OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Hooksett Planning Board Meeting - August 17, 2026

Town Council & Boards — Monday, August 17, 2026
BodyHooksett, New Hampshire
SessionTown Council & Boards
DateMonday, August 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 43:09

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

It's uh 6 0 2 at this point, so I'd like to call the meeting to order.

0:09

Um our chair illustrious chair can't be here tonight, so I will be filling in.

0:14

And Mr.

0:15

Russell's joining us.

0:17

Uh so with that, would everyone uh please join me in the pledge?

0:24

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it stands one nation under uh indivisible with liberty and justice for all okay with that uh could the members please identify themselves.

0:41

James, you want to kick us off?

0:43

Yes, Mr.

0:43

Chair.

0:44

Um Jim Sullivan, the council rep Paul Scarpetti, Mike Somers, Shane Galbard, David Russell, Jared Williams and so we're all voting, okay.

0:58

Um with that I will entertain a motion motion for approval of minutes.

1:05

Motion by Sheena, Chairman, if I may.

1:08

Yes.

1:08

I think there may be an error in the absent.

1:10

We have uh beer arm listed on there, but I think he probably would have turned off already, so we'll remove that from the okay.

1:17

That's great.

1:17

Good catch.

1:18

I'll second it.

1:19

Um, but I have a couple, I have one correct or one that I'd like to add to to the minutes where one line 129.

1:31

Can you add to that, Bonnie?

1:33

That like I I know it described varied numbers of students, blah blah blah, but I pointed out that in 1991, the 1991 approval reaffirmed the number of 20 students, and that less than two months later, the state of New Hampshire approved 22 students with a variance applied for by the applicant, and that the answers for why that number violated the planning board approval would lie with the state of New Hampshire.

2:01

And those documents exist in Concord.

2:06

Thank you.

2:07

That's it.

2:08

That's it.

2:08

So I want to address it.

2:13

Nope.

2:13

Uh seeing none.

2:14

Uh all those in favor say aye.

2:16

Aye.

2:17

Any opposed?

2:19

Okay.

2:20

Minutes pass.

2:22

All right.

2:22

So review of special exception.

2:25

Chester Turnpike Map 15, lot 92, Chester Turnpike Zoning Board of Adjustment Special Exception.

2:31

Uh James, do you want to give us an overview?

2:33

Yes.

2:33

Mr.

2:34

Russell.

2:35

Mr.

2:35

Chairman, I'd like to also make a correction.

2:38

On the uh minutes, it actually has my name with two L's.

2:42

It is one.

2:44

You gotta be you gotta be faster than that.

2:46

I'm sorry.

2:48

You have to learn the house.

2:49

I had to look at my license to make sure.

2:51

Okay.

2:52

Um so James, you want to give us an overview of the special exception?

2:57

Yes, absolutely.

2:58

Uh I do want to note um that this application, uh the reason this is before you is really uh just has to do with the way the zoning is written relative to uh wetland crossings for homes.

3:14

Uh it's really important to note that this is not a site plan application, nor is it a site plan review.

3:20

Uh and this is also not a public hearing.

3:23

And so, you know, you you're not uh taking questions from the public on this.

3:29

Um the proposed single family dwelling on the exit uh uh the proposed single family dwelling on this existing lot.

3:37

Um is speaking uh seeking special exact exception from the zoning board of adjustments under Article 18 section E.

3:48

And Article 18 Section E uh states that as part of the review process for ZBA that the plans get sent to the planning board in the conservation commission uh for approval, but there's nothing uh that this board has as far as a role in modifying the plans.

4:10

Uh the the board's role here uh is limited to acknowledging that the plans have been ex uh received and uh providing comments to the ZBA so that they can fulfill their role to review the special exception request.

