[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6653336,"mediaKeyId","2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43","parentId",2484019,"title","Planning Board continues Granite Woods subdivision after wide-ranging discussion on access, TIF and wetland impacts","audioSeconds",4837,"startMs",1623000,"endMs",6460000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43&start=1623&end=6460","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43/thumbnail_1623000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653336/Hooksett/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-Board-continues-Granite-Woods-subdivision-after-wide-ranging-discussion-on-access-TIF-and-wetland-impacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653336-a1e7be6161918773d95c38e458db5c88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195574&Signature=BG3ZpJa4~uMJLidrYFqUNdzJYjNhhpODeTp~UYJyT10UGDmJ5WIcDHvZubUQ1UW0zcNIqrTEH8ATGW8iJ8wlp7W~seMvl3IF-PWV-e97qYXvM3nGplla7g6CT8Viq-DFy7gN3yzHv08dVwEPrFgkC5n3bSiXAswNvdVuSlIl3yZUNV2Z144eFJt1qiwPdK~c9E-bFUQFTxo0SGL5suubLEJsMJc7QdX-pavehVefXPYM9KlzsAWOABMcfmYlAxjP6iHa0Z3n-e6Sl8WPTjcliD0jBdd9xL3urukrThA2dJbnlblY5DCHQSBb94sUlWBn~j8xDVDifT39HI2sw8r5ZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hooksett","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Hooksett Planning Board on March 3 accepted jurisdiction for an application from Granite Woods LLC to subdivide and create land condominium parcels on a roughly 60-acre site known as Lot 7, but the board deferred final action and continued the public hearing to March 17 amid detailed questions about access, TIF financing and wetland impacts.

Attorney John Cronin, representing the applicant, and project engineer Richard Whitehouse of VHB presented the plan: the master site is roughly 60 acres with approvals and infrastructure in place for phased construction of up to a 500,000-square-foot industrial building. As presented, the applicant seeks to carve a northeastern parcel—shown as proposed Lot 72—of approximately 10.29 acres off the larger property so that the developer can secure mortgage financing for the first phase (about 100,000 square feet) without encumbering the entire site.

Why it matters: The parcel sits adjacent to a town TIF (tax increment financing) district and conservation land, and board members and dozens of public speakers raised questions about whether subdividing and creating condominium interests will complicate the town’s TIF objectives, whether the proposed private access off Hackett Hill Road is safe, and whether waivers requested for driveway geometry and deferred submittal of condominium documents were appropriate at this stage.

Waivers and driveway issues: Richard Whitehouse summarized waiver requests the applicant had included: reduced length for low-gradient driveway approach (50 feet at 2 percent in lieu of the standard 100 feet), reduced horizontal centerline radii on the private driveway curve (the applicant argued the driveway is a low-speed site drive rather than a 30-mph road), deferral of detailed landscaping plans and condominium documents until later submissions, and limited waivers to monumentation where proposed corners fall inside prime wetland. The applicants showed multiple iterations of driveway locations along the Hackett Hill frontage and said the only location that met Hooksett’s commercial intersection sight-distance standard of posted speed + 5 mph (35 mph = 390 feet per the town exhibit) would place the driveway in or against a wetland buffer; using AASHTO (30 mph = ~335 feet) would reduce wetland impacts.

Board and public reaction: Several Planning Board members and the town’s DES representative said the applicant had made mitigation efforts; multiple board members said they would be comfortable applying the AASHTO standard in this low-trip setting. But abutters and other public commenters told the board they were concerned about safety on Hackett Hill, existing accident history at nearby corners, the thickness of retaining walls required for the driveway, R.O.W. easement history affecting access, impacts to groundwater and the timing of sewer and water connections. One speaker said the property has \"constant accidents there\" and called the proposed Hackett Hill access \"a disaster waiting to happen.\" Another public commenter said the town had invested millions in water and sewer infrastructure and sought clarity on how subdivision and condominiumization would affect TIF revenues.

