Amherst Office of Community Development

07/02/2026

Amherst Cooling Center - Available Now to the End of the Weekend

With high temperatures expected, the Town, in partnership with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), will make the Amherst Fire & EMS Central Station Training Room available as a Cooling Center through the end of the weekend.

If you or someone you know needs a cool place to escape the heat, please contact Amherst Communications at 603-673-4900.

☎️ How it works:

Call Amherst Communications at 603-673-4900.
Communications will notify CERT.
A CERT volunteer will respond and open the Cooling Center for you.

Please Note: The Cooling Center is available by request only and will not have regularly scheduled open hours.

Please check in on neighbors, family members, and friends especially older adults, young children, and those who may be more vulnerable to the heat. Stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, and never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle.

Stay safe and stay cool!

06/03/2026

Continuance Requested for Tonight's (6/3) Planning Board Meeting:

MIGRELA and GAM Realty Trusts (Carlson Manor) have requested a continuance for tonight's Planning Board meeting. The date of the next hearing will be announced tonight. Keep an eye on our website for additional application updates

The Historic District Commission seeks a regular member and an alternate member. If you are interested in historic preservation and the character of the Town of Amherst's Historic District, please fill out the Volunteer Application and submit to Jennifer Stover at [email protected].

05/22/2026

⚠️ Scam Alert – Fraudulent Emails Pretending to Be the Town of Amherst ⚠️

The Town of Amherst has been made aware of scam emails being sent to residents and applicants pretending to be from the Town and requesting payment related to Planning Board matters.

Please be advised:
• The Town of Amherst will NEVER ask residents or applicants to wire money.
• Official Town staff email addresses will ALWAYS end in “.gov”.
• The fraudulent email currently being reported is:
[email protected]

If you receive an email requesting payment and are unsure if it is legitimate, please contact the Community Development Department before responding or sending any payment.

Contact Information:
📧 [email protected]
📞 603-673-6041 ext. 204

Staff is currently reaching out to active applicants to advise them of this scam.

Please share this notice with friends, neighbors, and anyone who may have applications pending with the Town.

05/18/2026

The Town of Amherst is currently seeking volunteers to serve on local land use boards and committees, including the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA). We are in critical need of community members willing to step up and get involved.

The ZBA plays an important role in the Town by hearing requests related to variances, special exceptions, appeals of administrative decisions, and other zoning matters. Members help ensure that Amherst’s Zoning Ordinance is applied fairly while balancing the rights of property owners and the interests of the community. The Board serves in a quasi-judicial capacity and reviews applications during public hearings.

Serving on a board is a great way to become more involved in your community and help shape Amherst’s future. No prior experience is required, just a willingness to learn, participate, and serve the Town.

If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the Volunteer Application on the Town website: https://www.amherstnh.gov/zoning-board-adjustment

For more information about the Zoning Board of Adjustment, please visit:
https://www.amherstnh.gov/zoning-board-adjustment

We truly appreciate everyone willing to volunteer their time and expertise to support the Town of Amherst.

03/17/2026

‼️ZONING BOARD MEETING CANCELLED‼️

Tonight's (3/17) Zoning Board meeting has been cancelled. The items on the agenda have been moved to the April 21, 2026, meeting. Please call 603-673-6041 ext. 215 with any questions.

03/09/2026

📣Planning Board Alternate Opportunities🏛️

The Town of Amherst is seeking residents who are interested in serving as Alternate Members of the Planning Board.

Planning Board alternates play an important role in the land use review process. Alternates attend meetings and step in to participate when a regular member is absent or recused, helping ensure the Board can continue its work reviewing development proposals, subdivisions, site plans, and zoning matters that shape the future of our community.

If you are interested in being considered for appointment, please complete the volunteer application available on the Town website.

Volunteer Application:
https://www.amherstnh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4116/f/uploads/volunteer_application_fillable.pdf

If you have questions about the role of the Planning Board or the time commitment involved, please feel free to reach out.

Kristy Jobin
Director of Community Development
[email protected]

603-673-6041 ext. 204

03/09/2026

At the March 4, 2026 Planning Board meeting, the Town of Amherst recognized Planning Board Chair Arnie Rosenblatt for his many years of dedicated service as he concluded his final meeting after choosing not to seek another term.

