City Hall: Aldermen sound off on Goffstown project, as hearing on plan pushed off

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08-03-2025

Mar. 7—CITY ALDERMEN continue to sound off on a proposed development in Goffstown, with one at-large member saying he would be "fully in favor" of installing gates to prevent access from Manchester streets if the project is approved in its current form.
As previously reported, the Dubay Group Inc. and Allard Revocable Trust are seeking a variance from the Goffstown zoning board to subdivide a property for the purposes of building 34 lots for single-family homes within the Industrial Zone, which is not permitted per Section 3.11 of the Goffstown Zoning Ordinance.
Manchester officials and residents are keeping an eye on the project because the property is located off Riverview Park Road, on the border between the city and Goffstown.
Access to the proposed subdivision would be off of Phillip Street and Joseph Street Extension — streets located in the Queen City — creating a cut-through in what has historically been a very quiet Manchester neighborhood off Goffstown Road near Mount Calvary Cemetery.
RSA 36:54-58 says if a project has been determined to have regional impact — which this one has — abutting communities and the regional planning commission will be given abutter status and an opportunity to weigh in on the project.
At the March 4 meeting of the city's Board of Mayor and Aldermen, at-large member Dan O'Neil said he and others on the board have heard from residents in the Phillip and Joseph streets neighborhood.
"Alderman (Tony) Sapienza, I think, was serious when he suggested we put a gate on it," O'Neil said. "I just think we've got to send a message to Goffstown that if, in fact, it's the only way in and out, that Manchester intends to put a gate up there, and I'd be fully in favor of that. Those people bought those homes to be in a dead-end neighborhood, and I don't think they deserve this for a project that's not even in the city limits."
Kelly Thomas, alderman for Ward 12, said she spoke to the group behind the project.
"I did let them know that it wouldn't go through in Manchester unless they found a different way out and in," Thomas said. "There are multiple areas to come in and out of, and they're looking into an option of creating a different road. That's kind of where they're at right now."
"Are they saying then they don't need to come through Manchester?" O'Neil asked.
"They're not saying any of that right now," Thomas said. "It was just some conversation on 'What else could you do besides going through that road' type of deal."
City planner Jeff Belanger said the project is before the Goffstown Zoning Board of Adjustment seeking approval for a change from an industrial parcel to a residential parcel.
"This is kind of the first step of a multi-step process," Belanger said. "So if the Goffstown zoning board approves this variance request, then it's going to go to their planning board and to the Manchester planning board. So there are a number of opportunities for abutters to talk about this, and also for the city of Manchester to exercise regulatory authority over what's going on. They would specifically look at the access issues like, you know, sewer, water, plowing, emergency access, a whole bunch of different issues could come up. And the Manchester planning board could either disapprove the project or approve it with conditions of approval.
O'Neil asked if aldermen would have the right to put a gate up in the area.
"The board does have authority over the right of way, so you could do that, but there's case law on this," Belanger said. "I've worked with the solicitor's office on this over the past week, the creation of a public right of way, which has been there for a while, that provides access to an abutting parcel. This one in Goffstown does create a private right in the abutting parcel, so that property owner has a private property right to use Phillips Street and Joseph Street as access to their property.
"If that were to get taken away, it's possible that there could be damages resulting from that, so it's something to consider if you're considering putting up a gate that would be a discontinuance of a public right of way."
"The plan that we're looking at in our packet, it's two dead ends from Manchester — that seems pretty rare," Sapienza said. "I don't know of any other dead ends that are going to other towns. So that means, if there's a fire in Goffstown, the fire department from Goffstown is going to have to come into Manchester, then go over there?
"That's crazy talk."
A public hearing on the project scheduled for March 4 before the Goffstown zoning board was pushed off to April 1 because only four members of the board could attend.
"Maybe they didn't have a road to get to it," joked Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur.
Goffstown zoning board Chairperson Len Stuart said they are looking to hold the April 1 meeting in a larger venue, possibly Goffstown High School, due to interest in the project.
REACH out
Mayor Jay Ruais and Gov. Kelly Ayotte attended a brief ceremony in the Queen City Tuesday to announce services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence have been transitioned from YWCA-New Hampshire to REACH Crisis Services.
REACH offers free and private help for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and trafficking in Greater Manchester, which includes the towns of Manchester, Deering, Weare, New Boston, Goffstown, Bedford, Auburn, Londonderry and Derry.
The new office expects to serve about 2,000 — 3,000 people each year.
"What better thing can we say we have done with ourselves than help another human being who needs it?" Ruais said. "Thank you so much for all the work that you do. You truly make a difference in lives and in the city of Manchester."
For more information on REACH, visit www.reachnh.org. Offices at 77 Sundial Ave., Suite 306W are open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. REACH's 24-hour crisis line is at 603-668-2299.
All REACH services are free and confidential.
Rail trail concerns
A public "Local Concerns Meeting" on plans for the South Manchester Rail Trail Extension will be held March 12 at 7 p.m. in the McLaughlin Middle School cafeteria, 201 Jack Lovering Drive.
The meeting will focus on a proposed multi-use path and other bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Perimeter Road, South Willow Street, Harvey Road and Bouchard Street.
This project will construct the final segment of the South Manchester Rail Trail and connect to the Londonderry Rail Trail, proposed for construction in 2025.
The intent of the meeting is to provide an overview of the project, including funding and schedule, and get input from the public, officials, resource agencies, and abutting property owners on their ideas and concerns relative to existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure within the project area.
Data collected during this phase of the project, including insight obtained through this meeting, will help shape design alternatives, which will be presented at a future meeting.
Contact City Hall reporter Paul Feely at [e-mail].