By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

Residents of Larch Street previously concerned with the development of condominiums on their street can rest easy for the time being.

The zoning board of adjustment turned down a special exception application for developer Dennis Demers to build 28 townhouse condominium units on a 5.339-acre parcel on Larch Street in Pinardville. The board's decision was based on the fact that the special exception did not meet all four required criteria, said zoning code enforcement officer Derek Horn.

In order to get special exception to build in Goffstown, the specific site must be in an approved location for such an exception, must not aversely effect the neighborhood, cannot create a nuisance or hazard to vehicles or pedestrians and must have adequate and appropriate facilities to provide for proper operations of the proposed exception.

"A plan must meet zoning and planning requirements," said Horn. "However, (Demer's) plan was denied without prejudice, which means he can submit the same application again."

Traffic problems that would be created by the new structures on the street have been a concern of Larch Street residents.

Resident and direct abutter Paul Corbeil said the narrow street can only fit about 26 parked cars along the curb. However, he said residents currently have difficulties getting onto Mast Road because of heavy traffic.

"Only one car can get out every three minutes," he said. He said in the summer, cars can only drive 5 to 10 miles an hour on the road because of cramped parking conditions and that the new condominium complex, would intensify these problems.

"There would be a significant increase in traffic on our sleepy little road," he said. "We would be in a situation where emergency vehicles would not be able to get out of the street."

Corbeil and 30 other residents attended the April 5 zoning board meeting, where the special exception was voted down 4-1. An exception from the zoning board must be made for multi-family use buildings within the R-2 (Residential 2) district where the proposed condominium site is located. Proposed parking for the structures was 22 spaces in excess of minimum requirements.

Corbeil said the structure of the condominiums did not bother the majority of the street's residents, only the potential for an already inconvenient traffic situation to worsen.

"The design (for the buildings) is not unrealistic," he said. "(Demers) did his homework. The biggest bone of contention would be all the cars coming out of the complex."

The next step for Demers will be to come back to the zoning board with a different plan for the condominium complex. If a new plan is approved, he must then go before the town's planning board.

"If he goes to the planning board, I pray they have the sense to look at his plan and say it is unreasonable," said Corbeil.

However, he said most residents realize that the 5.339 acre parcel will be home to some sort of new construction.

"We know that (Demers) did not buy the land just to grow grass," he said. "We just hope to lessen the impact."

Gossett McRae, chairman of the board of selectmen and member of the planning board, said there are a number of reasons for Demers to appeal to the zoning board. He said the developer could ask for a reconsideration within 30 days after his first plan was voted down or present new information not available for the first proposal.

"The process is a winding road," he said. "Sometimes it just takes a while."