Procedural actions: The board accepted jurisdiction for the application during the hearing after a roll-call vote. A motion by a board member to find the proposal had potential for regional impact (pursuant to RSA 36:56) failed; board members recorded no for that motion during roll call. After extended discussion and public comment, the board voted to continue the public hearing to March 17; the applicant said it would return prepared to revise access and condominium documentation in response to the concerns.

Ending: The board did not approve subdivision or condo documents on March 3. The continued hearing will give the applicant time to address access alternatives, finalize condominium documents or propose conditions the board wants to see prior to approval, and supply any additional engineering and landscaping details the board requested.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hooksett - Planning Board - Mar 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Hooksett Planning Board on March 3 accepted jurisdiction for an application from Granite Woods LLC to subdivide and create land condominium parcels on a roughly 60-acre site known as Lot 7, but the board deferred final action and continued the public hearing to March 17 amid detailed questions about access, TIF financing and wetland impacts.","taxTitle","Hooksett, Merrimack County , New Hampshire","taxId",68560,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653341,"Planning board hears concept for New Hampshire Veterinary Center for Wildlife in Goffstown Road area",430,322000,752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43&start=322&end=752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43/thumbnail_322000.jpg","/articles/6653341/Hooksett/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-board-hears-concept-for-New-Hampshire-Veterinary-Center-for-Wildlife-in-Goffstown-Road-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653341-33a8b85b65dee1df0981a56b0b787f2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195574&Signature=AkzOonEOzNn3io0NB5zsWkMIavAn~MVH9RdhvBDES4jlLGWkH9KYobTkC7oYtz13e04ylk~g242hASCNtbkDNI5nICd0i5V8LtB4whlcjUBKQhTNaxVmxsazv8MBNHO6X7taumCeDvdVg4El7w0qJdePHPAA5gcmsvWyopyxlMgsb1PttltEGiG~PH7Z~zQQ-492jnmS2OOf~s5jWsyOZlaPceIXd9i0e~nr2PBwY2JYDSOWaul95SqJ-AYKi7wniRRoO4sCRf2ZMks~CfSUH5lNGmsLQRVjCwriyVmQFjMpzv-x6k3bskoOFeFBrZwKWLwSG0SYGmmAJBuTrm-5iQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A concept plan for the New Hampshire Veterinary Center for Wildlife drew a largely receptive response from the Hooksett Planning Board on March 3 as the project team described a wildlife-only rescue, surgery and rehabilitation facility proposed for 30 Goffstown Road.

The applicant said the project’s goal is to rescue and repair injured and orphaned wildlife, rehabilitate them in pens on-site and educate veterinary students and volunteers. \"There are four key tenets of the center. First is rescue, second is repair, third is rehabilitate, and then four is educate,\" said Helen Dutton, identified in the meeting as a co-founder of the New Hampshire Veterinary Center for Wildlife.

Dutton told the board that rescue traffic would be low: most animals will be retrieved by the rehabilitator, New Hampshire Fish and Game or a good Samaritan and brought to the facility. She said surgical days would involve a veterinarian and one or two technicians and that rehabilitation shifts are expected to be limited — \"no more than one person doing the rehabilitation at a time,\" she said.

Why it matters: Town staff and board members focused most of their questions on access and environmental protections. The parcel is large — the project team said the overall tract is about 100 acres and the applicant is proposing to convert about 21 acres for this use — and it sits adjacent to town conservation lands and wetland complexes the applicant intends to avoid or minimize impacts to.

Traffic and sight-distance debate: Kevin Leonard of Northpointe Engineering and other project representatives described their attempt to find a driveway location that meets Hooksett’s commercial driveway sight-distance requirement, which in town rules is the posted speed limit plus 5 miles per hour (30 mph posted in the location cited by the applicant, producing a 35 mph design speed and a corresponding 390-foot intersection sight-distance requirement under the ordinance). The applicants said that meeting the town’s default intersection-sight-distance standard at that 35-mph threshold would push them into wetland buffer areas. They therefore asked the board whether the town had previously allowed relief to a standard based on AASHTO (the national standard) at the posted 30-mph speed, which corresponds to about a 335-foot sight distance.

