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Board grants waiver and conditional approval to convert 8 Depot Street into four residential units
Summary
The Planning Board accepted an application and granted a waiver of full site plan review and conditional final approval to convert a single‑family home at 8 Depot Street into a four‑unit residential dwelling (Case 2025‑21), subject to staff conditions; the board recorded a 6‑0‑1 vote.
The Merrimack Planning Board on July 15 accepted an application and granted both a waiver of full site plan review and conditional final approval for the conversion of 8 Depot Street from a single‑family house to a four‑unit residential building (Case 2025‑21). The board's conditional approval follows staff review and is subject to the conditions listed in the staff memo dated 07/11/2025.
Sam Foyes of Meridian Land Services, representing the applicant, told the board the site totals about 0.77 acres and the proposal would widen the driveway to 18 feet, provide 11 parking spaces (including two in the garage), and result in a net impervious increase of roughly 1,200 square feet. Foyes said DPW and the building department had been consulted about utility work and that the project may require sewer or water service upgrades to support a fire suppression system.
Why it matters: The board found that strict conformity would pose an unnecessary hardship and that granting the waiver would not contradict the spirit and intent of the regulations. The board also discussed exterior lighting, historic‑neighborhood character and grounds maintenance; the applicant agreed to provide a lighting plan and to work with staff on landscaping and maintenance commitments.
Votes and next steps The board voted to accept the waiver of full site plan review and then moved to grant conditional final approval subject to the staff memo and the recommended conditions; both actions were approved (recorded tally 6‑0‑1). The applicant must address town department comments (sewer/video inspection of existing service and potential water connection for fire suppression) on revised plans prior to final sign‑off.
Community and board concerns Board members emphasized the importance of landscaping, exterior lighting that minimizes light pollution, parking and stormwater handling. The applicant said the additional disturbance did not justify a HydroCAD model given the small net increase in impervious area, but said the team would coordinate further with DPW and the fire chief and present any required utility upgrades on revised plans.
