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Councilors debate Seton Academy reuse of Pinewood Medical Center; state law limits local planning review
Summary
Councilors and residents raised traffic, outreach and tax concerns after Seton Academy erected signs at the former Pinewood Medical Center; staff said state law restricts planning-board review for religious institutions that do not expand building footprint.
Somersworth City Councilors and residents discussed plans by Seton Academy, a private religious school, to occupy the former Pinewood Medical Center on Route 108 and raised concerns about neighbor outreach, traffic and tax implications.
Councilor Witham told the council the building had been for sale for months and that Seton Academy’s placement of a banner and yard signs alerted neighbors before staff or council were contacted. He said the change “seemed to be a rather dramatic reuse of the property” and said residents had expressed worries about traffic and noise.
City staff informed councilors that New Hampshire enacted…
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