News alert: Voters approve all Meredith zoning amendments

MEREDITH — About 30% of voters hit the polls for the town and school district elections. While there were no contested races, all the zoning amendments recommended by the planning board were approved.

Town Clerk Kerri Parker said it was a “pretty good” voter turnout, especially considering everyone was running unopposed.

“It was steady through the day.”

Deana Jurius will succeed longtime moderator Steve Nedeau, who opted not to seek reelection this year. Selectboard Chair Mike Pelczar retained his seat with 574 votes, and Town Clerk Kerri Parker was reelected with 603 votes.

Richard DeMark received 589 votes for the two-year supervisor of the checklist position, and Kim Fallon received 589 votes for the six-year seat. Martha Fairbrother received 584 votes for the three-year seat for treasurer, and John Sheasley had 566 votes for the three-year seat of trustee of the trust funds.

Article 2 passed 382-257, approving an amendment on subdivisions, to provide more flexibility of lot sizes, increase density for workforce housing and streamline the approval process.

Voters approved Article 3, 363-281, which asked to adopt a new cottage court ordinance to allow development of small, detached cottage clusters that share a common courtyard and have a high density.

Article 4 passed 405-225, which adopts a new workforce housing ordinance. This is to comply with state mandates, and allows for higher density for multifamily housing on lots with town utilities. This ordinance targets rental units for people earning 60% of the area’s median income.

Article 5 passed with a tally of 375-255, and amends the ordinance on detached accessory dwelling units to align with state law. This change will bring the town into compliance with a bill signed in July 2025. ADUs, sometimes called in-law apartments, are small living spaces built on a home’s property. These are already permitted in town, and can include basement apartments and garage lofts, as well as separate structures with a kitchen, bath and sleeping area.

Voters passed Article 6 with a 380-335 vote. The measure amends dimension regulations in the residential and central business districts. This changes minimum setback requirements and increases the maximum lot coverage in the central business district to 75%, and residential district for multifamily structures to 60%.

Article 7 passed 398-221, which revises the definitions of an accessory apartment to comply with state law, as well as the definition of maximum lot coverage, to exclude certain stormwater management techniques.

Article 8 was approved by voters, 377-24, and creates a new overlay district for existing, non-conforming neighborhoods.

The new overlay district — preexisting nonconforming subdivisions — will allow reduced setbacks in areas including Patrician Shores, Sands of Brookhurst, Colony Club, and Circle Drive. The neighborhoods are in zoning districts with dimensional standards they can’t meet, and were created before zoning. The proposed overlay reduces setbacks to a front setback of 15 feet, side setback of 10 feet, and rear setback of 15 feet.

Inter-Lakes election of officers

Inter-Lakes School Board incumbents ran unopposed, with Abraham Garon retaining his Meredith seat by winning his first election. Garon was previously appointed when the seat was left vacant by Mark Billings. He received 588 votes in Meredith, 80 votes in Center Harbor and 158 votes in Sandwich.

Nancy Starmer was reelected with 229 votes in Center Harbor.

Siobhan Connelly was also reelected as the school board member at-large, receiving 564 votes in Meredith, 95 Center Harbor votes, and 187 votes in Sandwich.

James Mykland was reelected to the moderator position, receiving 603 votes in Meredith, 107 votes in Center Harbor, and 236 votes in Sandwich.