Meeting report · Zoning Board of Adjustment
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Zoning Board of Adjustment — March 18, 2026
The meeting featured public opposition regarding safety and traffic, alongside internal board dissent over the legal merits of a significant development application.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
12-unit townhouse development zoning variances
Increased density and changes to landscape buffer requirements for a 12-unit community. Affected: Local residents near Page Road and Mammoth Road
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approval of February 18th, 2026, meeting minutes.
Motion made and seconded; all in favor.
Approved
Acceptance of regional impact determinations.
Motion made and seconded; all in favor.
Approved
Granting of variance for Case -1905-1 (40 Wilson Road).
Variance granted to allow the replacement of the front porch with the condition that the porch shall not exceed 6 ft by 24 ft.
Approved
Continuance of Case -1708-1 and -1708-2 to April 15th, 2026.
Cases continued to allow for the submission of a written designation letter.
Approved
Continuance of Case -1708-3 to April 15th, 2026.
Case continued to allow the applicant to provide exact measurements for the sign and setback.
Approved
Grant variance for Case 318-2026-04 to allow a driveway within the 50-ft landscape buffer at 295 Rockingham Road.
Motion made and seconded; all in favor.
Approved
Grant variance for Case 318-2026-05 to allow a driveway in the 50-ft buffer at 295 Rockingham Road without permanent plantings.
Motion made and seconded; all in favor.
Approved
Grant variance for Case 318-2026-06 to allow a driveway and parking within the 50-ft landscape buffer at 3 Page Road and 556 Mammoth Road.
Note: One board member dissented regarding the 'unnecessary hardship' criteria for the parking spaces specifically.
Approved
Grant variance for Case 318-2026-07 to allow a driveway and parking at 3 Page Road and 556 Mammoth Road without permanent plantings.
Note: One board member dissented regarding the 'unnecessary hardship' criteria for the parking spaces specifically.
Approved
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 05:59 Meeting Opening and Procedures
The Board introduced members and outlined the public hearing procedures, including how applicants and the public should address the board.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 08:09 Approval of Minutes
The board reviewed and moved to approve the meeting minutes from February 18th, 2026.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 09:14 Case -1905-1: 40 Wilson Road Porch Variance
An applicant requested a variance to replace a dilapidated front porch with a larger farmer's porch that would encroach into the 40-ft front setback.
Speakers: Deborah Stewart, John Roblewsky, Unidentified speaker
▶ 37:46 Case -1708-1 & 2: 22 Buttrick Road Special Exception
A request for a special exception to build a single-family home in a commercial district was postponed due to a lack of written designation for the representative.
Speakers: Brian Daniels, Unidentified speaker
▶ 43:00 Case -1708-3: 213 Rockingham Road Sign Variance
A request for a variance to replace a sign panel on a pre-existing structure; the board requested more precise measurements before voting.
Speakers: Michael Gallagher, Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:07:01 Case -1708-4 & 5: 295 Rockingham Road Buffer Variance
An application regarding a proposed 12-unit townhouse development requesting a variance from the 50-ft landscape buffer requirement due to unique zoning line layouts.
Speakers: Brad Westgate, Jason Toomey, Paul Chisholm, Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:17:40 Variance Request: 295 Rockingham Road (Driveway Access)
The applicant requested a variance from the 50-foot landscape buffer to allow for a driveway to access the property from Page Road, arguing that the current buffer requirements prohibit logical access.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Brad Westgate, Brian Meade
▶ 1:43:00 Variance Request: 295 Rockingham Road (Vegetation Maintenance)
A follow-up request to allow the driveway within the buffer without the requirement to permanently plant and maintain vegetation within that specific area.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Brad Westgate
▶ 1:53:00 Variance Request: 3 Page Road and 556 Mammoth Road (Driveway and Parking)
The applicant sought a variance to allow a driveway and six parking spaces within the 50-foot landscape buffer of the AR1 district to facilitate a 12-unit townhouse community.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Brad Westgate, Paul Chisholm
▶ 2:11:00 Variance Request: 3 Page Road and 556 Mammoth Road (Vegetation Maintenance)
A request to allow the driveway and parking within the buffer without the requirement for permanent planting and maintenance of vegetation.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Brad Westgate
▶ 2:27:00 Election of Officers
The board held an annual election to retain current officers.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
12-Unit Townhouse Development Buffer Variances
The development involves multiple requests to bypass the 50-foot landscape buffer for driveways, parking, and vegetation maintenance. This affects land use density and environmental/aesthetic standards in the AR1 district.
