The Zoning Board denied two variance requests for 27 Monroe Street after the applicant failed to provide required evidence or appear at the hearing.
The applicant, William Sheppard, requested relief from Section 28‑7‑2‑E (off‑street parking) to permit five parking spaces where eight were required for conversion of a triplex to a fourplex, and relief from Section 28‑5‑3‑B (minimum lot size) to permit a lot area of 5,662.8 square feet where 10,000 square feet is required. Staff told the board the applicant had been notified repeatedly but did not submit a dimensioned parking plan; staff said GIS measurements suggested the site could not accommodate the required spaces and drive aisle widths under the city's recent parking rules.
A board member moved to deny the parking variance because the applicant failed to meet the criteria in RSA 674:33; the motion cited the public interest, spirit of the ordinance, lack of hardship and a likely negative effect on surrounding property values. Another board member seconded and noted the burden of proof lies with the applicant. The board voted to deny the parking variance (vote recorded: 3‑0). The board then voted to deny the minimum‑lot‑area variance on the same grounds (3‑0).
Because the applicant did not supply required design documentation and did not appear to answer staff questions, the board concluded the record did not meet the statutory variance criteria and denied both requests.