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Planning board approves site‑plan parking amendments and new alternative parking language, sends zoning change to city council
Summary
The Planning Board approved amendments to site‑plan review regulations to revise off‑street parking requirements to 1.5 spaces per unit and added a provision for alternative parking solutions; staff will forward required zoning amendments to the city council.
The Somersworth Planning Board voted to approve a proposed amendment to the site plan review regulations that revises the required number of off‑street parking spaces and adds a section allowing alternative parking solutions, and instructed staff to forward required zoning code changes to the Somersworth City Council.
Planning Director Michelle Mears explained the amendment is intended to update parking calculations and formalize alternative parking arrangements the board has used in practice, such as leasing on‑street city spaces or allowing off‑site spaces for urban infill projects. “This is largely memorializing something that we’ve probably done close to a dozen times on various large projects,” board members said.
Planning Board member David Witham moved that the board approve the proposed amendment to Section 12.4 (vehicular circulation and parking) — which includes revising the number of required off‑street spaces to 1.5 and adding language on alternative parking solutions — and forward any needed zoning amendments to city council for action. The motion, seconded by Bonnie McNair, passed by voice vote.
The planning director said any zoning amendments necessary to effect the regulatory change will be placed on a future City Council agenda. The revision aims to provide predictable standards for future urban infill and large projects that cannot meet traditional on‑site parking minima but can demonstrate a workable alternative.
