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Nashua ZBA unanimously approves second‑floor residence above longtime Amherst Street dental office
Summary
The Nashua Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a use variance and special exception to allow a second‑story dwelling over an existing dental office at 61 Amherst St., and to permit a 4‑ft encroachment for an exterior stair. The property had an identical, now‑expired approval from 2021.
The Nashua Zoning Board of Adjustment on November 12 approved a variance and special exception allowing a second‑story single‑family dwelling above an existing dental office at 61 Amherst Street and a four‑foot encroachment for an exterior stair.
Attorney Elizabeth Hartigan, representing You Fend Soon LLC, told the board that a nearly identical approval was granted in 2021 but had expired, and that “the time is now, and they’re ready to construct.” Hartigan said the proposal keeps the dental office on the first floor and adds one residential unit above, accessed by an external stair on the building’s right side. She told the board the site has seven parking spaces; her calculation estimated six spaces would be required for the combined uses, leaving one extra space on site.
Board members said the project fits the neighborhood pattern. Vice‑chair Josh Neely noted many adjacent buildings are multistory and said the addition would “make it look more like the buildings around it.” Members discussed lot size and the building’s long history as a dental office, and concluded the request met the variance criteria, including minimal traffic impact and no expansion of the building footprint.
Neely moved to approve the variance for the mixed commercial/residential use; JP Boucher seconded. The board then approved the special exception to allow the four‑foot encroachment for the exterior stair; Joseph Pottery seconded. Both motions passed unanimously. Chair Jay Mancara noted a 30‑day window for appeals.
The board’s approvals restore permission previously granted in 2021 but expired by lapse of time. No members of the public spoke for or against the applications during the hearing.
