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ZBA approves conversion and small green-space reduction at 51 Academy St.
Summary
The board granted a special-use/density variance to convert a nonconforming single-family lot at 51 Academy Street into a two-family residence and approved a 5% reduction in required green space.
The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment voted to allow the owner of 51 Academy Street to replace a nonconforming single-family house with a two-family residence and to reduce the required green space on the lot from 60% to 55%.
Sarah Warty, the engineer for DuBois & King who presented the application, told the board the existing home sits on a 0.09-acre undersized lot and that the proposed development would shrink the building footprint while adding four off-street parking spaces to serve two units. “We are shrinking the footprint of the building to become more conforming than the existing structure,” Warty said.
Board members said the project would improve a poor existing condition and that providing two units with on-site parking would be preferable to the current arrangement of on-street or alley parking. No members of the public spoke against the application. The board approved application ZB2025-045 to permit conversion to a two-family and approved ZB2025-046 to reduce green space to 55%; both motions used the application materials as the finding of facts and passed with the board members present during the hearing.
The planning staff noted the proposal will require a site-plan submission to planning board for final approval and that the project team has supplied additional materials, including a lawyer’s supplemental information, to support the application. The board conditioned nothing specific during the hearing and recorded the findings in the file.
Applicants were thanked for a clear presentation and told to proceed with the planning-board process.
