The Character / Feeling of Portsmouth is:

Threats to Portsmouth's Character and Diversity

1. Downtown is tilting toward crowding out moderate-income residents, consumers, local businesses, and the arts.

2. The city's housing is becoming less affordable - specifically for the working poor, teachers, civil servants (police, fire), and artists.

3. Downtown is at risk of becoming less pedestrian friendly due to traffic congestion.

4. Though additional parking may be needed downtown, parking solutions such as large parking garages in the city's center could threaten the city's beauty and character.

5. While downtown is the heart and common denominator of the city, too little emphasis is placed on planning for the city's outlying neighborhoods.

6. We are losing our maritime heritage: orientation toward the water, commercial fishing, public access to the river, maritime industry.

7. Private development is limiting the public's ability to view and access the city's valuable waterfront areas (Piscataqua River, Sagamore Creek, North and South Mill Ponds, etc.).

8. Open space and green space outside of the downtown area is rapidly diminishing due to development.

9. Large-scale commercial and residential developments are putting a strain on the city's infrastructure (eg. parking, schools, and traffic).

Suggested Plans of Action

1. Maintain and encourage the city's working port by supporting existing businesses, such as the salt piles, Moran Tugs, Port of New Hampshire, and Fishing Coop.

2. Preserve public viewing access and public land fronting along the Piscataqua River, and encourage additional points of viewing access when possible. These may be via city owned land or privately owned sites with public points of access (eg. Harbor Place, Pier II). Our group had mixed view of the proposed River Walk, with some members outright opposing such an idea and others being more open to greater public water access. In general, we felt that any final River Walk proposal should capture Portsmouth's feel and historic character. It should not be too touristy, and should work with the existing buildings, businesses, working port, and scale of the city.

3. Downtown's parking issues should be addressed with respect for Portsmouth's pace and pedestrian friendly streets, low skyline and existing character. Parking solutions should not be large unattractive parking structures within the city's center. Possible parking solutions discussed by our group include smaller lots, underground parking, or garages at downtown's perimeter. Alternatives to increased parking should always be explored, such as satellite parking lots and shuttles, public transportation, and encouragement for alternative forms of transportation (eg. bikes, walking, etc.). Also, a greater share of the cost of solutions to parking problems should be carried by businesses and developers (eg. greater than existing $500 per space charge). While some in our group felt that pedestrians should prevail over greater parking, other group members value the convenience of parking availability. Overall, we agreed on the need for parking, but with strong emphasis on keeping Portsmouth pedestrian friendly and free of speeding cars and traffic congestion.

4. Develop a master plan just for the downtown that begins with a vision of how it should feel, work and look, as well as the city's vision for future development of key undeveloped sites (eg. Sheraton Lot, Parade Mall Lot). Such a plan should address the desired mix of residential, retail and office space, type of merchants and businesses desired, parking, description and creation of public gathering places, etc. This plan should provide a vision for developers seeking to redevelop key sites within the city. If necessary, provide incentives to encourage developers to meet this vision.

5. In addition to a master plan for downtown, there should be individual master plans for Portsmouth's various outlying neighborhoods.

6. Non-resident use of services should be managed such that it is not a burden on Portsmouth residents, financially and with respect to our ability to function within the city and enjoy what Portsmouth has to offer. When possible, higher fees should be enforced for non-resident and tourist use of city services such as city parks, recreational facilities, parking, police/safety, schools, etc.

7. Change the existing system of neighborhood groups to a more equitable and manageable form of representation. Suggestions include fewer neighborhood groups, re-examining the neighborhood boundaries, or officially recognized representatives for each neighborhood to act as liaisons to city government.

8. Beautify the city's gateways with landscaping, trees, and flowers. Such locations include Market Street Extension, Route 33, Route 1 By-Pass, Shopping Malls, Albacore Park, and the traffic circle.

9. Encourage the expansion of downtown Portsmouth's character into areas such as Maplewood Avenue from downtown toward Dennett Street, Islington Street, and Market Street Extension by encouraging attractive mixed-use development (both residential and commercial) with historic character. A suggestion was for mixed-use development outside of downtown.

10. Enforce or further zoning's height restrictions on development (maximum 4 stories?). Limit the size of downtown retail space via zoning to encourage local businesses and discourage further displacement by national chains. Limit the number of variances that are granted to maintain the development standards and characteristics that zoning intended.

11. In an effort to improve the appearance of new residential subdivisions, our group felt that the ZBA should encourage developers to use staggered front and side setbacks.

12. Encourage the development of additional low to moderate cost rental housing for elderly, working poor, etc. (as was done at Osprey Landing). Encourage affordable home ownership through a program such as the Burlington, VT program, which encouraging a mixed-income community. Other solutions include providing density bonuses to developers in exchange for mixed-income developments.

13. Further efforts should be made to beautify and maintain our existing open space and parks, such as Peirce Island and the high school campus. Additionally, the City should have a goal of purchasing (or buying development rights on) pivotal parcels of land (or buildings) that become available and can be turned into open/green space and/or public recreation areas (missed opportunities include Pier II and the State Street/Porter Street block).

Sidewalks system should be expanded to include all neighborhoods, and expanded to provide pedestrian safety and access from the neighborhoods to downtown and/or to merchants in that neighborhood's area. Similarly, improved pedestrian access is needed to recreational areas such as Peirce Island, Four Tree Island, and the Portsmouth High School campus.