Hobart Street Second Driveway Conditional Use Permit

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.

What: request for a conditional use permit to keep a second driveway pad that older homeowners had a paving contractor build on a single-family lot on Hobart Street (Penacook) in early August 2026 without a permit, after an anonymous complaint and a city enforcement action.
Where it stands: denied on October 21, 2026, with two members recused, because the permit criteria were not met (not a judgment on the owners' circumstances). The chair told the owners "it's not over".
Next: the owners are to work with the planning office and the city solicitor on a path to compliance. Staff said the city would not pursue fines and suggested civil recourse against the contractor.

The rule allows one driveway per lot with under 250 feet of frontage, with 40 feet of separation from neighbors; each added driveway needs another 150 feet of frontage. Staff said second cuts are almost always denied and the work could not be verified because it had no permit, design or inspection.
The owners said they relied on the contractor to file permits and wanted the pad for safety and snow removal. Staff said state law makes the property owner responsible for permits.
Options mentioned: a single wider cut (staff thought possibly up to 28 feet) with the pad behind the hedge.
Board members noted that two more driveway applications were on the agenda, and the board chose to avoid setting a precedent. Councilor Todd said the owners were trying to do the right thing and noted a possible future accessory dwelling unit.

About 28 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-21 - Planning Board	28

2026-10-21 - Planning Board - Hearing, two public comments, denial on a motion by the chair; two recusals.