Planning board urges council to secure rights to Frenchman’s Lane; council directs city manager to negotiate

Portsmouth city council on Aug. 18 responded to a July planning board recommendation by directing the city manager and legal staff to negotiate, execute and record documents conveying legal rights to both sections of Frenchman’s Lane. The planning board had recommended the council obtain rights to the two sections to clear title and secure access. City staff and the deputy city attorney described the title situation as “sticky”; multiple parcels and residual state interests complicate the record. Councilors authorized the city manager to pursue whatever lawful means are required to secure the city’s interest and made clear that any transaction costs shall be borne by the owners of 833 Islington Street, who have a redevelopment proposal that depends on clear access. The motion passed and councilors said further disposition or any future transfer of rights would require additional council action. Councilors asked whether acquiring the rights would affect other properties that currently use Frenchman’s Lane for access (for example, 855 and 871 Islington Street). City attorneys said any disposition of newly‑acquired rights would be a future negotiation and that staff would aim to preserve existing access where appropriate, but that specific terms would be negotiated later should the city choose to transfer interests to private parties.