Arnie first joined the Planning Board as an alternate member in 2001. He became a regular member in 2002 and served in that role through 2010. From 2010 to 2018 he served as Chair of the Planning Board, helping guide many important land use decisions and development projects that have shaped our community.

After briefly serving again as a regular member in 2018 and 2019, Arnie returned to the role of Chair in 2020, where he continued to lead the board through March 2026 with professionalism, fairness, and a deep commitment to the Town of Amherst.

At the meeting, Chair of the Select Board Danielle Pray presented Arnie with a plaque recognizing his years of service to the community. Several individuals in attendance also shared kind words and appreciation for his leadership, dedication, and thoughtful approach to the planning process.

On behalf of the Town of Amherst, we thank Arnie for more than two decades of service to our community and for the countless hours he devoted to helping guide the future of our town. His leadership and commitment to public service have made a lasting impact.

Please join us in thanking Arnie for his more than 25 years of service to Amherst!

02/19/2026

We are honored to recognize another remarkable member of our Amherst community, Charlie Vars.

Charlie began serving the Town in 1978 and went on to dedicate 5 years to the Planning Board and 15 years to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Twenty years of careful deliberation, public hearings, difficult decisions, and unwavering commitment to doing what was right for Amherst. That level of service speaks volumes.

At the February 17th ZBA meeting, Charlie was presented with a plaque by Selectwoman Danielle Pray, who also serves as Chair of the ZBA, in recognition of his many years of dedication to the Town.

Charlie’s impact extends well beyond his board service. In 2011, he was named Amherst Citizen of the Year, a reflection of the respect and gratitude this community holds for him. He has also been a member of the Lions Club since 1976, quietly and consistently giving back in ways both seen and unseen.

Charlie truly embodies the spirit of community service. His decades of involvement demonstrate what makes small town government work: residents who step forward, volunteer their time, and invest in the place they call home.

Charlie, thank you for your extraordinary service, your leadership, and your deep commitment to Amherst. Our Town is better because of you.

Please join us in congratulating and thanking Charlie for a lifetime of service to our community.

02/19/2026

Today we want to take a moment to recognize and thank someone whose dedication to the Town of Amherst spans decades.

Jamie Ramsay has been serving our community on a Board or Commission since 1996. Over the years, he devoted 21 years to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and 18 years to the Historic District Commission. That is an extraordinary commitment of time, thoughtfulness, and public service.

This past September, Jamie stepped down from the ZBA to accept employment with the Town of Amherst. He now serves as our Building Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, and Deputy Health Officer. While his role has changed, his commitment to Amherst has not.

Serving on volunteer boards for nearly three decades is no small thing. It means evenings away from family, hours spent reviewing applications and regulations, thoughtful deliberation on difficult decisions, and an unwavering willingness to step up when the community needs you. Jamie has done all of that and more.

At the Tuesday, February 17th ZBA meeting, Jamie was presented with a plaque in recognition of his many years of service by Selectwoman Danielle Pray, who also serves as Chair of the ZBA. It was a well deserved moment of appreciation for someone who has given so much of his time to this community.

Towns like Amherst do not function without volunteers. Our boards and commissions are the backbone of local government. They protect the character of our community, ensure fairness in decision making, and help guide thoughtful growth. People like Jamie are the reason that works.

Jamie, thank you for your years of steady leadership, integrity, and service. We are grateful for everything you have given to this community and we are fortunate to continue benefiting from your expertise in your new role.

Please join us in thanking Jamie for nearly 30 years of dedicated public service to Amherst.

02/17/2026

⚠️ SCAM EMAIL ALERT ⚠️

We have been notified that several applicants and board members have received scam emails that appear to be coming from the Community Development Department. These emails are NOT from our office.

🚫 Do not click on any links
🚫 Do not send money
🚫 Do not provide personal information

If you receive an email that seems suspicious or you are unsure whether it is legitimate, please contact the Community Development Department directly to verify before taking any action.

📞 When in doubt, call us first.

Please help spread the word and stay vigilant. Thank you!