Keene · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Keene public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Fast Food Restaurant with Drive-Thru at 348 Winchester Street
Riverside Improvements wants to tear down the old Rite Aid at 348 Winchester Street and build a ~4,576-square-foot fast food restaurant with a drive-thru. The drive-thru would need a waiver because it faces Winchester Street.
Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion siting and future development
After months of debate, the committee picked the parking-lot site for the solar pavilion over the original tree-shaded spot, favoring much higher power output and faster payback over preserving the lot for future housing development.
16-inch Water Transmission Main Assessment
A cluster of water infrastructure items came before the committee: repairing the 3-million-gallon tank, inspecting the transmission water main with new engineering services from KenWave Solutions, and contracting for the City Hall garage rehab.
Emergency Pearl Street Sewer Main Repair
A cluster of water infrastructure items came before the committee: repairing the 3-million-gallon tank, inspecting the transmission water main with new engineering services from KenWave Solutions, and contracting for the City Hall garage rehab.
Monadnock View Cemetery running out of burial space
A resolution was on the agenda to allocate funds for construction of the Monadnock View Cemetery expansion. This affects long-term burial capacity for the community.
RSA 79-E Housing Tax Relief for 429 Elm Street
A property owner applied for temporary tax relief under the city's Residential Property Revitalization Zone program to rehabilitate a building at 429 Elm Street. The program trades short-term tax revenue for long-term property improvements.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Tank Repairs
The council was slated to consider construction services for the first phase of tank repairs at the wastewater treatment plant — the kind of behind-the-scenes work that keeps the city's sewer system running.
Downtown Project Water Shutoff and Fire Safety Failures
An October 1 water main break left downtown businesses without water far longer than planned, and a restaurant owner discovered she hadn't been notified her building's domestic water was affected — and briefly believed fire suppression was down. Public Works admitted a records error, confirmed the fire line stayed active, and pledged better communication during future shutoffs.
Central Square Traffic Lane Configuration
The downtown project's plan squeezes traffic north of the Common into a single 22-foot lane with a raised crosswalk. Business owners and some councilors want two 11-foot lanes, arguing one lane will bottleneck traffic and hurt downtown commerce; Public Works says the single lane is safer for pedestrians and can be changed later since it's only paint. The full council will take this up.
School Street speeding and cut-through traffic
Duncan Hilchey and Amy Christian asked for a traffic study and safety assessment of School Street; the council unanimously sent it to staff for a report.
Guitard Homes Cottage Court Utility Easement
Three of the night's approvals use Keene's newer Cottage Court rules to add housing: two Habitat for Humanity homes on Grove Street, a 14-unit townhouse project near Elm/Carroll, and a starter home on George Street. The board noted the city changed its code specifically to allow this kind of gentle density.
0 Howard Street rezoning to Conservation
A resident wants the city-owned wooded lot at 0 Howard Street rezoned to Conservation to permanently block housing there, but staff say it's one of the last buildable infill parcels in the urban compact and rezoning it could be illegal spot zoning. The board found it inconsistent with the Master Plan, but it's headed to City Council for a public hearing where neighbors can speak again.
Fire Department Staffing and Overtime Costs
Keene Fire is running on fumes — top firefighters averaging 75-hour weeks and 24,385 overtime hours last year just to hit the 12-person minimum. Adding one firefighter per shift costs $525,460 but offsets $527,691 in overtime, though it's not yet in the budget so it hits the tax rate.
Restricting sale of 7-OH and concentrated kratom products
The council was asked to consider restricting the sale of 7-hydroxymitragynine and concentrated kratom products, a synthetic opioid-adjacent substance sold in some shops. This is a public health and safety question for the community.
SAFER Fire Staffing Grant Acceptance
The Fire Chief was scheduled to present the Fiscal Year 2025 SAFER grant award for fire and emergency response staffing. Accepting it could bolster fire department staffing at little local cost.
Howard Street Zoning Map Amendment (O-2026-13)
The council took up the second reading of a zoning change for 0 Howard Street, moving the parcel from Medium Density to Conservation. That change would limit future development on the site.
