Keene advances housing‑focused LDC changes: smaller lots, higher by‑right unit counts, and new split‑zone rules

City of Keene planners and elected members continued work on Ordinance O‑2025‑15, a package of Land Development Code amendments intended to encourage housing development. Mary Brenner, Senior Planner, described a set of staff recommendations: remove the setback/build‑to items now handled in the separate ordinance O‑2025‑20; add residential uses explicitly to the Neighborhood Business District purpose statement; lower the minimum lot area in that district to 5,000 square feet; reduce some dimensional requirements for smaller lots; allow up to six dwelling units by right in the Medium Density District (subject to existing thresholds and reviews); permit Ground‑Floor dwelling units in the Downtown Growth District when they are located behind build‑to zone commercial frontage; and adopt clearer rules for parcels split between zoning districts.

Petitioner and resident Jared Goodell (160 Emerald Street) said he originally proposed a 600‑square‑foot cap per…