Recent comments in /f/newhampshire

iefbr14 t1_j7cc8rr wrote

Reply to What should I expect at a zoning variance meeting? by SnareWire

Probably TMI, but the state publishes a ZBA handbook with all the procedures that must be followed. It can be highly stylized and formal. Or see their FAQ. If you google videos of "zoning board of adjustment meetings" there are plenty of examples. (But probably boring, if not your town.) If you are an abutter, you get noticed by mail, and definitely be given a chance to speak. No, you can't ask the owner questions directly. You have to address your questions to the board chair, but you will get a response. Pro tip: find the minutes of the planning board hearing (or video if your town records meetings), to find out why they need a variance. -a local ZBA member

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Neat-Beautiful-5505 t1_j7cb304 wrote

Reply to What should I expect at a zoning variance meeting? by SnareWire

Legally, town land use regs need to be rooted in public health and public safety to be defensible. Making your comments tied to one or both of those helps your argument. Before the meeting be familiar with the area, where is north, street names, and map/lot numbers; often residents don’t know their neighborhood by these details and that hurts your ability to follow along. Address all comments to the chair and not applicant, including your questions. Be familiar with the five conditions to approve a variance in NH (RSA 674:33). If it seems like the decision might not go your way, consider proposing conditions to mitigate your concerns as best possible. NHmunicipal.org writes good layperson blogs on this type of issue. Good luck

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Excellent_Affect4658 t1_j7cajoz wrote

Reply to comment by SnareWire in What should I expect at a zoning variance meeting? by SnareWire

Note that if you do want to speak against it, "I don't like it because X" is not very useful to the zoning board. The board has a specific set of criteria by which variances are supposed to be evaluated. You want to be able to say "I believe that this variance should not be granted because it does not address requirement Y in the town zoning ordinance, and the same goals could be achieved without a variance and without significant hardship by doing Z."

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currentlyhigh t1_j7c7der wrote

Reply to Dominoes Employees in North Conway are quitting. by Gree-Grump

>The employer said “you quite, so your done”

Employer should have said "you blatantly committed assault and/or battery on one of my employees, so you're done"

I wouldn't want to work in a kitchen around knives and ovens with a coworker who has the self-control of a 1st grader and throws objects at people when he has a tantrum.

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Excellent_Affect4658 t1_j7bwjrw wrote

Reply to What should I expect at a zoning variance meeting? by SnareWire

Ask your neighbor to walk you through what they’re planning to do. If it’s something you’re cool with, ignore it or show up to speak in favor. If it’s something you’re not cool with, tell them your concerns rather than blindsiding them at the meeting. If they’re not receptive to addressing your concerns and you want to speak against it at the meeting, read the minutes from past meetings (they should be online) so you know what to expect.

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liptoniceteabagger t1_j7bvg0o wrote

Reply to What should I expect at a zoning variance meeting? by SnareWire

They are pretty straight forward in my experience.

The chair of the zoning board will typically read the zoning ordinance that is potentially affected and then describe how it is going to be impacted.

The property owner or their representative is then given time to speak , and the abutters and zoning board members then ask questions.

I’m not sure how it is in other towns, but in mine, the board can make their decision with or without approval of the abutters. But, if you ask serious questions and raise real concerns, then the board members will hopefully be more likely to question the need for the variance.

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