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ZBA continues Vargas family request to permit detached owner‑occupancy home at 213 West River Road for further study
Summary
The ZBA continued a Vargas family variance request (Z24‑34) to allow a detached owner‑occupied residential structure on a commercial lot at 213 West River Road to Feb. 11, asking the applicants to explore alternatives and noting that site‑plan review, septic design and lot‑size constraints will be central issues.
The Hooksett Zoning Board of Adjustment continued to Feb. 11 a variance application from Jennifer and Carol Vargas (Z24‑34) to permit a detached residential building for owner occupancy on a commercially zoned property at 213 West River Road.
Applicants explained the property currently houses a dog day‑care/boarding and grooming business in the front portion of the lot; they proposed to build a modest detached ranch home in the wooded rear to provide on‑site overnight management and reduce commute time. The board and staff discussed key constraints: the lot is commercially zoned, the parcel’s assessed area is about 1.37 acres (the applicants and staff noted some historic lot‑line adjustments), the site is on septic and the existing leach field and well locations may limit possible on‑site building locations.
An abutter, CKS Realty Trust, submitted a written comment urging the applicants to provide a certified site plan showing existing and proposed grades, structures, septic and water lines, buffering and parking. The board noted the project would require site‑plan review by the Planning Board and conservation review if wetlands or drainage are implicated, and emphasized that adding a detached second dwelling to a commercial lot raises multiple regulatory issues including lot size, setbacks and impervious surface.
Board members suggested alternatives for the applicants to study — for example, attaching living space to the existing structure or renovating the existing footprint rather than constructing a second detached building — and advised the applicants to consult engineers and septic designers. The Vargas applicants asked for more time to investigate technical feasibility, and the board agreed to continue the matter to Feb. 11; the board said the applicants may withdraw and refile if they prefer after doing further design work.
