Kingston Planning Board members voted unanimously on a slate of administrative and zoning actions during a meeting in early 2025, approving amendments to local height and driveway-permit rules, accepting a citizen petition for the town warrant, appointing a new board member and granting extensions on two pending site-plan matters.

The decisions package matters because the zoning and regulatory changes set local development standards now slated for the warrant or administrative update; the appointment fills a vacancy on the board and the extensions preserve two active site-plan files while applicants complete external permitting.

The board voted to add a grade-plane/building-height provision for Historic District 2 to Article 102 (Historic District) so height rules are consistent across historic districts. The motion to place the language on the 2025 warrant was moved by Peter Coffin and seconded by Ellie Alessio and passed unanimously.

The board recorded receipt of a citizen petition to rezone a portion of Tax Map R19, Lot 15 from Commercial 3 to Rural Residential and confirmed the petition meets form requirements; the board voted to mark the petition as “approved” for inclusion on the warrant (motion by Peter Coffin, seconded by Ellie Alessio; passed unanimously). The board noted statutory ballot-wording requirements must appear on the ballot as required by state statute.

Members also voted to amend Article 901 (Driveway Permit Regulations), specifically sections 901.1(a) and 901.1(c), to align the regulation with current online application and payment procedures; the motion (Peter Coffin, seconded by Ellie Alessio) passed unanimously.

The board appointed Chris Patnaude as a full planning-board member; members moved and seconded the appointment and voted unanimously to direct him to be sworn in by the town clerk so he may serve through the next election cycle.

The board accepted minutes from the Dec. 3, 2024 meeting without change and approved a voluntary lot merger for property owners Derek and Nicole Vater combining lots 29 and 30 with 44 Bridgeline Park Road.

On two pending site-plan matters the board granted procedural relief. The board found that the Sanborn Seminary LLC site plan (178 Main St., Map R34 Lot 17) does not have a determination of regional impact after reviewing six DRI factors; the motion to find no regional impact was moved by Peter Coffin, seconded by Ellie Alessio and passed unanimously. Separately, the board waived the local 45-day extension limit for the application at 266 Route 125 (Map R42 Lot 17-1) and granted a 12-month extension of the conditional approval to Feb. 28, 2026, so the applicant can complete required New Hampshire Department of Transportation and off-site access approvals (motions by Peter Coffin, seconded by Ellie Alessio; both passed unanimously).

Members said the unanimous votes reflect procedural items and updates to regulations rather than new policy shifts; staff will update the town’s regulatory text, notify appropriate officials (including the school district superintendent in the Sanborn Seminary matter as a courtesy), and file the approved paperwork. No substantive changes to project scope were adopted by the board at this meeting.

The board adjourned after discussing a handful of enforcement and administrative follow-ups.