Town of Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting - February 17, 2026
Town of Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting - February 17, 2026
The Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment convened on February 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM to hear an appeal of an administrative decision regarding a retaining wall and two variance applications for a garage. The meeting included introductions, approval of prior minutes, and deliberation on the agenda items. One item was tabled to March 17, 2026, and both variances were approved unanimously with conditions.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from December 16, 2025: Approved by unanimous voice vote.
Discussion Items
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Appeal of Administrative Decision – Retaining Wall at 16 Suzanne Drive (Lot 2-2-28, Zoned RNA): This item was postponed from December 16, 2025. Attorney John Bisson represented the owners Joshua and Kathleen Miller, and Kevin and Mary Brown. The appeal concerns a retaining wall permit issued in April 2025 and subsequent construction. Builder Tom Gardacki (New Era Excavation) and surveyor Robert Kilmer (Sanford Surveying) testified. Key points: The original permit was for a 12-foot wall, constructed at 5-6 feet when issues arose in July 2025. The applicant modified the wall to a tiered design after discussions with the building inspector. The wall cost $250,000 total, with $225,000 paid. Late-submitted emails between the applicant and town staff were introduced at the hearing. The board expressed concerns about receiving materials just before the meeting. Attorney Bisson requested a continuance to allow the board to review the new evidence. The board granted the request and tabled the appeal to the March 17, 2026 meeting, with a deadline for submission of materials by February 19, 2026.
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Variance Requests – Garage at 77 Patton Road (Lot 22-78, Zoned RNA): Applicant Bob Foodriot (Foodriot Family Revocable Trust of 2014) requested two variances: (1) front setback – 18.2 feet where 35 feet is required, and (2) side setback – 11.1 feet where 25 feet is required, for a 28’x30’ two-story garage (840 sq. ft.). The property is a triangular half-acre lot at the corner of Patton and County Road, with limited buildable area. Testimony focused on the need for safe vehicle storage, protection from snow and ice, and storing ATVs and lawn equipment. The applicant stated the garage would not alter neighborhood character due to tree buffers and roads on two sides. The board deliberated and found all five variance criteria satisfied, noting no harm to public interests and the property's unique shape. Both variances were approved 5-0, with the condition that two sheds (as shown on the January 12, 2026 plan) be removed.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: Unanimous.
- Appeal Tabled: The appeal of the administrative decision regarding the retaining wall at 16 Suzanne Drive was tabled to the March 17, 2026 meeting. All evidence must be submitted by February 19, 2026, and the board requested hard copies in addition to email.
- Variance Granted (Front Setback): Approved 5-0, with condition to remove two sheds.
- Variance Granted (Side Setback): Approved 5-0, with condition to remove two sheds.
- Meeting Adjourned: 9:30 PM end time observed; adjourned after final votes.
Meeting Transcript
All right, I'd like to call to order the town of Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting for February 17th, 2026. First, we'll go around the uh bench up here and have everyone well, I'll introduce them. But we'll start at my far right. We have Mike Riapel. And Mike will be a voting member this evening. Um we have Joe Fahy. Okay. I need to recuse myself this evening, Mr. Chairman. Yep. Um Mark Schneider. Hello. Alex Kellerman. Good evening. Uh Neil Casselli. Hello. I am John Morne. Um Dave Gilbert. Good evening. And we have Colleen Olsen, who's our land use and development planner. Good evening. And Becky Hebert, the planning director. Good evening. So let's see. Rules of procedure. We'll have presentation by each applicant this evening. We'll have input from the public. We'll ask that there be no debate between parties. All testimony is given to the board. And if the applicant would like, they can do a summation at the end of their presentation. All applicants will be heard in order of notice. If we need to take a recess or executive session, we will do so by vote. We will go into a non-public input uh session to deliberate and vote on each of the items we'll be hearing this evening. You can wait for the vote tonight, or you can call the planning office after 8 30 tomorrow morning. I'm going to ask everyone to please silence your cell phones so that way it doesn't interrupt the meeting as we're going. And hopefully we won't get to this, but 9 30 is our end time for meetings. So when we get to that time, the board will decide what will happen at that point. All rehearings. The board has 30 days in which to respond to such requests for RSA 677 3, tomorrow being day one. All requests must be in writing and must contain new evidence. Please point out any errors you believe the board has made in its decision. For the variants uh we have this evening, we will not go through the five criteria at this time. We will ask each applic applicant to go through their application and address the criteria as part of the application presentation. Um for any of our votes for a motion to pass, it must get three affirmative votes. At this time, I'm going to ask anybody who's going to speak this evening to please rise and be sworn in. If you even ponder that you're going to talk, please get up now so we don't have to stop later. Do you swear the testimony you uh give this evening during the hearings is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Yes, thank you. All right, so uh first we have the uh minutes from December 16th, 2025. Did anyone find anything that needs to change, be added those types of items?
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