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ZBA approves variance to apply CR dimensional rules 500 feet at 33 White Oaks Road
Summary
The board granted a variance allowing Commercial Resort (CR) district dimensional requirements to extend 500 feet into the parcel at 33 White Oaks Road so a single consistent single‑family layout can be developed; neighbors raised buffer and traffic concerns and staff noted planning-board review will address screening and drainage.
The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment voted to grant a variance allowing the application of Commercial Resort (CR) dimensional requirements for a distance of 500 feet from the district boundary at 33 White Oaks Road, where the ordinance currently permits a 100-foot extension.
Attorney Ari Pollock, representing prospective developer Scott Bonapin, told the board the parcel is bisected by two zoning districts and argued the variance would enable a single, cohesive single-family subdivision rather than a split development that could place denser multifamily units near the road and larger lots toward the wetlands. "If you were to apply the rules exactly as they exist today, you would end up with 13 similarly sized single-family homes and 2 supersized estate lots," Pollock said; applying CR dimensions farther into the parcel, he said, would allow "24 homes that look the same, feel the same."
Neighbors asked about visual buffers, construction impacts and traffic on the hill; one abutter, Kim Haley, requested a screening buffer or fencing so existing homeowners are not directly overlooked. Pollock said planning-board site-plan review will address vegetated buffers, photometric lighting plans, and other technical mitigation.
After discussion, the board moved to approve the variance. The board recorded an affirmative vote; the application will proceed to the planning board for site-plan review and any subsequent permitting steps.
