The Planning & Zoning Department

Planning Board Review Process

Reviews of property subdivision and non-residential site plans are required in Amherst, as described below. Fees for these reviews must be paid at the time that an application is presented to the Planning & Zoning Department. Use the Application to the Amherst Planning Board Form to request a review of your plans.

SUBDIVISION: The division of a lot, tract, or parcel of land into two or more lots, plats, sites, or other divisions of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, rent lease, condominium conveyance, or building development.  It includes resubdivision and, when appropriate to the context relates to the process of subdividing or to the land or territory subdivided.  The division of a parcel of land held in common and subsequently divided into parts among the several owners shall be deemed a subdivision.

SUBDIVISION APPLICATION: All applications made to the Planning Board, whether for formal or informal consideration, shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of a Planning Board meeting at which the applicant wishes to appear.

Application for a proposed subdivision may be presented as follows:  (1) A preliminary conceptual phase, (2) a design review phase at which abutters must be notified and (3) a final review phase of the application at which abutters must be notified.

A completed application, within the meaning of NH RSA 676:4 I (b) shall constitute a completed application form, a complete list of abutters, three sets of addressed gummed mailing labels including yourself, the payment of a fee as well as all of the items on the checklist. See the Amherst Zoning Ordinance for more complete information.

NON-RESIDENTIAL SITE PLAN REVIEW: The purpose of these regulations are to provide for Planning Board review and approval or disapproval of all site plans for the development of tracts of land for all uses other than one and two family residential, prior to the issuance of a building permit, whether or not such development includes a subdivision or re-subdivision of land, and to assure that minimum standards will be attained so as to provide for and protect the public health, safety and general well being.

NON-RESIDENTIAL SITE PLAN REVIEW APPLICATION: All applications made to the Planning Board for Non-Residential Site Review shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator's Office at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of a Planning Board meeting at which the applicant or his agent wishes to appear.

Applications and plans will be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator for conformance with site review requirements and must be accompanied by a completed application form, six (6) copies of the plan, a complete list of abutters, a stamped self-addressed envelope, and the payment of a fee. See the Amherst Zoning Ordinance for more complete information.

LOT CONSOLIDATION: A new state law allows a property owner to consolidate two or more lots into one and must comply with the current Amherst Zoning and Subdivision Regulations.

LOT CONSOLIDATION FORM: The form can be obtained in the Zoning Office and signed copies shall be recorded at the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds and the Amherst Assessor's Office.

DISCUSSION/CONCEPTUAL-SECTION 3-1: Intended to address the suitability of the land for subdivision and for review of the basic concept of the proposal in general terms such as desirability of types of development for an area, and under the Master Plan.  This review shall not bind either the applicant or the Planning board.

DESIGN REVIEW-SECTION 3-1: Abutters must be notified. This phase continues the informational exchange between the Board and the applicant, and these discussions are encouraged for major (more than four lots) subdivisions, subdivisions proposing new roads, and subdivisions applied for under the Planned Residential Development Ordinance.  Material presented for this discussion should include plats and information as described in Section 4-5a.  Discussions are vital to sound planning and to let both the applicant and the Board study the widest range of possible configurations.  In addition, the suitability of the proposal can be determined with a minimum burden of expense on the applicant.

CONDITIONAL USEe PERMIT- SECTION 3-18: Applicants must satisfy the Planning Board that the development, if completed as proposed, will comply with this Article and will satisfy the specific requirements for the use contained in the ordinance.

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN-SECTION 4-11-D: A comprehensive plan for the protection of water resources and their buffers as part of the site plan approval process in lieu of the standard requirements of the ordinance listed in Parts A & B, shall be developed.  Under the provisions contained in this part, the Town and landowners are offered greater flexibility in establishing effective controls through development; implementation and maintenance of site specific Water Resources Management Plans.

SCENIC ROAD HEARING-SECTION E (RSA 253:18): The Planning Board must give prior written consent for any cutting or removal of trees, or the tearing down or destruction of stone walls, or portions thereof.

SIGN MASTER PLAN-SECTION VII: A group of three (3) or more contiguous commercial or industrial units are to be located together in a development, where a lesser number of businesses total not less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of gross leasable area, or where three (3) or more individual businesses on contiguous lots so elect, the development may adopt a Sign Master Plan to govern advertising.  The intent of this section is to promote a uniform and aesthetic message presentation that is designed to provide information to the general public through its design and coordination of elements.

NON-RESIDENTIAL SITE REVIEW PLAN-SECTION C: The purpose of these regulations is to provide for Planning Board review and approval or disapproval of all site plans for the development of tracts of land for all uses other than one and two family residential, prior to the issuance of a building permit, whether or not such development includes a subdivision or re-subdivision of land, and to assure that minimum standards will be attained so as to provide for and protect the public health, safety and general well being, in accordance with NH RSA 674:43.