Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

The Zoning Board of Appeals convened on July 23, 2026 to hear multiple residential development matters and one significant comprehensive permit. The Board approved a variance for 136 Haverhill Road to allow a lot split and construction of a new single-family home, conditioned on Planning Board approval of a Definitive Subdivision and review by the Conservation Agent/Commission. The Board approved a finding for 10 Portsmouth Road allowing proposed additions in a location with an existing deck-related nonconformity, and approved both a special permit and variance for 253 Main Street to convert an existing preexisting nonconforming single-family dwelling to a two-family dwelling; all three votes passed unanimously (5-0).

The 27 Kimball Road comprehensive permit generated the most substantive discussion and public comment. The Board’s retained traffic peer reviewer (BSC) presented a Transportation Impact Assessment peer review that generally concurred with the applicant’s trip generation and capacity analysis but flagged sight-distance, vegetation-clearing, and pedestrian/sidewalk considerations; the applicant’s consultant defended the TIAS and committed to working with the city on traffic-calming, sight-line clearing, and site access. Dozens of neighbors spoke raising safety concerns — especially sight distance at curves, school-bus stopping, pedestrian access, and construction traffic — and requested further independent study. The Board voted unanimously to have OCED research the feasibility, cost, and timeline for a Road Safety Audit (RSA) to determine whether a broader multidisciplinary safety review is warranted; the application was continued to the August 27, 2026 meeting. Staff and peer reviewers also discussed possible unit relocations toward the western buffer area to reduce impacts on Kimball Road abutters if the Board approves the proposed 86-unit density.