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Peterborough board authorizes court complaint to compel demolition of fire-damaged house at 2 Nichols Road
Summary
After neighbors described a long-unrepaired fire-damaged house as a hazardous nuisance, the Select Board authorized filing a formal court complaint to compel demolition of the property at 2 Nichols Road; town officials said prior demolition permits were not acted on by the owner.
The Peterborough Select Board on May 19 authorized town staff to file a formal court complaint to compel demolition of a fire-damaged dwelling at 2 Nichols Road, after officials concluded the owner had not acted on multiple permits and the property poses a nuisance to neighbors.
Town Administrator Nicole MacStay read a memo from Fire Chief Walker outlining the timeline: a demolition permit was originally granted in August 2025 but the owner did not proceed; a new permit issued on March 9, 2026 was similarly not followed by visible remediation or signed contracts. MacStay said town officials observed no physical asbestos remediation work on the property.
MacStay quoted the owner to the Fire Chief as saying he "did not know he had a permit," language the board cited when weighing how much more time to give the owner. Neighbors told the board the property attracts vermin and generates a foul odor and described it as a hazardous nuisance.
The board concluded the owner had been given sufficient opportunity to act and authorized staff to move forward with a court filing to compel demolition. The board did not set a demolition contractor at the meeting; if the court compels action the town may proceed under applicable code and recovery processes.
Next steps: staff will prepare the formal complaint and pursue the judicial process to obtain an order to demolish the structure if necessary.
