Resident criticizes pace of Portsmouth comp plan update

‘We’re making no progress’

By Jim McGaw
Posted 2/8/18

PORTSMOUTH — A member of the citizens group involved in the review of the updated Comprehensive Community Plan criticized the pace of progress on the document during a Planning Board …

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Resident criticizes pace of Portsmouth comp plan update

‘We’re making no progress’

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — A member of the citizens group involved in the review of the updated Comprehensive Community Plan criticized the pace of progress on the document during a Planning Board meeting last week.

“I’ve been on this (committee) for more than a year now. We’re making no progress,” Frederick Marano, a member of the Portsmouth Citizens Interested in the Comprehensive Community Planning Process, told the Planning Board at the end of its Jan. 31 workshop to review two separate elements of the plan.

The town is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Community Plan, which serves as the town’s guide and vision for development over the next 20 years. It is intended to reflect the feelings of the town’s citizens and be based upon an accurate inventory of the town’s resources.

Since March 2016, the town’s planning department, led by Town Planner Gary Crosby, has been submitting updated drafts of separate elements of the plan, such as housing, agriculture, recreation, and transportation. After each draft is published, it’s reviewed by the Planning Board at workshops open to the public.

The board held its first workshop to review the “Services and Facilities” element of the comprehensive plan in May 2016. Last week’s workshop, which continued review of both the “Agriculture” and “Drinking Water Supply” elements, marked the board’s 10th workshop on the plan review.

Mr. Marano serves as the citizens’ board’s vice-chairman, but said he was speaking as a private citizen and not a member of the committee. He also stressed that his remarks were not intended to be a criticism of Mr. Crosby or his department.

“Many of the elements are incomplete,” said Mr. Marano, who said the job is too big for Mr. Crosby to handle on his own.

“He shouldn’t be doing the writing; he has too many other things to do,” he said. “It can’t be put on one man and his assistant.”

Mr. Marano said many people who are following progress on the comprehensive plan will be “long gone” before the process is completed. 

“We really haven’t made any progress in a year and that’s a sad commentary on how we’re doing our job,” he said, adding that the Planning Board should “rethink” how the updated plan will be written.

“The current method is not working,” Mr. Marano said.

Guy Bissonnette, chairman of the Planning Board, acknowledged that the review of the plan has been slow-going. 

Mr. Crosby said he’s taking action to answer Mr. Marano’s concerns. The Town Council has budgeted $45,000 for a consultant to help the planning department with the plan and he intends to issue a request for proposals to get someone on board, he said.

Agriculture, water supply

The discussion came after a short workshop during which the Planning Board continued its review of the “Agriculture” and “Drinking Water Supply” elements of the plan. The board first began reviewing those two elements on Nov. 29.

The agricultural element includes the term “agritourism” which Mr. Crosby used to describe on-farm activities that are open to the public. 

In June 2015, the Town Council enacted an amendment to the zoning ordinance that allowed farmers to seek permits before the Zoning Board of Review to hold special events on their property to help keep their businesses economically viable.

While the change garnered support from many residents, several neighbors of some local farms objected, saying the new rules could cause issues with public safety, noise and more.

Following a contentious public hearing, the zoning board in January 2016 unanimously granted a special-use permit to Greenvale Vineyards so the farm could continue to host weddings, small concerts, corporate outings and other events.

In September 2016, zoners granted dairy farmers Louis and Jane Escobar a special-use permit to host weddings at their bed-and-breakfast, Escobar Farmhouse Inn. 

Mr. Crosby made it clear that nowhere in the comprehensive plan draft does it state “that agritourism is allowed by right … I don’t think it’s there.” 

Mr. Bissonnette agreed, saying that would be up to the zoning board on a case-by-case basis.

Ann Fiore, a member of the Portsmouth Citizens Interested in the Comprehensive Community Planning Process, thanked Mr. Crosby for his work on the farming element, which she called a difficult section. 

“This is a big deal for me; this is wonderful,” said Ms. Fiore, who said she was speaking as an individual and not as a committee member. She’s the co-owner of Glen Ridge Farm, which raises alpacas and other animals.

“This was not something that was (included) for the town of Portsmouth. It’s national; it’s international,” she said.

Moving on to the water supply element of the plan, Mr. Bissonnette questioned the town’s jurisdiction over the matter in relation to the Portsmouth Water and Fire District.

“What can the town do relative to this when it’s completely controlled by a separate board that even taxes separately?” he asked Mr. Crosby.

The town planner said besides supporting the water supply management plans of both the Portsmouth Water and Fire District and the Prudence Island Water District, the comprehensive plan will contain language on protecting the local watershed.

Portsmouth Planning Board, Portsmouth Comprehensive Community Plan

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