The Manchester Planning & Zoning Board handled administrative business at the Jan. 2 meeting, approving minutes and discussing a notice of regional impact from the town of Bedford related to a Saint Anselm College project in Goffstown.

Board member Brian Beaupre moved to accept the Nov. 7 and Nov. 21, 2024 minutes as written; the motion passed by voice vote. The December 5, 2024 minutes were approved with previously discussed staff amendments. The votes were recorded by the chair without roll-call for each member; no recusals were noted on the minutes items.

Planning staff noted Bedford sent a notice of regional impact because the college proposal includes wetland fills (a quarter-acre was referenced in the notice) and, citing a court matter, Bedford erred on the side of caution in sending the notice to surrounding jurisdictions. Board members discussed potential indirect impacts, such as drainage and watershed concerns for nearby Manchester neighborhoods, but agreed the wetland fill is not immediately adjacent to Manchester and staff should monitor future planning filings for traffic or drainage impacts and coordinate with DPW or EPD if necessary.

Ending: The board approved minutes for three prior meetings and requested planning staff to follow the Bedford/Goffstown/Saint Anselm matter and report back if the project returns to local planning review with elements that could affect Manchester.