Meredith Zoning Board unanimously approves multiple short-term rental permits and variances

The Meredith Zoning Board of Adjustment on June 11, 2026, unanimously approved a series of special exceptions allowing short-term rentals at properties across town and granted several variances, including a waterfront setback variance for construction on Two Mile Island.

Board chair Girard opened the meeting and the board heard applications and granted relief on cases ranging from owner-not-in-residence short-term rental permits to dimensional variances. Across the meeting the board approved applications with conditions that included local occupancy and vehicle limits, a 90-day annual cap for owner-not-in-residence short-term rentals, life-safety inspections by a fire inspector before any rental, and required documentation such as lead-safety certification where state law applies.

Applicants and conditions Skinner moved and the board approved a special exception for Brian Kramer at 59 Stoney Brook Road (Case #5463). Kramer said the property is primarily a vacation home with short-term rentals limited to less than 90 days per year and that it is professionally managed by At The Lake Vacation Rentals, with quiet hours and guest screening. "We focus on renters that are families that come to enjoy the lake and surround area," Kramer said. The board limited the property to 10 overnight occupants, four vehicles and a 15-person daytime cap, and required life-safety provisions be approved before rentals.

The board granted related short-term rental special exceptions for Dan and Renee Charest (16A and 16B Lake Shore Drive, Cases #5464 and #5465), Matthew Perry (71 Winona Road, Case #5467), Cooperman Fourel Farm LLC (124 Carleton Road, Case #5469), the Whiting Family Revocable Trust (68 Water Street, Case #5470), Nargiza Lutz & Michael Eagan (4 Park View Lane, Case #5471), and Erin and Matthew O'Brien (333 Meredith Neck Road, Case #5472). Conditions common to approvals included the town's 90-day cumulative annual limit for owner-not-in-residence rentals, limits on overnight occupants and vehicles (specified per property), life-safety inspections before the property may be rented, and the operator's obligation to notify and enforce house rules with renters. Several approvals included a specific trash-management arrangement (for example, Waste Management, Casella, or private/contractor pickup) and a designated 24-hour point of contact.

A number of properties built before 1978 were noted as requiring lead safety certification where RSA 130-A:5-d applies; the board included that requirement where the applicant or the property's age triggered the statute.

Variances and shoreline development The board also granted two dimensional variances and one waterfront setback variance. On Two Mile Island (1 Two Mile Island, Case #5466), attorney Frank McMann told the board the proposed new dwelling would pull the closest point of the structure 10 feet 7 inches farther from the shoreline than the existing structure, reduce the home footprint by about 28.5 square feet and cut deck coverage by roughly 558.5 square feet (a 1.3% reduction in total lot coverage). McMann said the project includes a new underground holding tank located farther from the shore than the pre-1967 tank, stormwater mitigation through reduced impervious area and retention of natural landscaping, and a change from propane to solar power. "We are pulling this back 10'7\" from the shoreline," McMann said. The board cited a geometric hardship for island lots and approved the variance with conditions requiring all state and federal permits and potential as-built survey documentation prior to occupancy.

Public concerns and enforcement limits At least one application drew an abutter objection focused on private-road access and the potential impacts of transient occupancy. David Peelstrom, an abutter at 7 Park View Lane, told the board he was not convinced the application for 4 Park View Lane demonstrated that short-term rental use would not be detrimental to the character of that private, deeded road and asked about emergency access and maintenance costs. "First, we feel the applicant has not demonstrated the proposed use will not be detrimental to the character or enjoyment of the neighborhood," Peelstrom said. Chair Girard explained that private deed and road disputes are typically enforcement matters among property owners or in court, and that the town enforces zoning and occupancy complaints if neighbors file them.

Other business Staff and members discussed proposed bylaw edits and a Zoning Amendment Working Group (a 5–7 person group including Planning Board and Conservation Commission representatives) to vet larger zoning changes before formal hearings. The board agreed to prepare sample motions and to revisit the bylaw amendments at the next meeting.

Votes at a glance - Case #5463, 59 Stoney Brook Rd (Brian Kramer): special exception granted 5-0; conditions include maximum 10 overnight, 4 vehicles, 90-day limit, life-safety inspection. - Case #5464, 16A Lake Shore Dr (Dan & Renee Charest): special exception granted 5-0; max 6 overnight, 2 vehicles; 90-day limit; life-safety inspection; trash by Waste Management. - Case #5465, 16B Lake Shore Dr (Dan & Renee Charest): special exception granted 5-0; same conditions as #5464. - Case #5466, 1 Two Mile Island (Michael & Emily Ricard): variance granted 5-0; conditions include required state/federal permits and possible as-built survey. - Case #5467, 71 Winona Rd (Matthew Perry): special exception granted 5-0; max 10 overnight, 4 vehicles; RSA 130-A:5-d lead certification required; trash by Casella. - Case #5468, 34 Westbury Rd (34 Westbury Road Realty Trust): variance granted 5-0; conditions include Water & Sewer permit for added bedroom and required permits before occupancy. - Case #5469, 124 Carleton Rd (Cooperman Fourel Farm LLC): special exception granted 5-0; max 10 overnight, 4 vehicles; RSA 130-A:5-d lead certification required; trash by farm manager/Casella. - Case #5470, 68 Water St (Whiting Family Rev Trust of 2017): special exception granted 5-0; max 10 overnight, 4 vehicles; house rules must include property map delineating allowed areas; trash by Break Away Rentals. - Case #5471, 4 Park View Ln (Nargiza Lutz & Michael Eagan): special exception granted 5-0; max 8 overnight, 3 vehicles; condition includes life-safety inspection and adequate access prior to rental. - Case #5472, 333 Meredith Neck Rd (Erin & Matthew O'Brien): special exception granted 5-0; max 6 overnight, 2 vehicles; RSA 130-A:5-d lead certification required; life-safety inspection.

What happens next All approvals are subject to the town's 30-day appeal period. Several approvals require fire-inspector life-safety sign-off or state-mandated lead-safety certification before any rental may begin. The board will consider proposed bylaw amendments and the working-group framework at future meetings.

(Reporting based solely on the June 11, 2026 hearing transcript; the board's written decisions and conditions are on file with the Meredith Community Development Department.)