Scott Foley & a. v. Town of Atkinson
Scott Foley & a. v. Town of Atkinson
Opinion
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPREME COURT
In Case No. 2024-0151, Scott Foley & a. v. Town of Atkinson, the court on May 15, 2025, issued the following order: The court has reviewed the written arguments and the record submitted on appeal, and has determined to resolve the case by way of this order. See Sup. Ct. R. 20(3). The plaintiffs, Scott Foley and Megan Duffy, appeal an order of the Superior Court (Schulman, J.) affirming a decision of the zoning board of adjustment (ZBA) for the defendant, the Town of Atkinson, granting an applicant’s request to modify a variance condition relating to the construction of a driveway on the applicant’s property. We affirm.
The plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred because: (1) RSA 674:33 (Supp. 2024) requires the ZBA to consider the RSA 674:33, I(a)(2) variance factors when deciding whether to modify a variance condition; (2) the court concluded that the requirement for modification or elimination of a variance condition is either that the condition is no longer necessary to observe the spirit of the ordinance or that the modified condition also observes the spirit of the ordinance; and (3) it concluded that a substantial change in circumstances did not require the ZBA to analyze the statutory variance factors.
As the appealing parties, the plaintiffs have the burden of demonstrating reversible error. Gallo v. Traina, 166 N.H. 737, 740 (2014). Based upon our review of the trial court’s well-reasoned order, the plaintiffs’ challenges to it, the relevant law, and the record submitted on appeal, we conclude that the plaintiffs have not demonstrated reversible error. See id.; Sup. Ct. R. 25(8).
Affirmed.
MACDONALD, C.J., and BASSETT, DONOVAN, and COUNTWAY, JJ., concurred.
Timothy A. Gudas, Clerk
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.