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Elderly housing options grow in Hooksett

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:35:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

There is service to be cut a growing market for senior housing in Hooksett, and four proposed developments for residents 55 and older attest to it.

And the hoops that developers jump through to build similar neighborhoods may get easier.

A proposed zoning amendment that was considered at a public hearing Monday, Feb. 23, would help streamline the approval process for developers seeking to build similar senior neighborhoods in town. The amendment, along with 12 others proposed by the town, will have to be approved by town voters in May before they take effect.

The purpose of the proposed amendment, one of the 12 the Planning Board discussed, would require a joint hearing with the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment for proposed senior and handicapped housing in order to streamline and coordinate the application process.

Planning Board Chairman John Gryval said the current process, which requires developers to present plans to the Zoning Board of Adjustment to request a variance, then to the Planning Board and finally again to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, is too cumbersome.

“If we’re both at the same meeting, it saves the developer time. This way it’s going to make it a lot better,” Gryval said. “(The amendment) is just to streamline the process.”

Four new 55-and-older communities are slated to be built along the Route 3 corridor in Hooksett.

Plans for a second phase for Webster Woods, an existing senior neighborhood in Hooksett, are on the table for consideration as well as a new 55- and-older neighborhood called Harmony Place. An unnamed senior development on Nancy Lane is seeking a special zoning exception from the Zoning Board. Blueprints for another project, Brookview Senior Housing, have been submitted to the planning office, too.

The Hooksett Planning Board will hold another public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 9, to discuss the various zoning amendments, all of which are available for review on the town’s Web site, www.hooksett.org.

The Planning Board meets in the Hooksett town offices, 35 Main St.

Campbell Hill residents protest condo plan

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:43:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

A Hooksett developer is seeking Zoning Board approval for a new senior condominium complex – the third similar development tentatively slated along the Route 3 corridor.

Beaver Brook Development of Hooksett has proposed an as-yet unnamed 36-unit, threestory structure off Nancy Lane.

A special exception granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment would be required for the developer to build the condominiums in the residential Campbell Hill subdivision.

Residents in that neighborhood have come out in full force both Dec. 9 at the Zoning Board meeting. Both the Zoning Board and the Hooksett Planning Board will be reviewing plans for the new community, but it will ultimately rest with the Zoning Board to grant or deny the special exception.

Many nearby residents spoke vehemently against the plans at the Dec.9 Zoning Board meeting.

“To arbitrarily say there will be no effect on property values in ludicrous,” said Nancy Lane resident Sean Darby, a local real estate appraiser who likened the proposed development to a glorified apartment complex. “(The developer) doesn’t even seem the least bit prepared to answer the most basic questions. I’m just trying to make sure this thing doesn’t slip through while everyone is busy during the holidays.”

Zoning Board Chairman Greg Pearson said it would be at least January before the board makes a decision about granting the special exception.

“This board takes very seriously the fact of diminishing property values,” Pearson said. “I don’t want anyone in the audience to think we consider this lightly.”

Campbell Hill resident Laurel Manning said if the proposed project is built, it will negatively impact all the homes in the neighborhood.

“I’d just like to state at this time it’s a really poor time to be considering this,” Manning said. “When I bought my home 10 years ago, (the area) was zoned residential. This will definitely devalue my property.”

The Hooksett Planning Board is currently reviewing blueprints for two other proposed senior communities – Harmony Place and Brookview Senior Housing – both located north on Route 3 from the Beaver Brook site. Action on those two projects is pending a comprehensive drainage analysis of the immediate area.

Fast talker – Local runs over opponents and lets them hear it

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:51:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

*** Croak loves trash-talk.

No, you won’t hear the Concord resident egging his opponents on, but you will see him quiet their jovial taunts with first-place finishes and record-setting performances.

On Sunday, Aug. 12, Croak competed in the 20th annual Granite State Senior Games, taking the track at Manchester’s Livingston Park to run the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash.

The 72-year-old won gold in each event in the men’s 70- to 74-year-old age division. On Sunday, Aug. 5, Croak and tennis partner Roger Roy of Candia won the gold medal in the men’s doubles tennis tournament, beating Hooksett’s Ernie Greensberg and Saul Levinson.

“Last year they beat the devil out of us,” said Croak with a laugh. “But this time we got sweet revenge, it was great to be able to get on their cases like they had done to us last year. I love having people tease and joke around with me before a race or something, I’ve got a few plaques at home to prove them wrong.”

Croak began running at 35, wanting to try something new to stay in shape. His training soon led him to participate in the senior games, a nine-day competition with 16 events for athletes over 50. Picking up his first tennis racket three years ago, Croak’s friendship with Roy introduced him to a new rival in Greensberg.

Croak, who holds various state senior-games records, recalled his favorite running moments occurring in Korea and at a national competition.

“I was visiting my daughter in Korea once and the (Marine) base was holding a Thanksgiving Day race,” he said. “The Marines were joking about how they’d have to run with the ‘old guy’ … I’ve got the first-place plaque at home.”

“Another time I was in a national race and the guy next to me looked at my legs, which are considerably bow-legged,” he continued. “And said ‘Hey fella, if your legs were a little straighter, you’d be able to go a little faster.’ I told I’d wait for him at the finish line … and I did.”