Keene residents oppose rezoning near Winchester/Pearl; council takes comments, refers ordinance to PLD

The Keene City Council heard more than two hours of public testimony on Ordinance O‑2025‑28A, a petition by Adam Wright to rezone five parcels at Winchester Street and Pearl Street from low‑density residential to Commerce. Community Development staff presented background and an A‑version of the ordinance the joint committee had recommended after workshops. Planner Megan Fortson said the revised proposal removed three parcels from an earlier, larger rezoning and that the proposal now covers about 1.58 acres. "At that point with those proposed changes, planning board felt that it was consistent with the 2010 master plan" and later the updated 2025 master plan informed staff recommendations, Fortson said.

Applicant representatives, including consultant John Noonan, told the council the corner parcels are better aligned with commerce given their location by the roundabout on Winchester Street, long-standing adjacent commercial uses and the difficulty of re‑using severely deteriorated homes. Noonan said site‑plan review will address stormwater, floodplain encroachment, traffic, landscaping, lighting and screening. "When these lots are reviewed specifically...they go before the planning board," Noonan said.

Scores of neighbors opposed the rezoning during public comment, voicing a consistent set of concerns: increased flood risk and soil/runoff impacts into the Ashuelot River if impervious surfaces increase; safety at the new Winchester roundabout and crosswalk blind spots; increased vehicle traffic and speeding along Pearl Street; noise, light pollution and litter from commercial activity; and loss of the Pearl Street neighborhood’s historic character. Multiple speakers alleged that the properties had tenants who were later evicted and that the houses had been left to deteriorate before the current ownership. "This is a neighborhood...we love it there, it's not fair to make it commercial," said Sally Rose, a Pearl Street resident. Another resident cited studies she said link commercial encroachment to higher local crime rates.

Supporters or supporters-by-association also spoke: several residents and property‑management witnesses defended Adam Wright and his family’s record as landlords and argued redevelopment would remove long‑standing blight. Supporters suggested commercial development at the corner could serve as a purposeful buffer from heavier commercial corridors and improve safety and local tax revenue.

Mayor Khan closed the public hearing after calling for written comments and noting several letters in the record both for and against the petition. The mayor directed that written comments be submitted to the city clerk by 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 for consideration by the Planning, Licenses & Development Committee, which will deliberate the ordinance and later return a recommendation to the full council. There was no final council vote on the rezoning at this meeting.

What happens next: The ordinance will be reviewed by PLD on Dec. 10; no additional public testimony will be taken at that committee meeting, but written submissions will be accepted into the public record until the Dec. 9 deadline.