Atkinson Planning Board recommends sale of several town parcels, preserves others for conservation

The Atkinson Planning Board on Jan. 7 reviewed about 20 undesignated town-owned parcels and voted to recommend selling several small lots while withholding or recommending conservation protection for others.

Member Paul Wainwright, who led the parcel inventory, said the list includes roughly 20 parcels with eight under active consideration and identified five residentially zoned lots with street frontage that could be sold. He described Map 2 Lot 13 on Jericho Road as a tax‑deeded lot from 2019 with taxes of $463.77 and an assessed value of $31,000. "Selling land to pay for the engineering of a new police station is a long term solution to a short-term problem," Wainwright said, urging caution and suggesting some parcels be transferred to Conservation.

The board voted to recommend the sale of Map 2 Lot 13 (6-0), Map 7 Lot 123 (4-2), Map 8 Lot 108 (6-0) and Map 19 Lot 17 (6-0). It voted against recommending sale of Map 9 Lot 34-10 (6-0) and Map 17 Lot 94 (4-2), citing conservation value and wetlands. The board also agreed to hold any recommendation on the former police station site until the police facility decision is finalized (6-0) and removed Map 18 Lot 70 from consideration so the town can meet grant-related wetland mitigation and ARM Fund covenant requirements (6-0).

Wainwright read RSA 41:14‑A into the record, explaining the statutory process for selling town land — including two public hearings spaced 10 to 14 days apart and the possibility of a 50‑voter petition sending a sale to Town Meeting — and said he sought NH Municipal Association (NHMA) guidance about whether lands kept under the town's 7.5% conservation rule might be considered gifts. He read NHMA's response that such lands could be treated as gifts for community purposes and, if so, would require review by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Unit before alienation.

Selectman Bob Worden, who moved several of the sale recommendations, said that when facts on market value are available the Selectmen will follow them and noted that only voters can ultimately cancel the police‑station project. Alternate Karen McFadden, who compiled the Master Plan material that prompted the review, told the board the Planning Board does not have authority to sell town land but may offer recommendations to the Board of Selectmen and that any approved document should be put on the record and attached to the meeting minutes.

On contested parcels, members cited different priorities: some favored selling marginal or difficult parcels (landlocked lots, wet parcels with limited buildability) to realize modest revenue or to let abutters manage the land, while others urged preserving town character and contiguous open space. Map 9 Lot 34-10, described as 7.5% land acquired in 1981 and contiguous with other conserved parcels including Bryant Brook habitat, drew unanimous support to move it toward Conservation.

The board assigned Alternate McFadden to compile the recorded votes and discussion notes for distribution. Member Rizzo offered to share a full set of land records with the board for further review. The meeting also included a brief Master Plan Implementation Committee update and a scheduling note that Circuit Planner Jenn Rowden is expected to return for a meeting in February.

Votes at a glance: - Nomination of Member John Ottow to chair the meeting: moved by Selectman Bob Worden; seconded by Member Hannah Rizzo; passed 6-0-0. - Approvals of minutes (Nov. 19; Dec. 3; Dec. 17, 2025): each moved by Selectman Worden; seconded by Member Rizzo; recorded votes 5-0-1 (Member Wainwright abstained). - Recommend sale — Map 2 Lot 13 (Jericho Rd.): moved by Selectman Worden; seconded by Member Rizzo; outcome: recommended (6-0-0). - Recommend sale — Map 7 Lot 123 (Walker Ave.): moved by Selectman Worden; seconded by Member Rizzo; outcome: recommended (4-2-0, McFadden and Cardone opposed). - Recommend sale — Map 8 Lot 108: moved by Selectman Worden; seconded by Alternate McFadden; outcome: recommended (6-0-0). - Do not recommend sale — Map 9 Lot 34-10 (7.5% land): moved by Selectman Worden; seconded by Alternate McFadden; outcome: not recommended; pursue transfer to Conservation (6-0-0). - Hold recommendation — former police station site: moved by Selectman Worden; seconded by Alternate McFadden; outcome: held for later decision (6-0-0). - Do not recommend sale — Map 17 Lot 94 (Oak Ridge): moved by Alternate McFadden; seconded by Member Rizzo; outcome: not recommended (4-2-0). - Remove from sale consideration — Map 18 Lot 70 (grant/ARM Fund mitigation): moved by Alternate McFadden; seconded by Alternate Cardone; outcome: removed (6-0-0). - Recommend sale — Map 19 Lot 17 (East Road): moved by Alternate McFadden; seconded by Member Wainwright; outcome: recommended (6-0-0). - Assignment to compile votes/notes: moved by Selectman Worden; seconded by Member Rizzo; outcome: assigned to Alternate McFadden (6-0-0).

What happens next: the board will forward its recommendations and the compiled notes to the Board of Selectmen; any actual sale will follow RSA 41:14‑A processes and, where applicable, additional review steps such as Attorney General review for gifted/conserved lands. The Planning Board set its next meeting for Jan. 21, 2026.