ZBA allows personal services use at 413 South Main despite neighbors’ traffic concerns

The Nashua Zoning Board on Sept. 22 approved a variance to allow a personal-services (aesthetics) business in existing office space at 413 South Main Street, a property that previously received a use variance for offices and completed site-plan work.

Attorney Brad Westgate, representing owner Miguel Basano, said the building’s upper-level office space is larger than current tenant needs and proposed using about 415 square feet for appointment-based aesthetics services (facials, skin care and similar treatments) with limited daily customers. He emphasized the site already has planning-board approval and parking access; staff-level approvals govern site operations. “All we’re really simply doing is saying, would it be appropriate and possible to have this type of use, the personal services use rather than the office use in a facility already built,” counsel said.

Supporters included an adjacent owner and an employee who described the owner as a responsible neighbor. But multiple Eastman Street residents spoke in opposition, describing repeated incidents of vehicles blocking driveways, snow being placed on neighbors’ property, motorists failing to obey stop signs and speed problems on the dead-end approach; residents warned that additional customers could worsen safety for children and disabled neighbors who use the street.

Board members noted the property’s prior office variance and substantial site improvements; several said the rear-lot traffic concerns could be mitigated by directing employees to the rear parking and encouraging customers to use the front spaces. The board approved the variance but urged the applicant to address neighbor relations and site operations so Eastman Street impacts are minimized.