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ZBA approves subdivision at 33 Rowell St.; board finds lot can support two-family use
Summary
The board granted a variance allowing the subdivision of 33 Rowell Street so the resulting lot may support a two-family dwelling; board members said new construction will still be subject to setback and green-space review at later stages.
The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment voted to permit subdivision of 33 Rowell Street into two lots and approved related density allowances so a buildable lot could be created on the left side of the parcel.
Stephanie (last name not stated) described the site as a deep lot currently containing a two-family and said the proposal splits the roughly 0.48‑acre parcel into two lots with roughly 63.8 feet of frontage each, which is below the typical 80-foot frontage standard. The board heard a written objection from Lori Pawlowski Reitzma, who said she owns an adjacent property and expressed long-term maintenance concerns and the potential for increased parking pressure.
Board members noted the neighborhood contains other multi-family properties and that the long, deep lot can reasonably accommodate another buildable parcel. The board found the subdivision to be consistent with the neighborhood character and voted to approve the application to subdivide the lot and permit two-family use on the new parcel. One board member said he would prefer a single-family structure on the new lot but the majority concluded the application met the variance criteria.
Staff explained that any future construction on the new lot will still require planning-board review for setbacks, green space and parking; if proposed new construction does not meet those requirements, the future builder must seek separate variances.
The board approved the application (recorded as ZB2025-048 in the file) with findings that the subdivision is consistent with nearby lot patterns and that site depth allows for buildable lots.