Short-term rental regulation (O-2026-09 and O-2026-10)
The council held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance governing short-term rental uses in Keene. This could affect homeowners who rent out their properties and neighbors concerned about neighborhood character.
Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion location fight
The council is split over whether a $2.19 million, mostly federally funded solar pavilion goes on the street side of Gilbo Avenue (activating downtown, slower solar payback) or in the parking lot (faster payback, but eats parking and complicates future development). The location amendment failed 7-8 and the item stayed before the full council.
Roxbury Street/South Lincoln Street intersection safety
After five or six crashes in a year, the city will pursue sight-distance easements with all four corner property owners instead of a four-way stop, then reassess in six months.
8-bed behavioral health group home on Winchester Street
Anew Behavioral Health wants to convert a mixed-use building at 232 Winchester Street into a small group home with 8 beds. It needs a major site plan approval and a conditional use permit, and neighbors had a chance to comment at the hearing.
Data center and cryptocurrency mining moratorium
The City Council is asking the Planning Board for written findings that could back a temporary moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities while the city studies the issue.
Lower-cost power option for low-income Keene Community Power customers
About 300 Keene households on electric assistance will be shifted from the pricier Keene Standard default to the least-cost Keene Basic product, lowering their bills. Councilor Favolise argued the change doesn't go far enough for the other 22,700 ratepayers facing higher costs from the reauthorized plan.
Downtown infrastructure construction timeline
The contractor wants to push sewer work into winter between Water and Emerald Streets to keep the 2028 finish date on track, but councilors worry about telling downtown businesses the schedule has changed yet again.
Lower Winchester Street reconstruction right-of-way costs
A change order with McFarland Johnson for the Lower Winchester Street reconstruction project — a major road improvement that affects commuters and nearby businesses.
Adult Education and Immigration Enforcement Concerns
SAU 29's adult education program reported students picked up by ICE or leaving the state out of fear after a council workshop, causing enrollment drops. The mayor has written the Governor and Commissioner of Public Safety seeking transparency.
Roosevelt West Affordable Housing
A $750,000 federal grant is helping Keene Housing build 30 more permanently affordable apartments at the former Roosevelt School — 60 total units now planned. The first 30 rented out in under 45 days, and five units are reserved for people experiencing homelessness.
Free downtown parking during construction
Main Street on-street parking is now free through the end of 2026 to help businesses survive the downtown construction project. Councilors openly worried it could pull traffic into neighborhoods, drain the Parking Fund, and may need revisiting in January.
Short-term rental regulations (Ordinance O-2026-09)
The city is moving to formally define and allow short-term rentals like Airbnbs across most zoning districts, after a state law change made them technically illegal under the old 'family' definition. With only about 80 active listings and no complaint pattern, the committee chose a light touch — but agreed to review the data annually, and added the Downtown Core and Growth districts at the last minute.
Implementation of 2025 Master Plan housing strategies
Both items tonight circled the same tension: Keene needs housing, but neighbors near the Howard Street lot fear what new development brings — traffic, buses, water problems. The Master Plan calls infill housing a priority, and staff argued this parcel is exactly that kind of opportunity.
Additional land use definitions in the Land Development Code
Councilor Jones wants the city to study adding definitions for data centers, crypto mines, private prisons, and private immigration detention centers to the land development code — a precursor to future zoning debates.
Committee Legislative Actions
A Keene committee advanced a temporary pause on data centers and new dog rules, but kicked kratom decisions down the road. If you care about big development or off-leash dogs, this is your cue to pay attention.
Local Election Primary
Keene’s local races are set for the Sept. 8 New Hampshire primary, and the ballot is now locked in. If you vote in Keene, this is your first look at who’s running and which races are actually contested—so check before you head to the polls.
Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan update
The City is updating its bike and pedestrian plan for the first time since 1999; a public survey is open now and the final plan will fold into the city master plan.
City Council Meeting
Keene’s City Council wrapped up before summer break by approving a park project and hearing an update on property revaluation. Both matter to residents because they can shape your tax bill and the city’s green spaces.
