ZBA grants variance for home-based antiques business at 40 Charlonne St.

The Jaffrey Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 on June 22, 2026 to grant variances to Sarah Seaver that allow a home-occupation antiques business at 40 Charlonne Street (Map 238, Lot 46) in the Residential District. The approved variances permit up to three non-resident employees and limit the business area to no more than 2,000 square feet of the roughly 4,680-square-foot building. The motion to grant the variance was made by Laurel McKenzie and seconded by Carl Jevne.

In findings of fact, the Board noted the property is served by municipal water and sewer and that traffic from the wholesale, online-only antiques operation is expected to be minimal. The Board concluded that the building’s history as an assembly hall for a fraternal organization makes it a unique structure that is difficult to convert to a traditional single-family residence, and that returning it to productive use would likely improve the property’s appearance and surrounding property values. Members reviewed the five statutory variance criteria and found each criterion met.

The applicant had requested relief from Land Use Code Section V, 5.17.1(a) and (b), which ordinarily allow only one nonresident employee and limit home occupations to 25% of the residence’s floor area (approximately 1,170 square feet in this building). The Board also voted to waive the site walk prior to deciding the case. Chair Walter Batchelder closed the public hearing after the Board’s deliberations.

The decision is recorded as granting the variances "as presented, per testimony given." The Board’s vote was unanimous, 5-0-0. The special-exception application ZBA 26-18 related to the property was withdrawn by the applicant without prejudice at the meeting.