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

The meeting addressed a single variance request through standard discussion and closed with unanimous approval and no public opposition.

Date Tuesday, June 16, 2026 Duration 0.8h Speakers 1 Public comments 2 Decisions 2 Routine
▶ Video

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Steven Root not disqualified from voting due to conflict of interest
Root disclosed fiduciary role with easement holder but no pecuniary interest or prior discussion; board and gallery raised no objections.
Accepted by board consensus
Variance granted for four infiltration steps at Otter Pond beach
Motion to accept as applied passed unanimously after confirming all statutory criteria met; no conditions imposed on right-of-way placement, ADA compliance, or maintenance.
Approved without conditions

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:03 Variance Application for Otter Pond Beach Access Steps

Otter Pond Protective Association seeks variance to install four infiltration steps instead of the single permanent pathway allowed by ordinance, to reduce erosion and stormwater runoff into Otter Pond while maintaining public access.

Speakers: Chair, Steven Root, Stu Greer, Julia Lemons
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What was discussed

The board first addressed Steven Root's potential conflict due to his role with Ausmus Sargent Land Preservation Trust holding a conservation easement on the property; Root disclosed no pecuniary interest and declined to recuse, and the board accepted this. Stu Greer then presented the project details, noting 13 existing informal paths causing erosion on the 700-ft beach parcel, the use of NH DES-designed infiltration steps, water quality benefits for Otter Pond and Lake Sunapee, and arguments addressing the four variance criteria (public interest, ordinance spirit, substantial justice, and hardship due to the parcel's unique dimensions and unrestricted public access). Board members questioned the number of steps, maintenance, ADA compliance, and right-of-way issues.

What happened

Board confirmed all four variance criteria were met, particularly noting the project's alignment with water quality goals in the master plan and Clean Water Act. Variance approved without conditions after rejecting proposed conditions on right-of-way, maintenance risk, and ADA.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Notable ⁠statements

The variance will not be contrary to public interest... not going to change the fundamental character of the neighborhood. — Chair · Confirming first variance criterion during discussion with applicant ▶ 12:15
The hardship criteria is met... easily satisfied by the unique nature of this parcel of property and its location. — Steven Root · Board discussion of variance criteria ▶ 34:45

Member ⁠positions

2 issues · 0 explicit · 4 inferred
Present
Steven Root not disqualified from voting due to conflict of interest YES ~
Variance granted for four infiltration steps at Otter Pond beach YES ~
Steven Root
Member
Present
Steven Root not disqualified from voting due to conflict of interest YES ✓
Disclosed fiduciary role but no pecuniary interest and declined recusal
Variance granted for four infiltration steps at Otter Pond beach YES ✓
Hardship criteria met due to unique parcel nature
Julia LeMense
Alternate
Present
Variance granted for four infiltration steps at Otter Pond beach 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.”

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
2
Total speakers
2
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Stu Greer
▶ 05:54
Addressed
Stu Greer, co-president of the Otter Pond Protective Association, presented a variance request to install four infiltration steps along a 700-ft public beach to address erosion and stormwater runoff causing cyanobacteria risk. He explained the steps would replace informal paths, maintain public access, and follow NH DES design while preserving the beach character. Key concern
Obtain zoning variance for four controlled access steps instead of the ordinance limit of one pathway to protect water quality and allow continued public use.
Board response
Board members questioned details on hardship, ADA access, maintenance, and placement; after discussion they voted to grant the variance without conditions.
Board fully considered and granted the requested variance after extensive dialogue on all criteria.
Dale DuBois Blair
▶ 32:13
Addressed
Dale DuBois Blair, abutter and board member of the Otter Pond Protective Association, clarified elevation details near the road shoulder and explained how the proposed number of access points accommodates varying water levels and beach usability. Key concern
Provide additional practical information supporting the four access points and confirming future road-shoulder work by the town.
Board response
Board acknowledged the clarifications during discussion but did not alter the variance decision.
Comments supplemented the record and were incorporated into the board's understanding before the vote.
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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-22.