ZBA grants special exception for boarding house at 24 McGrath Street, limits occupancy to nine

The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment voted May 19 to grant a special exception for a boarding/rooming house at 24 McGrath Street, attaching conditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts.

Applicant Davis described plans to operate the property with an on‑site manager, aggressive tenancy screening, camera and alarm systems and coordination with a community action program to place pre‑screened residents. "Everything is on contract," the applicant said, describing camera coverage, alarm work and lease terms that the applicant said would allow expedited removal for violations. He told the board the proposed use would provide affordable housing for people who cannot access typical market rentals.

Neighbors countered with a long history of complaints about prior uses of the property under former operators, citing noise, police and ambulance calls and privacy concerns from windows facing adjacent yards. One neighbor said repeated incidents had produced trauma for residents living next door. Several neighbors urged either denial or strict conditions.

Board members debated enforceable conditions. Because the property had existed in a similar use for years, members found it difficult to demonstrate that the special exception would produce worse outcomes than the historical pattern, but agreed that occupancy and on‑site management were enforceable tools to reduce neighborhood impacts. The board approved the special exception (application CB2026‑056) and attached conditions limiting total occupancy to nine people, one of whom must be the on‑site property manager; the board also directed staff to set the permitted use on the tax map and to require standard licensing and contact information for enforcement.

The decision imposes an enforceable occupancy cap intended to balance neighborhood safety concerns with the city’s need for affordable and transitional housing options.