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• Approval of minutes, Sept. 26, 2024 — Motion to approve made by Christopher Unger; seconded by Jim Murray; vote: Peter Beelaw yes, Michael O’Brien yes, Christopher Unger yes, Jim Murray yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

• Approval of minutes, Oct. 31, 2024 — Motion to approve made by Michael O’Brien; seconded by Jim Murray; vote: Jim Murray yes, Christopher Unger yes, Peter Beelaw yes, Michael O’Brien yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

• Motion to grant rehearing (Strategic Real Estate Management LLC; 45 Westville Road) — Motion to grant made by a board member (name not specified in record); seconded by Christopher Unger; roll-call vote: Peter Beelaw no, Michael O’Brien no, Christopher Unger no, Jim Murray no. Outcome: failed (rehearing denied).

Each of the above motions was taken on the record at the Jan. 2 meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Plaistow NH, Zoning Board Meeting 01/02/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal approved two sets of meeting minutes and denied a rehearing request on the Strategic Real Estate Management LLC variance for 45 Westville Road.","taxTitle","Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal, Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire","taxId",76021,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6381597,"Plaistow zoning board discusses citizen petitions to make board elected, bar selectmen and town employees",536,1075000,1611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128137-a50cc0d56243c3ae372cb71c6d43be84&start=1075&end=1611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128137-a50cc0d56243c3ae372cb71c6d43be84/thumbnail_1075000.jpg","/articles/6381597/New-Hampshire/Plaistow-zoning-board-discusses-citizen-petitions-to-make-board-elected-bar-selectmen-and-town-employees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381597-95ecb91482e0a32e2f7486266ad50c9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940958&Signature=kIsnbPmOCnoVwkMfwjuXwNav1on3agX6w9AX6K8i-2ZrRSje7LVvtsNxxShbQCE0IMensuwnF9BqHOYLOkNX~19BDngM3C~fJ-tGj2pFJRH5elmerQfcIhYjzBDJ-3OYnoT-wRl5la~n57tZpuyq7RCUS7am8ThyfPhyjK1gcKg09GXGWovHR4pYOqR0qqMFWS9Pslf6x-vLk8ld7VTw36PWWqQW4eLY1mjhz7QOma2hFVEprT9pEscx1aI2mOEQkR3-PGSeQXmEorWTdlfIOM4ju5NjsaXmxwSZxkPLjlCsWOR0e-KO~3ED-FDzOrG8mYK6cQU2IjqTJLQ~v6t7Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PLAISTOW, N.H. — Members of the Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal spent part of their Jan. 2, 2025 meeting discussing three citizen petitions that would change how the board is constituted: converting the board from appointed to elected, prohibiting selectmen from serving on the board, and prohibiting town employees from serving.

Board members said the proposals could reduce the pool of available volunteers and complicate the board’s quasi‑judicial work. “Oh, right now, I see the difficulties we have in maintaining a quorum,” one member said, noting that limiting who may serve and moving to elections could make it harder to recruit qualified volunteers.

The petitions, which the board said cite chapters 673 and 674 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, would immediately make at least two current participants ineligible if adopted: Jonathan Gifford (currently excused) and Patrick Kiley, a town fire department employee referenced by the board.

Why it matters: Board members said the Zoning Board of Appeal must be able to find members willing to take impartial, law‑based decisions. Several members argued appointment helps ensure training and neutrality; some said an elected board could introduce political pressures into quasi‑judicial hearings.

Next steps

The board agreed the chair would draft a letter stating the board’s position — either support or opposition — and circulate that draft for members’ review before any submission to the selectmen or placement on the warrant. Beelaw told the board he already spoke with the selectmen’s chair and asked whether the selectmen would accept a letter from the zoning board explaining its position.

Ending

No formal vote was taken on the petitions at this meeting. The board agreed to prepare and circulate a draft letter and to monitor how the petitions proceed through planning‑board or general‑warrant placement.

