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Seabrook Board of Adjustment approves 10-foot side-setback variance for 2 River Street
Summary
The Town of Seabrook Board of Adjustment unanimously approved CASE 2025-003 to allow a 10-foot side setback instead of the 15-foot requirement in Zone 5 (Harbor Commercial) for a proposed residence at 2 River Street; approval includes a condition that an as-built be submitted and public commenters raised concerns about parking and safety.
The Town of Seabrook Board of Adjustment voted unanimously March 26 to grant a variance allowing a 10-foot side setback where 15 feet is required for property at 2 River Street, Map 23-2. The board attached a condition that the applicant submit an as-built survey following construction.
The variance request was presented by Henry Boyd on behalf of 2 River Street LLC, which the record identifies as involving Sam Catalano and family. Boyd told the board the project, a proposed home with an attached garage, will "have to go DES for Wetlands Permit" because the lot sits in the Harbor zone. The application asks the board to waive the terms of Section 7 to permit the reduced side setback in Zone 5 (Harbor Commercial).
Board members framed the decision around five standard findings. The board determined the variance was not contrary to the public interest, that the spirit of the ordinance would be preserved, that substantial justice would be done, that surrounding property values would not be diminished, and that literal enforcement of the ordinance would create an unnecessary hardship by preventing residential use. Those findings were read into the record and recorded as affirmative by the members present; the motion to accept the variance "as written" passed unanimously after Phil Howshan moved and Fidae Azouri seconded.
Several neighbors spoke during public comment, raising concerns about neighborhood impacts. Deborah Henderson said she was "concerned about his driveway and the parking in the summertime." Alison Tirone raised separate parking concerns, and a participant identified as Candice expressed worries about fire risk and wind impacts related to the development. Board member Lacey Fowler asked that an as-built be required as a condition of approval; that condition was included in the final motion.
The board also noted administrative business before the new-case hearing: the minutes of the Feb. 26, 2025 meeting were approved by motion of Jim Sanborn, seconded by Phil Howshan, and recorded as unanimous.
The record refers to a wetlands permit from "DES"; the transcript uses that acronym without further definition. The board’s recorded roll-call on the findings lists affirmative votes alongside the members’ names as entered in the meeting minutes. The motion to accept the variance and the as-built condition was recorded as unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
What happens next: the applicant is responsible for obtaining any required wetlands approvals and for submitting the as-built survey required by the board as a condition of the variance.
