[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6093657,"mediaKeyId","2845823-80095fc17530fb258df3c6b18dde4d70","parentId",2845823,"title","Votes at a glance: Planning Board approves rezoning, site plans and conversions; grants waivers and conditions","audioSeconds",826,"startMs",3550000,"endMs",4376000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845823-80095fc17530fb258df3c6b18dde4d70&start=3550&end=4376","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845823-80095fc17530fb258df3c6b18dde4d70/thumbnail_3550000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093657/New-Hampshire/Votes-at-a-glance-Planning-Board-approves-rezoning-site-plans-and-conversions-grants-waivers-and-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093657-07f535cfaa995a98cbe283e0635400ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168546&Signature=e9z02EOx60mE0oNkuxFwEJNThtKUyKtaCR7j4liMa3Akm~JVbZdflYjRxKiq76HYdNA~uW0mAriUHXcwIL1JN8Aj00PCCfxA0gXF7PGp7oHh2zWDfZ8SW8gZx4rJi5aDYF467hF19xOcqC3e0gMukxoiX8avDaWWm3pvYZ7-88lfMR9z5YNe8oFzPYvcbPCRznaT-ldIMBzXE0IABV~Ah404dx0YDrjOKMUs1aOudR-5GwmtSozm-ufbU45lu3PV-kd9-5PP0H0aEoAvTc7fXQ8rs7uRqldN8di35-wcUrDymimWnB-x8ZDXoej-WTXcoFEGM8VxwMfZKZdzaw-Agw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Laconia NH","date","2025-04-02T12:46:35.62Z","article","The Laconia Planning Board voted on several development applications at this meeting and recorded approvals, conditions and one waiver.

Rezoning — Parcel 394‑336‑50 (Newberry Lane): The board voted to recommend rezoning a parcel from RS (residential single‑family) to RA (residential apartment) and referred the matter to the City Council for adoption. Staff said the rezoning aligns with the master plan’s focus on mid‑market residential housing and the parcel was the site of a zoning‑board variance for multifamily use. The motion passed with one abstention and the board referred the measure to the council for final action.

208 Lakeside Ave (PB2025‑017): The board approved a site plan amendment to add five self‑contained RV sites to an existing campground subject to standard preconstruction, construction and postconstruction conditions. Conditions include a registered land survey of the back corner where the new sites will be placed; required permits to be in place prior to recording final plans; water‑department inspections and replacement of iron service lines if required; delineated campsites and parking; and payment of impact fees at $1.49 per square foot of each new campsite. Staff noted the approval comes with a five‑year impact‑fee vesting exemption under RSA 674:39 and a completion deadline of April 1, 2030.

427 Weyers (Weyers Boulevard) condominium conversion (PB2025‑041): The board accepted and later approved a condominium conversion that would split an existing main building into two units and convert four cottages into separate condominium units, creating up to six units. The applicant must obtain a zoning variance to allow the density, submit final condominium documents for planning‑department review and record required documents at the Belknap County Register of Deeds. The approval included a requirement for private trash service if more than four trash cans or a dumpster are used, a screened dumpster if provided, and impact fees of $3,481.37 per dwelling unit; the board recorded one abstention on the final vote.

623 Union Ave (PB2025‑046) — Erwin Chevrolet auto service addition: The board granted a waiver to exempt the applicant from preparing a new stormwater runoff analysis because the proposed addition will be built on existing paved area and drainage will continue to the same municipal system; Public Works recommended the waiver. The board then approved the site plan to add 10 automotive service bays with conditions including water‑department inspection and cover requirements for service lines, NFPA and state fire‑code compliance (including separation and oil storage requirements), trench drain and oil/water separator connections, and parking delineation. The impact fee for newly constructed floor space is $1.10 per square foot; completion deadline April 1, 2030.

4704 Leighton Ave North (PB2025‑048) — Shoreline reconstruction and house replacement: The board approved reconstruction of an existing house and a new 2‑bedroom ADU above a garage on a 1.25‑acre lot in the shoreland protection district with conditions drawn from Technical Review Committee and Conservation Commission comments. Conditions require wetland buffer mapping for nonexempt wetlands, silt‑sock erosion controls and inspections, review and recording of required permits, and adherence to fire‑department specifications. Staff noted the matter also required and received Conservation Commission review; completion deadline April 1, 2030.

Procedural notes: For several approvals the board incorporated Technical Review Committee comments and required preconstruction submittals (surveyor plans, permits), water‑department and DPW inspections, and as‑built plan submissions. Multiple approvals included the same project completion deadline (April 1, 2030) and five‑year impact‑fee vesting language in accordance with RSA 674:39.

