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Planning Board denies waiver for single‑entrance Hampstead Heights road, citing evacuation and safety concerns
Summary
On March 2 the board voted 4-1 to deny a waiver to allow a single‑access road longer than the 1,200‑foot limit for the Hampstead Heights elderly housing project, citing length, evacuation and emergency‑access concerns; Member Hanides’ analysis was adopted as the Findings of Fact.
The Hampstead Planning Board voted 4-1 on March 2 to deny the applicant’s request for a waiver from Site Plan Review Regulations Section V2:N, which limits streets or ways with only one entrance to no greater than 1,200 feet. The lone dissenting vote came from Ex‑Officio Joe Guthrie.
Chairman Bob Weimar introduced an analysis titled “Dead End Road Segments in Hampstead” comparing local dead‑end road lengths and the proposed Rodeo Road statistics. Weimar reported the project’s proposed internal private way would measure about 3,800 feet (2,500 feet to the midpoint of the internal condominium network), the dead‑end distance from Rodeo Drive to an urban collector (Wash Pond Road) as about 7,000 lineal feet, and that 36 existing dwellings would be impacted by the development’s traffic pattern.
Applicant counsel (Panciocco) argued the board should consider the regulation’s purpose — public safety — rather than a rigid numerical threshold, and questioned whether Weimar’s comparisons included hydrants or sprinkler data. Member Mike Hanides read a prepared statement into the record and urged denial, arguing the applicant’s design would place 72 elderly units on a single‑access private way of approximately 3,444 feet and that evacuation and redundancy concerns remained despite an internal loop and fire suppression provisions. Keach (town engineer) emphasized the board needed to apply the statutory waiver criteria (RSA) and asked the board to decide whether the applicant had met the spirit and intent of the regulations.
Hanides moved to deny the waiver; Matt Johnson seconded. The board voted 4-1 to deny the waiver (Yes: Weimar, Hanides, Johnson, Gray; No: Guthrie). The board then confirmed it intended to use Hanides’ prepared analysis as the Findings of Fact supporting the denial.
The minutes record that the Hampstead Fire Department (HFD) had noted that water provision and a looped roadway would mitigate fire suppression concerns, but the minutes do not contain a full HFD analysis or written report and Ex‑Officio Guthrie said he needed more time to review HFD information. The board’s denial therefore rests on the record before it and the board’s findings as read into the minutes. The applicant may redesign the project or return with additional information addressing emergency access and evacuation concerns.
The board did not take additional formal steps at the meeting beyond the denial vote; next steps will be determined by the applicant and any subsequent filings.
