Planning board approves 26‑lot subdivision at 33 White Oaks Road

The Laconia Planning Board on May 5 approved application PB2026‑031, a proposal to subdivide 33 White Oaks Road into 26 lots, including 24 single‑family home lots, one lot for stormwater management and one remainder parcel. The board voted to approve the application with the staff‑recommended findings and conditions.

Neil Hansen, project manager with Tyen Bonds, described the plan as a two‑road subdivision (Ventura Drive and Serenity Drive) with three rain gardens to treat stormwater, underground utilities and new sidewalks after an earlier waiver was denied. Hansen said the design keeps development west of a wetland complex and uses rain gardens and grading to reduce peak runoff below existing conditions.

Nearby residents who spoke during public comment said some proposed building locations could be as close as 15 feet from their property lines and asked the developer to preserve tree buffers or provide fencing. Board members and the applicant said rain gardens would be placed in deeded easements and that building envelopes shown on the plan include latitude; the board suggested developers and neighbors coordinate on screening options.

Staff told the board the application was consistent with state and city land use regulations and summarized conditions of approval: TRC comments must be addressed; the applicant must submit performance guarantees and HOA documents; easements, recorded plans and required permits must be provided; erosion controls must be installed and inspected; impact fees of $9,653.67 per new single‑family dwelling apply; and the project must be completed by May 5, 2033 unless an extension is filed.

A motion to approve the application with the findings of fact and conditions passed unanimously. The board noted final utility and street‑acceptance questions are separate processes — for example, city council will decide whether to accept internal roads — and reiterated that the conditions must be met before any work may begin.