KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneN0w) Proposed updates to zoning and parking rules were among several topics discussed during a recent Keene City Council meeting, where councilors also received an overview of the city’s budget process and winter operations.

City staff presented a series of changes to the city’s Land Development Code aimed at simplifying regulations and reducing the number of zoning variances property owners must seek.

One proposed change would increase the amount of required parking that can be reduced through an administrative zoning process from 10 percent to 25 percent. The adjustment is intended to give city officials more flexibility in situations where fewer parking spaces are needed.

Under the administrative process, applicants would only need to provide a brief memo or analysis from a traffic engineer rather than a full traffic study, which is currently required for larger reductions that go before the zoning board.

The proposal would also prohibit the creation of remote parking spaces on lots that are primarily residential and update the city’s parking standards to explicitly allow parallel parking in Keene. The updates would also define the width of drive aisles for one-way and two-way traffic in parking areas.

City staff said the changes are designed to make development rules easier for residents and businesses to navigate while maintaining safety and planning standards.

Additional updates would clarify housing regulations, including accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. The revisions remove an earlier requirement that ADUs have an interior door connecting them to the primary residence, a change required under updated state law and expected to reduce construction costs.

The proposal also clarifies language around utility access, emphasizing that dwelling units must have access to city water and sewer where those services are available while removing confusing or duplicative wording in the existing code.

City officials said the intent of the updates is to streamline compliance and make the code clearer for residents who often find zoning regulations difficult to navigate.

The council held a public hearing on the proposal but received no public comment. Residents can still submit feedback on the proposed changes until early next week before the matter moves forward in the council’s review process.

During the meeting, councilors also received an informational presentation explaining how the city develops its operating budget and capital improvement plan and how the property tax rate is calculated.

City staff said the presentation was designed to improve transparency and help residents better understand how local taxes are set. The information, along with presentation materials, will be posted on the city’s finance department webpage.

Councilors also approved allowing the city manager to negotiate a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with a nonprofit organization that has proposed a pilot program to help fund Class A uniforms for the Keene Fire Department over the next decade.

An update on winter operations was also provided. The city’s winter maintenance budget is currently about 79 percent spent, with overtime running roughly $43,000 over budget. However, officials said overall wage accounts can absorb the additional cost and the city’s road salt supply remains strong heading into the remainder of the season.