Board position: The board generally approved the variances, despite internal disagreement regarding the necessity of the hardship.
Internal dissent
One board member dissented on the 'unnecessary hardship' criteria specifically regarding the parking spaces for the 3 Page Road project.
medium concern
Split votes
Grant variance for Case 318-2026-06 (driveway and parking within 50-ft landscape buffer at 3 Page Road and 556 Mammoth Road)
Not specified (likely majority)
Grant variance for Case 318-2026-07 (driveway and parking at 3 Page Road and 556 Mammoth Road without permanent plantings)
Not specified (likely majority)
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Submit a written designation letter from Ann Peterson to the Town Planner.
Assigned: Brian Daniels · Due: As soon as possible
Notable statements
The porch is already built... that is why we need the variance. — John Roblewsky · Explaining why the application was submitted after construction began. ▶ 19:10
You will have to fix that. [Regarding the porch dimensions]. I just don't want you to get stuck here. — Unidentified speaker · Warning the applicant that inconsistent dimensions in testimony vs application could lead to a denial. ▶ 41:48
Concerns regarding increased traffic, noise, and safety at the intersection of Page Road and Mammoth Road due to new developments. — Brian Meade · Public testimony in opposition to the driveway variance. ▶ 1:28:00
The purpose of this regulation is to guard against deleterious impact of commercial uses adjacent to residential uses... but here we don't even have a commercial use. We're proposing a residential use itself. — Brad Westgate · Arguing that the spirit of the 50-ft buffer ordinance is met because the development is residential, not commercial. ▶ 2:05:48
The parking spaces for the 3 Page Road project are optional and could be moved, suggesting that denying the variance for those specific spaces does not constitute an 'unnecessary hardship'. — Board Member · Deliberation on Case 318-2026-06. ▶ 2:25:00
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
1
Addressed
1
Partial
1
Not addressed
Ann Peterson (referenced)
Addressed
The speaker (representing Ann Peterson) argues that the application includes a written designation for a representative to appear in person. There is a dispute regarding the validity of the signature and the required documentation.
Key concern
The legality of the representative appearing on behalf of the applicant without a specific written designation letter.
Board responseThe Board determined they could not proceed without the specific written letter. They advised the speaker to submit the letter as soon as possible and granted a motion to continue the case to the April 15th meeting.
The board reviewed the application, identified the procedural deficiency, and provided a clear path forward (submitting the letter) and a new hearing date.
Michael Gallagher
Partial
The speaker is requesting a variance to replace an existing sign panel at 213 Rockingham Road. He argues that the sign is a continuation of an existing condition and that the lot has limited space for a legible sign.
Key concern
Obtaining a variance for a sign panel replacement due to setback requirements and site constraints.
Board responseThe board questioned the accuracy of the provided photos and measurements. Concerned that they lacked precise data regarding the sign's proximity to the property line, they granted a request for a continuance to the April 15th meeting so the applicant can provide exact measurements.
While the board heard the presentation, they did not rule on the variance itself, instead postponing the decision until more accurate data is provided.
Brad Westgate
Not addressed
The speaker is an attorney representing Page Rock LLC regarding two variance applications for the property at 295 Rockingham Road. He begins to explain that the two cases are related pairs under a single variance application.
Key concern
Presenting two related variance applications concerning property setbacks and landscape buffers.
Board responseThe transcript ends as the speaker begins his presentation; no response is recorded.
The transcript cuts off before the board can respond to or act upon this speaker's comments.
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Report composed by
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-02.