Meeting report · Zoning Board of Adjustments
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Zoning Board of Adjustments — June 4, 2026
The meeting was professional and technical, focused on measurement precision and regulatory compliance rather than social or political conflict.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Zoning Precedents for Non-Conforming Lots
Sets a precedent for how height limits and setbacks are measured and enforced for expansions on existing non-conforming properties. Affected: Property owners with non-conforming structures near water bodies
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Appoint Elliott Pratt as the fifth member/alternate for the meeting.
Elliott Pratt was appointed to serve as the fifth member for the evening.
Unanimous
Approval of Case SED 26-03, Parcel ID 0117-0020 (90 Mary's Road).
The board granted the special exception from Article 3, Section 3.5 to allow for an addition on a pre-existing, non-conforming single-family dwelling within 50 feet of the water body, subject to receiving an approved DES permit and the condition that any portion of the addition within the 50-foot water setback shall be no higher than 25 feet based on the lowest point grade of that addition.
Unanimous
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:20 Appointment of Alternate Member
The board discussed and appointed Elliott Pratt as the fifth member/alternate for the meeting.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 01:09 Special Exception Request - 90 Mary's Road
Review of an application for a special exception to allow an addition to a pre-existing non-conforming single-family dwelling within 50 feet of a water body.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 12:23 Discussion on Height and Lot Coverage Measurements
The board deliberated on how to measure the 25-foot maximum height (specifically regarding grade and the addition) and the calculation of impervious surface percentages.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Special Exception for 90 Mary's Road (Waterfront Construction)
The application involves building an addition to a non-conforming dwelling within 50 feet of a water body. This touches on sensitive environmental protections and the precedent of allowing non-conforming structures to expand near shorelands.
Board position: The board approved the request but imposed strict technical conditions, including a rigid 25-foot height limit and required professional surveys.
low concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Obtain a professional existing condition survey from a surveyor and coordinate with a landscape architect or civil engineer to produce a site plan and complete the full NH DES shoreland permit submittal.
Assigned: Applicants (Chris and Jeannie Hodgson)
Notable statements
Anything that gets decided on tonight does not automatically give them the okay to build. — Unidentified speaker · Clarifying the relationship between the Zoning Board's decision and the requirements for state (DES) and town building permits. ▶ 38:00
If it's 25.2 inches, we would have to deny it. That's just a line in the sand. — Unidentified speaker · Emphasizing the board's lack of flexibility regarding strict enforcement of the 25-foot height limit. ▶ 45:51
Member positions
2 issues · 0 explicit · 2 inferred
Jeff Claus
Present
Chair
Appointment of Alternate Member
YES
~
Special Exception Request - 90 Mary's Road
YES
~
Pierre Lessard
Present
Vice Chair
Appointment of Alternate Member
YES
~
Special Exception Request - 90 Mary's Road
YES
~
Present
Appointment of Alternate Member
YES
~
Special Exception Request - 90 Mary's Road
YES
~
Present
Appointment of Alternate Member
YES
~
Special Exception Request - 90 Mary's Road
YES
~
Present
Appointment of Alternate Member
YES
~
Special Exception Request - 90 Mary's Road
YES
~
Present
Appointment of Alternate Member
YES
~
Special Exception Request - 90 Mary's Road
YES
~
Elliott Pratt
Present
Alternate
Appointment of Alternate Member
YES
✓
Appointed as the fifth member/alternate.
Jamie Silverstein
Absent
Alternate
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
3
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Chris Hodgson
Addressed
The applicant presented their plans for a residential addition located on the roadside of their property, away from the water. They explained how the project aims to meet the three criteria for a special exception, specifically regarding height and distance from the water.
Key concern
Seeking approval for a special exception to build an addition within 50 feet of a water body.
Board responseThe board engaged in an extensive discussion regarding height measurements, lot coverage, and the need for professional surveys, eventually granting the special exception with specific conditions.
The board heard the presentation and deliberated on all specific technical points raised by the applicant before granting the exception with conditions.
Jeannie Hodgson
Addressed
Jeannie Hodgson joined Chris Hodgson in presenting the application details for the property addition. They clarified the intent of the expansion and the structural changes being made.
Key concern
Seeking approval for a special exception to build an addition within 50 feet of a water body.
Board responseThe board engaged in an extensive discussion regarding height measurements, lot coverage, and the need for professional surveys, eventually granting the special exception with specific conditions.
The board addressed the combined presentation of the applicants.
Adam Hockerman
Addressed
Adam Hockerman expressed support for the project, noting that the applicants are respectful neighbors and mindful of the pond. He asked if there are any town rules or limitations regarding construction occurring on weekends.
Key concern
Inquiry regarding construction noise and timing regulations on weekends.
Board responseThe Land Use Administrator clarified that there are no limitations on building on weekends, but noted the existence of a noise ordinance regarding specific hours.
The board (via the administrator) provided a direct answer to his question about construction hours.
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Report composed by
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-05.