Planning board approves conditions for commercial site plan at 51 Londonderry Turnpike; waivers and impact fees authorized

The Hooksett Planning Board on Monday granted approval, with conditions, for a commercial site plan at 51 Londonderry Turnpike and approved related waivers and impact fees.

The applicant, identified in the board's motion as Kurchinski, brought photos and an updated site plan showing tree and debris removal, new siding on a portion of the building, new roof elements and proposed snow‑storage areas. Town staff reported the applicant had submitted a revised plan showing snow storage, a note confirming the absence of wetlands, and photos of new siding and window repairs.

The board granted three waivers the applicant requested: a waiver of four parking spaces (relating to parking in front of existing loading doors), a waiver from the requirement to submit a formal lighting plan, and a waiver from some landscaping design criteria. The board voted in favor of each waiver during the meeting.

Under the site plan approval the board also assessed impact fees for traffic and public safety totaling $17,008.59; the applicant did not request an impact‑fee waiver. The board approved the site plan under RSA 674 statutory authority, with conditions addressing building appearance, paving and timing of exterior improvements.

Several board members said the property had been an eyesore and that the submitted cleanup and siding work represented a marked improvement. Town planner staff confirmed the commercial architectural standards apply to new buildings or exterior structural improvements; the applicant told the board the recent siding and roofing work addressed leaking and would be followed by coordinated color and material changes to the visible front portion of the building.

Conditions and timing the board set during the approval include: (1) finish specified front facade improvements (wrap the new siding and remove/replace the red sign area) before a certificate of occupancy (the board set 90 days as the timeline discussed for immediate front work where practical); (2) complete the remaining exterior painting and coordinated siding updates across the building within one year of certificate of occupancy; and (3) repave the parking lot within two years of certificate of occupancy. The board also recorded that certain overhead doors at the side of the building would be retained as loading bays and that parking in front of those doors would be removed; the earlier waiver removed four parking spaces in those locations.

Planning Board members discussed additional details the applicant agreed to address: coordinate final lighting with the code‑enforcement officer (Dana), remove graffiti and clean the foundation areas, replace or update the roadside sign, and clean or replace tree and stump areas in front of the site. Board member Sheena Gilbert asked that the front elevation be made visually consistent with the new siding and that the painted ramp area be done in a neutral trim color, such as a beige, rather than leave bright yellow paint.

The board also adopted findings of fact and accepted jurisdiction for the application and found there was no regional impact under the RSA standard for this project. As part of the approval the board required the applicant to submit signed site‑plan copies for recording and to coordinate permits with the town's building official after plan signatures were in place.

What this means: Kurchinski's site plan is approved subject to the listed conditions and timelines; the applicant may begin certain exterior cleanup and painting work now but must complete the front facade adjustments before a certificate of occupancy and satisfy the one‑year and two‑year timelines the board set for full exterior painting and paving, respectively. The board will require plan signatures to release permits and noted compliance will be enforced through the usual permitting and inspection process.