Kevin Leonard explained they tested multiple driveway locations along the frontage and said only a location adjacent to the wetland complex achieved the default 390-foot requirement; alternative locations either failed for horizontal/vertical geometry or would have required crossing wetland buffers.

Board feedback and next steps: Several members, including Paul Scarpetti (identified in the meeting as attending remotely), signaled support for using the AASHTO stopping/intersection sight-distance standard in this case because the center will generate minimal traffic. \"I would be fine making that kind of an adjustment,\" Scarpetti said, referring to the national standard. Another board member and the town’s DES representative said the applicant had shown mitigation efforts and that conservation had raised no concerns at this stage.

No formal vote or approval was requested at the concept discussion; the board asked the applicant to return with complete construction plans, detailed driveway plans that minimize wetland impacts and any required conservation or wetland permitting documentation. The applicant said it would come back with a full plan set.

Ending: The meeting record shows the discussion ended as a concept review only; the board did not take formal action or grant any waivers at that session. The applicant is expected to submit full engineering and site plans in a later, formal application process.

","Developers described a proposed wildlife-only rescue, repair and rehabilitation center on a roughly 100-acre tract; board members and staff focused questions on driveway sight distance, wetland impacts and the limited traffic the center would generate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653327,"Planning Board approves 4-lot subdivision on Merrimack Street with conditions including paved shared driveway",150,11675000,11825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43&start=11675&end=11825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43/thumbnail_11675000.jpg","/articles/6653327/Hooksett/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-Board-approves-4-lot-subdivision-on-Merrimack-Street-with-conditions-including-paved-shared-driveway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653327-0b2e36915b829f09d8d3be3fb1352243/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195574&Signature=Divj8EFuVhYkxL~raycbdgSLqmsHIYdveJMQRqtRZCdCPWH9EfbZiW4bWiy1n2nUh5Eje~NHBYKIfYT9RWjUjlehVia1gY9rUVJaKpDR4CeuvvnimzPa3CfxNgCU2b~WKbYm8Qx8NScZu1bDK8pNALRm4C4KZvwXj~ui33l9zXaloX38rDIvPcKE1qrDV3ixbstICMa8Ty~1jllPL92NH6yu~tfQSMpJxnuF6vcz~ZoKDsiMaA0oSPbd9fSC-2KMZ8FzmiBYa5FkeUYsTiqchFb94TPSIchr28budNI7Dzi8nM8-iihNnDt~VK6CKdOKT7JfwnNElqiIsy6rMamTzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hooksett Planning Board approved a four-lot subdivision for an 8.84-acre parcel on Merrimack Street on March 3, imposing standard conditions and several site-specific requirements including paving of a shared driveway segment and submission of erosion control plans prior to construction.

Applicant Tim Bernier of Hoyle Tanner presented the proposal on behalf of property owner Lance Macy. The plan proposes four single-family lots in the medium-density residential (MDR) district; each proposed lot met minimum lot-area and frontage standards on the submitted plan. Two of the lots will share a common driveway access; the board required that the common section of that driveway be paved to eliminate future maintenance disputes and to ensure safe year-round access.

Why it matters: The board also confirmed that proposed well radii, labeled on the subdivision plan for subdivision review purposes, fit within each lot — a procedural requirement for on-lot wells — but noted that final well locations may be adjusted at building-permit time. The applicant and board discussed wetland mapping and prime-wetland adjacency; the applicant reported no prime wetland impacts and that proposed building areas are located near the road.

Conditions, impact fees and vote: Engineering and staff notes were included as conditions; the planning board also assessed standard impact fees for schools, public safety, recreation and roadways, totaling $33,676 under the town schedule. The board’s conditional approval required erosion control plans for construction, confirmation of DOT driveway permit compliance (state review pending), and pavement of the shared driveway portion before construction. The motion to approve the subdivision and the standard conditions passed by roll call.

Ending: The board closed the public hearing and granted conditional approval on March 3. The approval included standard subsequent conditions, and the applicant will submit required erosion-control and driveway documentation prior to building permits and prior to construction where indicated.

