Recreation element approved after revisions

The council tentatively approved the first, third and fourth elements of the plan — natural resources, historic and cultural resources, and housing — in unanimous votes on March 7. However, the council continued discussion on Element 2 — recreation — to the March 21 meeting because members wanted administration to make some revisions first.

Specifically, council member Daniela Abbott characterized a table listing five existing and future recreational facilities — basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields, soccer fields and softball fields — “woefully inadequate.” She raised concerns that leaving off any needed facilities could limit the town’s funding sources for such projects going forward.

In response, Town Planner Gary Crosby added five activities to the table: Handball courts, swimming pool, bike trails, hiking trails and volleyball courts. (The first three facilities do not yet exist.)

Crosby also added to the element the so-called “3S” fields off Sandy Point Avenue — targeted for two future soccer fields — as well as Mount Hope Park, the dog park at the Melville Recreation Area,

He also added language pointing out that the section is not intended to be a comprehensive assessment of recreational needs, and that the town is working on an open space and restoration master plan which will be incorporated in this CCP by amendment after final approval.

Element 2 as revised was tentatively approved in a 7-0 vote.

20-year plan

The CCP is designed to guide the town’s growth and development over the next 20 years. State agencies must abide by local CCPs, which in turn must follow goals and policies established by the State Guide Plan.

The draft plan is the culmination of resident surveys and data-gathering exercises, the Citizens Interested in the Comprehensive Community Planning Process Committee, the Planning Board, and town staff, including members of the Planning Department who led the overall effort.

The draft plan has already been sent to Statewide Planning, which is tasked with reviewing and approving the CCP so it becomes binding. The town is expected to submit the final approved plan to the state later this spring, and the state could grant final approval a couple of months after that.

— Jim McGaw

PORTSMOUTH — A debate with a taxpayer over commercial enterprises within residential districts highlighted the Town Council’s continuation of a public hearing on the Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP) on March 21.

The council tentatively approved five elements of the plan — a road map to guide Portsmouth’s growth and development over the next 20 years — all in unanimous votes, after giving the green light to the first three elements on March 7. The panel is scheduled to wrap up its review of the CCP by examining elements 9 through 12 — earlier elements may also be discussed — at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 4, at Town Hall.

The element that generated the most discussion on March 21 was No. 5, economic development. Local resident Tom Grieb said he disagreed with one of the action items (ED-2.3a) intended to support the growth of home occupations as an important component of business activity in town. 

The item reads: “Review and amend (as necessary) provisions in the Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance regulating home occupations, balancing support for the expansion of business activity and the potential impacts to residential neighborhoods.” (The council later voted unanimously to add the word “negative” after “potential.”)

Town Planner Gary Crosby said he included the language in the draft CCP because the town’s tax rolls have seen a big increase in home occupations, and that the language in the current zoning ordinance is 38 years old and may need more review.

Grieb argued the action item was misguided and should be deleted, as some things have no place in residential zones. He said it would allow residents to “start taking in car repair work” or starting a “hairdressing establishment in their home,” which could increase traffic in a neighborhood.

Council member Keith Hamilton said Grieb was misreading the action item’s intent.

“It doesn’t say we’re going to start jamming down businesses into residential like you’re implying. If you’re reading that somebody is going to start an auto repair shop in their garage, you’re really stretching it,” Hamilton said. The town’s zoning ordinance already has built-in protections to prevent a home business from becoming a nuisance, he added.

He asked Grieb if he would have a problem with someone starting an accounting service in his or her home. Grieb replied he might, if enough cars came to the house. In addition, the CCP as written is “clearly pro-business in a residential neighborhood,” and doesn’t differentiate between an accountant and something industrial, he said.

“We need to protect the residential areas. Ninety percent of your taxes paid in this town come from the residential owners,” Grieb said.

Council President Kevin Aguiar said he was comfortable with the language, 

“Portsmouth’s a little unique because … the way things are zoned is very spread out,” said Aguiar. While conceding that perhaps the town should identify which home businesses are allowable, he agreed with Hamilton that the zoning ordinance already sets requirements for such enterprises.

“I don’t think auto repair would fall under a home occupation,” Aguiar said.

After making some other minor changes to the economic development element, including language recognizing that “agribusiness is a vital part of the town’s economy,” the council tentatively approved the element in a unanimous vote.

Three other elements OK’d

The council also tentatively approved the following three elements in unanimous votes:

• No. 6 (agriculture) — The council added language mentioning the student-run AgInnovation Farm at Cloverbud Ranch on Jepson Lane.

• No. 7 (services and facilities)

• No. 8 (energy) — The council added language to include mentions of electric vehicle charging stations and municipal energy-efficient vehicles.