Ending: The meeting also included a lengthy public discussion about the short‑term lodging ordinance (the board tabled that item for legal review) and staff updates on planning‑department workload and enforcement considerations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Board Meeting 04/01/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a rezoning referral, multiple site plans and a condominium conversion and granted a waiver for a stormwater analysis. Key approvals included rezoning to Residential Apartment, expansion of a campground, a 6‑unit condominium conversion, an auto‑service addition with waiver, and a shoreline reconstruction project.","taxTitle","Laconia Planning Board, Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire","taxId",68582,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093661,"Laconia Planning Board delays short‑term lodging ordinance amid enforcement, grandfathering concerns",884,187000,1071000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845823-80095fc17530fb258df3c6b18dde4d70&start=187&end=1071","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845823-80095fc17530fb258df3c6b18dde4d70/thumbnail_187000.jpg","/articles/6093661/New-Hampshire/Laconia-Planning-Board-delays-shortterm-lodging-ordinance-amid-enforcement-grandfathering-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093661-bb3a86c7fced88283e8085c12e56b9a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168546&Signature=UscMhbPFfY8dwE7vS1F2Qm9c~~3YAPqenlTz2VNwI1gB3pK7TY5w-vU88INiXRBdJF64L8SJa82l-0~efOJa3NzvRWH4~sS9K17ChVLqt6rOYHm6qZ2chE-CXurqjggegMV8qS8fEudmtQGPAWtlrRCKDFMfoXRLH7uOFFsKV33br5jxUE0n5brTQMKenSAzt~JFm-UvyvGDMqVILdLxM0vq6H8Mqd5sbtr8sN76WI~~1~HN918hXa8wTAA3eDjnRx1swRkcbSRvdM7vde-7Ls1Q7CakTw4G~ahjNiNd8LXwM5eGkwL0uI-zlBAneRmCB0FzaNvIO8r8uawLFYj5iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laconia Planning Board opened public comment on a proposed amendment to the city’s short‑term lodging ordinance and voted to table the item to the next meeting so the city’s legal counsel can review new case law.

The proposal, described by staff as an update to the city’s short‑term lodging rules, drew multiple public speakers who said the draft does not do enough to address compliance or protect the city’s year‑round housing stock. “The proposed amendment does not go far enough. It needs to address compliance issues and it needs language to provide guidance to make a good case to deny applications where appropriate,” said Marcia Hayward of Wildwood Road, who clarified she was speaking as a private citizen and not for the Zoning Board.

The public commentators said current rules have broad grandfathering and enforcement gaps. John Hildreth (Ward 1) told the board he sees a “dramatic flaw” in the ordinance’s grandfather clause: properties used occasionally for short‑term rentals before the ordinance were treated as continuing commercial uses after sale, effectively allowing a residential property to function as a hotel in a neighborhood. “Because a property was used in this manner, then that property in a residential zone becomes a commercial property,” Hildreth said.

Planning staff said the update rewrites the ordinance and removes a five‑year automatic grandfathering rule that previously applied to short‑term uses. Planning Director Rob Mora said the draft “completely rewritten the ordinance. We have removed that, and we have put it back to the standard criteria for every other special exception to make sure that it's in line with the neighborhood, it’s in line with the master plan, and it's not a burden to any city services.” He said properties with an existing special exception would become preexisting nonconforming uses and could continue until the use is abandoned for the statutory period.

The draft ordinance also includes a revised definition of “primary residence” that would require a person to occupy a property at least 200 days annually and to supply two or more documents (for example, a valid New Hampshire driver’s license, vehicle registration or utility bills) to claim primary residency. Staff read that definition into the record during the meeting.

Board members and speakers pressed staff on enforcement and monitoring. Hayward and others said the city currently lacks an effective way to validate owners’ claims about days of residency and rental counts. Mora and assistant planner Tyler Carmichael said the draft adds permit and renewal language that planners expect will give the Zoning Board better ability to deny inappropriate special exceptions; legal review was requested to examine how far the city can require retroactive compliance or re‑permit existing uses.

After public comment and staff discussion the board voted to continue the amendment to the next meeting so city legal staff can review recent case law and the draft. The motion to table passed without recorded opposition.

The board scheduled the item to return next month for continued public comment and further legal review; staff asked members and the public to submit written comments beforehand.

Ending: The tabling means the city will not adopt any changes at this meeting. The draft ordinance’s key changes — removal of the five‑year grandfathering rule for automatic approvals, the 200‑day primary residence definition and added permit/renewal language — remain under review and subject to further revision once legal counsel reports back.","The board opened public comment on a proposed amendment to the city’s short‑term lodging rules, heard residents and zoning board members raise concerns about grandfathering and enforcement, and voted to continue the item to allow legal review of new case law.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Planning Board approves rezoning, site plans and conversions; grants waivers and conditions

Laconia Planning Board delays short‑term lodging ordinance amid enforcement, grandfathering concerns