Laconia Zoning Board grants several variances, tables one request and denies another rehearing

The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment voted on multiple variance applications at its meeting. The board granted a 60-day table at the applicants’ request for 238 White Oaks Road so a revised plan that preserves the existing house can be considered, denied a rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East and approved several variances with conditions where noted.

Key decisions at a glance: • 257 Pleasant Street (ZB 2026-61): Applicant Christine Kemos asked for an 88-ft, 6-ft-tall side-line fence to provide a secure play area for her three-year-old twins. The board granted a variance from Article 7 §235-39D with a condition requiring a DPW site review to confirm sight-line safety. The record includes an opposition letter from Andrew DeLacey (262 Pleasant Street) citing unclear lot-line information.

• 398 White Oaks Road (ZV 2026-058): Steven Duty requested permission to keep two conex/storage containers on his four-acre property. Ward 6 Councillor Mike Connett told the board the containers are well shielded and not visible from the road. The board approved the variance with the condition that the containers be shielded from view of abutters and the road.

• 3114 Parade Road (ZB2026-63): John Healey received approval to install a 6-ft privacy fence up to his property line roughly 15–16 ft from the road; the board found the setback and grade prevent a sight-line hazard and granted the variance.

• 1034 Main Street (ZB2026-64): Dennis Breton was granted a 2-ft side-setback variance to construct a carport in his rear yard, subject to standard permit and site constraints.

• Rehearings/minutes: The board denied the rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East (ZB2026-62) and approved the May 19 meeting minutes by voice vote. The 238 White Oaks application was tabled for 60 days at the applicant’s request to allow an alternate plan to be considered.

Board members and staff repeatedly recommended reasonable safeguards for sight-line safety and long-term visibility (DPW site review, screening or shielding), and conditioned approvals accordingly. Several applicants acknowledged potential site constraints (ledges, rock) that could affect final construction. The board closed the meeting at 7:20 p.m.

Quotes recorded in the meeting include the applicant Christine Kemos saying she sought the fence “for the purpose of safety for the children” and staff/assistant director Tyler Carmichael recommending containers be “shielded from view from abutters and the road.”