","The board approved a four-lot subdivision for 8.84 acres on Merrimack Street with standard conditions, required paving of shared driveway sections and erosion controls for construction; impact fees were assessed and recorded.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653331,"Eagle's Nest site plan continued after board seeks more landscaping, DOT driveway detail",2392,6745000,9137000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43&start=6745&end=9137","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484019-27a972dd2584d5dab2231e0bec39ae43/thumbnail_6745000.jpg","/articles/6653331/Hooksett/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Eagles-Nest-site-plan-continued-after-board-seeks-more-landscaping-DOT-driveway-detail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653331-2797d37ab70d4fbe7c878e7a4b49ff49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195574&Signature=cTeA67juQDdYqmAtxGai7PN5xa6GGlZkiTOOqqIyGSraFIJG-~43vdx2Pbnu3pme1Jg2JzS6NP6aMfWnpmCtoSI-b0bNKzMUbEx6Dlf2pIRxGFI~WdbeF1M29x4Plhpj3qP53bMqlGksejxpOOfG3p7eUBsL3FdP65IG9hPC4aTZ5dLhHa8ST2Bdfje1UsLkLBIDb1L5b3kJnbhACFd32jALqyp5Lkb4It8jfSWUeXW71Zk~rFk1OQekD0lZL0cQ0zr71QQmILdP-zeCV88vVjthihJ7tabs0ntcI4wXdYqTvXqByNChm55H7XGWR1H-tMKY63tl8NIcK-TBkYZj3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning Board accepted jurisdiction and opened a public hearing on a commercial site plan amendment for Eagle’s Nest at 1501 Hooksett Road on March 3, then continued the matter after asking the applicant to provide additional landscaping detail, updated turning/striping plans and a finalized DOT driveway application.

Meridian Land Services’ Bridall Caspersen described the proposal as a reuse and expansion of an existing lodging property that would add 14 additional cabin units and a storage building, convert part of the main building to three lodging units and laundry space, and tie the site to public water and sewer. The applicant proposed removing the existing septic once the public sewer connection is available, and retaining the on-site well for irrigation only.

Why it matters: The project is a reuse of an established hospitality site and involves new sewer and water connections, stormwater work (two surface infiltration basins) and a DOT driveway amendment because the property has multiple existing accesses to NH Route 3A. Planning Board members and staff told the applicant the design generally fit the site but requested stronger landscaping detail, a complete DOT driveway determination and minor engineering clarifications before final action.

Key technical points and public comments: Town engineering and fire staff requested clearer spot grades and a turning-movement diagram that shows striping so maneuvers do not encroach on parking spaces; the fire department asked for an additional hydrant. The town engineer and the applicant discussed stormwater basins and conveyance to ensure runoff from the driveway and upstream areas is captured and routed into the proposed infiltration basins. Public commenters — including an adjacent neighborhood property manager — raised questions about the construction schedule and whether units will be occupied while sewer and water hookups are installed; the applicant said work would be staged and services transitioned in a short timeframe.

Board direction and next steps: The board voted to continue the public hearing so the applicant can submit a more detailed landscape plan (street trees and interior island planting), explicit exterior color/architecture notes for new cabins, a finalized DOT driveway amendment or correspondence and clearer stormwater conveyance details. The board also asked for the applicant to show elevations with proposed color palettes and to address the fire department’s hydrant request.

Ending: The hearing was continued by vote; no final approval was granted March 3. Planning staff and the applicant said they will return with the requested design clarifications and the DOT response.

","A proposal to convert and expand Eagle's Nest lodging on Hooksett Road moved forward procedurally but the Planning Board asked for more landscaping, a DOT driveway permit and minor engineering clarifications before final approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning Board continues Granite Woods subdivision after wide-ranging discussion on access, TIF and wetland impacts

Planning board hears concept for New Hampshire Veterinary Center for Wildlife in Goffstown Road area

Planning Board approves 4-lot subdivision on Merrimack Street with conditions including paved shared driveway

Eagle's Nest site plan continued after board seeks more landscaping, DOT driveway detail