Zoning board grants variance allowing outdoor salt storage at Concord Walmart

At its regular July meeting, the Concord Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a variance allowing outdoor storage of salt and plowing equipment at the Walmart property at 344 Loudoun Road in the Gateway Performance District. The request, made by Eric Skinner on behalf of Walmart Real Estate Business Trust, sought relief from section 28 2 4 ks b 7 to permit outside storage where it is not otherwise allowed.

The applicant said the storage is necessary to keep equipment and materials near the site for faster snow-and-ice response and to separate heavy equipment from the public. Eric Skinner, representing Walmart, described the request as a safety measure: "So it's the main theme is safety." He said the salt bin is located in an underused overflow area and that having on-site materials reduces risk to shoppers and passersby. Skinner said the structure is a temporary bin-block assembly with a coverall and Jersey barriers, that salt deliveries are made "as needed," and that the site also stores a front-end loader or skid steer for winter operations.

Staff had proposed an alternate location closer to the store's "to-go" area, but Skinner and Walmart's general manager, Jessica (identified in testimony), said that alternate spot would increase interactions with high pedestrian and delivery traffic. Code enforcement offered no comment during the hearing. Board member Brenda said she saw no problem with granting the variance and noted safety and access concerns for trucks in the alternate rear locations: "I don't see a problem with it." Other board members cited the property's quasi-public access road and its heavy use as reasons the case was not "cookie-cutter" and supported approval.

A motion to grant the variance quoted in the record sought relief "from section 20 eight-two-four KB7 table of accessory uses accessory to a principal nonresidential use to allow outside storage of materials and inventory where such outside storage is not otherwise allowed in the Gateway Performance District, 344 Loudoun Road," and cited compliance with RSA 67,433. The motion was moved and seconded; the board voted unanimously to grant the variance.

The board record does not show special conditions or permit conditions attached in the hearing transcript. No members of the public spoke for or against the appeal during the public comment portion, and code enforcement reported no remarks.