Applicant seeks variance to allow plastic recycling at 25 Old Dover Road; public hearing held

Nathan Gray, applicant for Plastic Recycle, asked the Rochester Boards & Committees on the Zoning Board docket Z25-05 to grant a variance permitting light industrial recycling activity at 25 Old Dover Road (Map 132, Lot 39).

Gray, who identified his address as "3 45 Dry Hill Road, Barrington, New Hampshire," said the company would "reduce waste by repurposing plastic into valuable, sustainable products." He told the board the property historically functioned as light industrial and that a zoning change to an R-2 (residential) designation created "an unnecessary hardship" because the structure cannot reasonably be converted to residential use. "Granting the variance will allow Plastic Recycle to continue contributing to the Rochester community by transforming waste into valuable resources, creating local jobs, and promoting sustainability," Gray said.

Seth Creighton, director of planning and development, told the board staff would evaluate the application against the five criteria for variances. "One of the things that we look at is to make sure that the application addresses the 5 criteria, which I think you've done a fairly decent job at," Creighton said. He asked for clarification about the proposed operations, distinguishing between on-site production (melting and reforming plastic into new products) and secondary handling (collection, baling and shipping off-site). "The other part of the proposal...is the plastic collections, the bailing, and the shredding," Creighton said, noting some parts of the application suggested the applicant would both produce items and send off materials to other companies.

The board opened the public hearing on Z25-05, heard Gray’s presentation, and then closed the hearing; no other members of the public spoke on the record. Planning staff and the applicant exchanged questions about how to classify the use (Creighton said staff believed it fit "light industry") and what specific activities would occur on-site, including whether materials not used in production would be baled and shipped elsewhere. The transcript does not record a final decision or a formal board vote on Z25-05 during the provided excerpt.

Earlier in the meeting the board voted to accept the minutes from the previous meeting (the chair called for "All in favor? Aye" and the motion carried), and the board announced it would not hear Z25-08 (Rochester Agricultural and Mechanical Association) because that matter is currently under litigation. At the Z25-08 announcement the chair said the board’s attorney advised against hearing the case that night.

What happens next: Planning staff signaled they will continue to review the application and clarify the precise scope of on-site activities (production versus storage/baling/shipping). The record in the provided transcript ends after staff questions; no final variance decision or conditions appear in the excerpt.