After gaining variance approvals from the Zoning Board, Jaffrey’s Hope Fellowship Church is now in front of the Planning Board for final site approvals for a new sanctuary building, expanded parking and a widened exit for the church.

The church is located on Prescott Road, which is in the Residential Rural zone, and has access to town water.

The existing church was built in 2009, and due to congregation growth, the church is seeking to build a new 1,000- to 1,100-seat sanctuary, and increase the parking to a total of 449 spaces, from its existing 250. The plan also seeks to include an access road around the north side of the property, and an additional exit lane in the driveway.

Josh Joslyn with GRAZ Engineering represented the church in Tuesday’s site plan review. Joslyn explained that the existing church building will be converted to use mostly for the church’s youth center.

One of the potential complications to the project is wetlands on the property, which Joslyn said essentially “engulfs” the property on its borders.

The board also discussed a request related to design standards related to the parking area, specifically landscaping standards requiring islands and vegetation. Joslyn said they can cause issues with snow removal, and that the church was willing to provide the same amount of vegetation, in a different way. Chair Erlene Brayall indicated she’d like to see those standards maintained if possible.

The board agreed to continue the hearing until its next meeting in May.

In other Planning Board news, the board approved two other applications Tuesday. The first was an application for a three-lot subdivision. Submitted by owners Amy Reisert and David Van Blarcom, the subdivision would be for their property at 163 Ingalls Road, in the Rural zone. The board had previously done a site walk of the property. The board approved the subdivision with conditions of receiving state subdivision approval and a driveway permit.

The board also approved an application seeking an expansion of facilities at the existing Circle Self Storage, located on Fitzgerald Drive in the town’s Industrial zone. The current business has two self-storage buildings and was seeking permission for a third, in the same size and style as the existing buildings. The business would continue to have neither office space or bathroom facilities.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.