4:25

So if there's something on the plans that you see that uh is of concern that you guys want to bring up to the ZBA, we would capture that in a written uh comment and provide that to them.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Procedural██████████████████22%
Community Engagement███████████14%
Environmental Protection███████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Hooksett Planning Board Meeting - August 17, 2026

The Hooksett Planning Board met on August 17, 2026, at 6:02 PM with the chair absent; Vice Chair presided. Members present: Jim Sullivan, Paul Scarpetti, Mike Somers, Shane Galbard, David Russell, Jared Williams. The board approved minutes with corrections, reviewed a special exception for a wetland crossing, discussed procedural updates, and set future meeting dates.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve minutes with corrections passed unanimously. Corrections included removing a name of an absent member and adding a detail from Jim Sullivan that in 1991 the approval reaffirmed 20 students, but less than two months later the state approved 22 students via variance; the board noted the answer lies with the state of New Hampshire. Also, David Russell corrected his name spelling (one L).

Discussion Items

  • Special Exception – Chester Turnpike (Map 15, Lot 92): The board reviewed a request for a special exception to cross a wetland for a single-family home driveway. James explained the board’s limited role—to provide comments to the ZBA on whether the crossing is in the most appropriate location. The applicant, Gary Roy, confirmed the parcel was auctioned by the town. Board members noted the crossing had a DES permit, was minimal impact (1,100 sq ft wetland disturbance), and the culvert was upsized to 18 inches for amphibians/turtles. Some members expressed frustration that the conservation commission had not been properly notified earlier in the process. A site walk is scheduled for August 29 at 9 AM (invited by ZBA). Motion to concur with findings in the packet (crossing necessary, minimal impact, no feasible alternative) and forward to ZBA was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.
  • Other Business: No impact fee discussion. The next meeting on September 7 is canceled (Labor Day); next meeting is September 22. Land Use Subcommittee meeting set for September 2 at 5 PM. The board discussed updating the Rules of Procedure to codify notice requirements for conceptual plans (not yet reflected on the website). Sheena raised the need for follow-up on the Master Plan, suggesting reconstituting the Master Plan Committee and creating a training manual/resource repository for all land use boards. Several members supported the idea, noting existing BEA training materials but difficulty finding them. The board also noted a potential buffer violation on Route 3 (clear-cutting near a condo development) and will follow up.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved with corrections.
  • Special Exception motion approved unanimously (all in favor).
  • Site walk for the special exception property scheduled for August 29, 2026, at 9 AM (not mandatory for board).
  • No meeting on September 7, 2026; next regular meeting September 22, 2026.
  • Land Use Subcommittee meeting set for September 2, 2026.
  • Plan to update Rules of Procedure to include conceptual plan notice provisions and to explore creating a centralized training resource for board members.

Meeting Transcript

It's uh 6 0 2 at this point, so I'd like to call the meeting to order. Um our chair illustrious chair can't be here tonight, so I will be filling in. And Mr. Russell's joining us. Uh so with that, would everyone uh please join me in the pledge? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it stands one nation under uh indivisible with liberty and justice for all okay with that uh could the members please identify themselves. James, you want to kick us off? Yes, Mr. Chair. Um Jim Sullivan, the council rep Paul Scarpetti, Mike Somers, Shane Galbard, David Russell, Jared Williams and so we're all voting, okay. Um with that I will entertain a motion motion for approval of minutes. Motion by Sheena, Chairman, if I may. Yes. I think there may be an error in the absent. We have uh beer arm listed on there, but I think he probably would have turned off already, so we'll remove that from the okay. That's great. Good catch. I'll second it. Um, but I have a couple, I have one correct or one that I'd like to add to to the minutes where one line 129. Can you add to that, Bonnie? That like I I know it described varied numbers of students, blah blah blah, but I pointed out that in 1991, the 1991 approval reaffirmed the number of 20 students, and that less than two months later, the state of New Hampshire approved 22 students with a variance applied for by the applicant, and that the answers for why that number violated the planning board approval would lie with the state of New Hampshire. And those documents exist in Concord. Thank you. That's it. That's it. So I want to address it. Nope. Uh seeing none. Uh all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Minutes pass. All right. So review of special exception. Chester Turnpike Map 15, lot 92, Chester Turnpike Zoning Board of Adjustment Special Exception. Uh James, do you want to give us an overview? Yes. Mr. Russell. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to also make a correction. On the uh minutes, it actually has my name with two L's. It is one. You gotta be you gotta be faster than that. I'm sorry. You have to learn the house. I had to look at my license to make sure. Okay. Um so James, you want to give us an overview of the special exception?

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