Five-year property revaluation funding
The City Assessor will present on the city-wide reevaluation — the process that resets property values and shapes individual tax bills. Worth watching for anyone wondering how their assessment may change.
Route 12 and Route 9 Rumble Strips
Multiple safety items are before the council: proposed rumble strips on Route 12 and Route 9, a safety audit at Route 9 and Whitcomb's Mill Road, resident Erik Murphy's petition on the South Lincoln/Roxbury Street intersection, an ordinance for two new stop signs on Roxbury Street, and Councilor Tobin's request for a Roadway Safety Action Plan update.
2026 Keene Pumpkin Festival license and downtown road closures
Let It Shine asked to use city property for the Keene Pumpkin Festival on October 17, 2026 — a signature community event that draws big crowds downtown.
Roadway Safety: Roxbury Street, Route 9 and Route 12
Multiple safety items are before the council: proposed rumble strips on Route 12 and Route 9, a safety audit at Route 9 and Whitcomb's Mill Road, resident Erik Murphy's petition on the South Lincoln/Roxbury Street intersection, an ordinance for two new stop signs on Roxbury Street, and Councilor Tobin's request for a Roadway Safety Action Plan update.
Zoning Update: Setbacks, ADUs, and Parking (O-2025-40)
A second reading was scheduled for a zoning clean-up ordinance that would exempt retaining walls from setbacks, update accessory dwelling unit rules to match new state law, and make parking reductions easier — including allowing up to 25% administrative parking reductions.
School bus depot variance at 59 Optical Ave.
STA wants to run its dispatch, bus storage and maintenance operation out of 59 Optical Ave., close to a quiet, historic residential street. Neighbors worry about diesel fumes, early-morning noise, backup alarms and truck traffic, and the board won't decide until August 3.
Robin Hood Park Pool Rehabilitation
A new steering committee has started work on the park's future, with the pool rehab funded for construction right after the 2026 summer season. Plans go to the MSFI Committee on July 22.
Reinstatement of the College City Commission
Councilor Ruttle-Miller asked the Council to reinstate the College City Commission, which historically bridged town-gown relations between Keene and its colleges.
Property tax exemptions and credits review
Resolution R-2026-07 concerns the property tax credit for veterans with total service-connected disabilities.
Master Plan housing initiatives implementation (councilor referral)
Three councilors want the city to move on housing now: speed up permitting, create pre-approved designs for homes and ADUs, and consider rezoning neighborhoods for mixed-use centers. A joint committee takes it up June 8.
Neighborhood nuisances on Bergeron Avenue and Lower Winchester Street
Multiple residents described a cluster of properties rented room-by-room on month-to-month leases, with junk, unmowed lawns, parking on lawns, fires, and unknown transient occupants. Councilor Filiault said the issue is code enforcement and the 'new crappy neighbor problem' more than the zoning ordinance, and pledged continued work with the fire marshal and code enforcement.
City Manager's tax increase limit — CPI index change
The City's share of the property tax rate would rise $0.91 per thousand — about 6.7%. The budget stays under the state cap but leans on $3.8 million of one-time fund balance that won't be available in future years.
Review of six-unit and setback zoning changes (O-2025-15-A)
A request to review the land development code amendments adopted through Ordinance O-2025-15-A drew opposition from the Monadnock Interfaith Project and Councilor Ruttle-Miller. The council was slated to decide how to handle the review request.
Diesel exhaust and air quality concerns
Neighbors — including a scientist who studies diesel exhaust — laid out health data on diesel particulates and asked who would enforce anti-idling rules. Staff confirmed the city has no local air quality standards, only a noise ordinance.
Elm Street right-of-way discontinuance
Resolution R-2026-22-A proposes the absolute discontinuance of a portion of a right of way across property on Elm Street (Tax Map 521-004-000).
Proposed Housing Development Fund
Staff want a City-run pot of money to pay for surveying, wetlands work and studies that get potential housing sites — like the Howard Street property — ready for development. A permit-fee increase could fund it without new taxes.