","Members of the Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal discussed three citizen-petition proposals — to make the board an elected body, to bar selectmen from serving, and to bar town employees — and agreed the chair would draft a letter outlining the board’s position to circulate to members.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6381600,"Plaistow zoning board denies rehearing request for Westville Road trailer-storage variance",800,277000,1077000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128137-a50cc0d56243c3ae372cb71c6d43be84&start=277&end=1077","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128137-a50cc0d56243c3ae372cb71c6d43be84/thumbnail_277000.jpg","/articles/6381600/New-Hampshire/Plaistow-zoning-board-denies-rehearing-request-for-Westville-Road-trailer-storage-variance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381600-4f60a07a3a7d78c808d59e6d35b86320/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940958&Signature=jjKNNhEN-axyuGJ1LCJdhWGoVbBXYZfmGi~cte8~gJEzt7rP93GnIxVJJSo90aWLya2ZzOh~pAkARMtb1u7CSJbiODX-rae~ZXEkYU5HeYngxhZuoB-4fLEHX2OUBJCIZlUGdPsh31mYGJB4zlqk4gBAaE-zIZs2q7qvvcItjgUO74bO4ExtCM6yUafh8kPx9F~DvNT9HJaqzapOQJBFeoxjkBYSfGX73k6tT5F9Uw67nCAWAu-vFwKi0vsIKcuDM6w0~uk5N2gEK~I6nkUL2ZJoWgS4HPwrkv4i9EhC18ZUb5w0Ey~L9-G7B7NB~yEDbIf04o0icShHpOASc9YRig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PLAISTOW, N.H. — The Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal voted 4–0 on Jan. 2, 2025, to deny a request to grant a rehearing of Strategic Real Estate Management LLC’s variance application to use 45 Westville Road (Tax Map 26, Lot 36) as an overflow satellite parking lot and long-term trailer storage.

The board said the rehearing request did not present the legal error or new evidence required to reopen the case. “The only reasons the only reason to do a rehearing is if we errored in our application of the law or if there is new information presented,” said Peter Beelaw, chair, summarizing the board’s threshold for rehearing. The board found neither condition met.

Why it matters: The property owner sought a variance to allow dozens of tractor-trailer units to be stored outdoors on a lot in the town’s Commercial 1 zone; abutters had raised concerns about noise, traffic and property values during earlier hearings. The board concluded the petitioner did not proffer new, credible evidence and that some of the applicant’s legal arguments were procedurally untimely.

Board findings and discussion

Board members flagged procedural and substantive problems with the rehearing motion. Beelaw noted the applicant previously sought the same use before the Planning Board and, after the Planning Board rejected the use, did not pursue an appeal in Superior Court within the statutory filing period. “They had 30 days and it’s been 4 months,” Beelaw said, adding that the lapse undercuts the petitioner’s contention that the use is permitted by right.

On substance, the board questioned the petitioner’s characterization of the proposed activity as an auxiliary use of the property. Beelaw said cited zoning provisions allow trailer storage as an auxiliary use only when it is incidental to an identifiable primary use. “The only way this would be an auxiliary … would be if they’re arguing that the guard shack and outhouse are the primary use and the 61 trailers there on 95% of the property are auxiliary, and I just can’t see that as being a legitimate argument,” he said.

Noise and public-safety concerns surfaced repeatedly. Beelaw recalled testimony from an environmental consultant whose raw noise data showed levels “20 decibels and more above what Plaistow zoning allows,” and the board said the consultant could not explain his measurements or data collection locations. The board also noted potential increased truck traffic on Westville Road and said an 18-wheeler had difficulty accessing the site during earlier inspections.

Wetlands and uniqueness

The petitioner argued the lot was unique for hardship purposes because of wetlands at the rear of the property. The board disagreed, noting wetlands are common along Route 125 north of the site and listing nearby parcels — including storage facilities and commercial properties — that also have wetlands constraints. For that reason the board said the site did not appear uniquely burdened compared with other nearby lots.

Vote and procedural outcome

A member moved to grant the rehearing; the motion was seconded by Christopher Unger. On the roll call the board recorded four “no” votes from Peter Beelaw, Michael O’Brien, Unger and Jim Murray, resulting in denial of the rehearing and no change to the earlier disposition.

Ending

Because the rehearing motion failed, the board will not reopen testimony or accept additional evidence in this forum. The underlying variance application will remain subject to any further lawful appeals pursued outside the board record.

","On Jan. 2, 2025 the Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal rejected a motion to grant a rehearing for Strategic Real Estate Management LLC’s variance request to use 45 Westville Road as an overflow trailer/parking lot, citing procedural and substantive concerns including lack of new evidence, noise data questions and neighborhood character.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal — Jan. 2, 2025

Plaistow zoning board discusses citizen petitions to make board elected, bar selectmen and town employees

Plaistow zoning board denies rehearing request for Westville Road trailer-storage variance