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Planning Board — March 16, 2026

Meeting followed standard agenda with informational updates and routine approvals; minor procedural discussion and one interruption were handled without escalation or unresolved conflict.

Date Monday, March 16, 2026 Public comments 2 Decisions 4 Routine
📄 Minutes

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

At the March 16, 2026 Warner Planning Board meeting, Chair Karen Coyne elevated alternate Micah Thompson to voting member for the session after a point of order questioned the board's authority to do so. A motion to recommend him as a permanent voting member was withdrawn once Thompson stated his preference to remain an alternate while working on EDAC revival.

The board approved a voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 by a 7-0 vote. The request came from Howard Kirchner to remove a deeded right-of-way, and members discussed current use implications before approving.

Additional steps were assigned on solar array visibility compliance and Class VI roads review. Official minutes have not yet been posted.

Mar 16, 2026 2 public comments 4 decisions Routine
❝ Notable statements ↔ Drag to browse

“Micah Thompson prefers to remain an alternate while reviving EDAC”

— Bob Holmes · During alternate elevation discussion 00:00

“State contact indicated flood map adoption for Warner River not until late 2026; 2010 maps remain in effect”

— Ed Mical · Flood plain discussion 00:00

“Will do everything possible to secure meetings following graphic interruption”

— Karen Coyne · Resuming after interruption 00:00

“Solar array was not to be visible from the highway per prior agreement; vegetative barrier suggested if needed”

— James Gaffney · Communications on solar array compliance 00:00
This meeting — choose a section

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: James Gaffney, Pier D’Aprile, Barak Greene, Karen Coyne, Bob Holmes, Micah Thompson
What was discussed

Discussion on recommending Micah Thompson as a voting member to fill a vacancy; point of order raised on authority, motion withdrawn after Thompson expressed preference to remain alternate.

Speakers: Ed Mical, James Gaffney, Pier D’Aprile, Barak Greene, Karen Coyne, John Leavitt
What was discussed

Update on Warner River/Contoocook Watershed flood maps; 2010 maps remain in effect until late 2026 adoption, with discussion of study changes, past flooding, and control structures.

Speakers: Howard Kirchner, Karen Coyne, Pier D’Aprile, Bob Holmes, James Gaffney, Barak Greene, John Leavitt
What was discussed

Howard Kirchner requested merger of two parcels to eliminate a deeded right-of-way; board reviewed history, current use implications, and approved the merger.

Speakers: Pier D’Aprile, James Gaffney, Karen Coyne, Barak Greene, Mike Smith, John Leavitt, Bob Holmes
What was discussed

Approved March 2, 2026 minutes; discussed delayed Class VI roads review, Peacock follow-up, solar array visibility review, AOT permits, and related court/legislative matters.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
2
Total speakers
2
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Ed Mical
Addressed
Ed Mical presented updated information on the status of new FEMA flood plain maps for the Warner River/Contoocook Watershed. He explained that map adoption is delayed until late 2026, the 2010 maps remain in effect, and the new maps reflect changes since the 1970s studies including past flood events. Key concern
Status and implications of updated flood plain maps and their effect on the town
Board response
Board members asked clarifying questions about rationale for changes, flash flood scenarios, and differences from current maps; Karen Coyne noted an upcoming public discussion on March 26
Board engaged directly in discussion and asked questions; no formal action required
Howard Kirchner
Addressed
Howard Kirchner requested approval of a voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19. He explained the history of the lots, the deeded right-of-way issue, and his desire to eliminate the un-surveyed railroad crossing easement by merging the parcels. Key concern
Approval of voluntary lot merger and handling of associated right-of-way
Board response
Board asked questions about current use, assessed value, and deed language; then voted unanimously to approve the merger
Board discussed the request and formally approved the merger via roll call vote

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
00:00
Motion to recommend Micah Thompson as voting member withdrawn
After discussion; Thompson preferred to remain alternate
Withdrawn
00:00
Elevated Micah Thompson to voting member for this meeting
Action by Chair Karen Coyne
00:00
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19
Motion by Barak Greene, seconded by John Leavitt
7-0 (Leavitt YAY, D’Aprile YAY, Gaffney YAY, Thompson YAY, Greene YAY, Smith YAY, Coyne YAY)
00:00
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes
Motion by Pier D’Aprile, seconded by James Gaffney
6-0 (Leavitt YAY, D’Aprile YAY, Gaffney YAY, Thompson YAY, Greene YAY, Coyne YAY; Smith ABSTAIN)

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Procedural decision by chair to alter board composition mid-meeting
Warner Planning Board 3/16/26: Chair Karen Coyne elevated alternate Micah Thompson to voting member for the meeting after a point of order on authority. Original motion was withdrawn when Thompson said he preferred to stay... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/planning-board/2026-03-16/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
311/280 chars
Specific land use decision and its direct effect on property records
Warner Planning Board approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 on 3/16/26 by 7-0 vote. Request from Howard Kirchner aimed to remove a deeded right-of-way; board reviewed current use impacts before approving. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/planning-board/2026-03-16/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
301/280 chars
Follow-up on earlier compliance commitment
Board also set action item for solar array visibility review after prior agreement that the array would not be visible from the highway. Vegetative barrier discussed if compliance fails. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/planning-board/2026-03-16/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
272/280 chars

X thread

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Warner Planning Board met 3/16/26. Chair elevated alternate Micah Thompson to full voting status for that meeting after point of order on authority. Motion to recommend him permanently was withdrawn when he said he preferred to remain alternate and... #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
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2
Board then approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 by 7-0 vote. Howard Kirchner requested it to eliminate a deeded right-of-way. Members reviewed history and current use implications before passing the motion from Barak Greene.
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3
Other actions: flood map update (2010 maps stay until late 2026), March 2 minutes approved 6-0 with one abstention, and new task for solar array visibility check against prior non-visibility agreement. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/planning-board/2026-03-16/
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Facebook — long form

At the March 16, 2026 Warner Planning Board meeting, Chair Karen Coyne elevated alternate Micah Thompson to voting member for the session after a point of order questioned the board's authority to do so. A motion to recommend him as a permanent voting member was withdrawn once Thompson stated his preference to remain an alternate while working on EDAC revival.

The board approved a voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 by a 7-0 vote. The request came from Howard Kirchner to remove a deeded right-of-way, and members discussed current use implications before approving.

Additional steps were assigned on solar array visibility compliance and Class VI roads review. Official minutes have not yet been posted. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/planning-board/2026-03-16/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Complete additional work on Class VI roads discussion
Assigned: Barak Greene
Review solar array meeting minutes for visibility compliance and consider remedies if needed
Assigned: Planning Board
Request Peacock submit discussion questions in writing for next meeting review
Assigned: James Gaffney / Planning Board · Due: Next Planning Board meeting

Member ⁠positions

2 issues · 2 explicit · 0 inferred
Present
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 YES ✓
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Present
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 YES ✓
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Present
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 YES ✓
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Absent
Present
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 YES ✓
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Present
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 YES ✓
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Harry Seidel (Selectboard Ex-Officio)
Selectboard Ex-Officio
Absent
Present
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 YES ✓
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Absent
Present
Present
Approved voluntary merger of parcels -17 and -19 YES ✓
Approved March 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes 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-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-01.