasant Street (ZB 2026-61) YES ~
Approve storage-container variance at 398 White Oaks Road YES ~
Approve duplex variance at Governor's Crossing YES ~
Approve fence variance at 3114 Parade Road (ZB 2026-63) YES ~
Approve carport setback variance at 1034 Main Street (ZB 2026-64) YES ~
Deny rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East YES ~
Present
Table rehearing matter for 60 days YES ~
Approve fence variance at 257 Pleasant Street (ZB 2026-61) YES ~
Approve storage-container variance at 398 White Oaks Road YES ~
Approve duplex variance at Governor's Crossing YES ~
Approve fence variance at 3114 Parade Road (ZB 2026-63) YES ~
Approve carport setback variance at 1034 Main Street (ZB 2026-64) YES ~
Deny rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East YES ~
Present
Table rehearing matter for 60 days YES ~
Approve fence variance at 257 Pleasant Street (ZB 2026-61) YES ~
Approve storage-container variance at 398 White Oaks Road YES ~
Approve duplex variance at Governor's Crossing YES ~
Approve fence variance at 3114 Parade Road (ZB 2026-63) YES ~
Approve carport setback variance at 1034 Main Street (ZB 2026-64) YES ~
Deny rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East YES ~
Present
Table rehearing matter for 60 days YES ~
Approve fence variance at 257 Pleasant Street (ZB 2026-61) YES ~
Approve storage-container variance at 398 White Oaks Road YES ~
Approve duplex variance at Governor's Crossing YES ~
Approve fence variance at 3114 Parade Road (ZB 2026-63) YES ~
Approve carport setback variance at 1034 Main Street (ZB 2026-64) YES ~
Deny rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East YES ~

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.”

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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-22.