Committee continues rezoning request for 425 Marlborough Street and asks staff to draft broader zoning fixes

A petitioner seeking to rezone 425 Marlborough Street from Neighborhood Business to Low Density asked the Keene Planning, Licenses and Development Committee on Tuesday to clear a zoning path for a cottage‑court housing project; the committee voted unanimously to continue the public workshop and asked staff to prepare a revised ordinance and broader code changes before returning for further review.

The request was brought by Jeb Thurmond, owner of property at 425 Marlborough Street and a member of Keene Marlborough Group LLC. Thurmond told the committee he is not a developer and described the proposal as an opportunity to create smaller, affordable rental housing near downtown. “I like the idea of the cottage court idea,” Thurmond said, adding that his interest grew from conversations with city staff and personal difficulty finding housing for family members.

The committee’s action follows a detailed staff presentation by Evan Clements, city planner, who placed the lot on the city’s future‑land‑use map and explained how the proposed map amendment would change allowed uses and dimensional rules. “We are looking at a potential zoning change for 425 Marlborough Street from neighborhood business to low density,” Clements said, noting the parcel contains a single‑family…