Planning commission approves 17 townhouses at 1200 Hodges Ferry Road amid traffic and drainage concerns

The Portsmouth Planning Commission voted to approve a use permit for the development of 17 townhouse units on approximately 1.68 acres at 1200 Hodges Ferry Road in the Mayflower Park neighborhood.

Patrice Branch, a city planner and the staff coordinator for the application, said the site is zoned Urban Residential and is part of a larger 6.57-acre parcel currently occupied by a religious institution. Branch told commissioners the project is an infill, townhome-style development arranged in three clusters with rear-loaded double-car driveways and private 20-foot shared driveways; maintenance of common areas would be the responsibility of a homeowners association.

The applicant’s representative, Grady Palmer, said the proposal was designed as “missing middle” homeownership to provide market-rate and workforce housing in line with the city’s 2020 citywide strategic housing plan and the Build 1 portion of the comprehensive plan. Palmer said a trip generation analysis provided by the applicant estimates an increase of about seven vehicle trips per hour in the morning peak and nine vehicle trips per hour in the evening peak. He also provided a fiscal-impact estimate of roughly $57,000 in year-one tax revenue after buildout and said unit pricing would be about $290,000 to $325,000.

Dozens of nearby residents testified at the hearing, focusing on traffic speeds on Leonard and Mayflower roads, existing drainage problems and the potential strain on local infrastructure during construction and afterward. Angela Anderson, a resident of Leonard Road, said she has contacted police repeatedly about speeding and said, “I’ve called the police department traffic division no less than 5 times. Never got a phone call back.” Judith Mustard said traffic backups sometimes block the local fire department and told commissioners, “The past traffic backs up to the fire department and keeps them from being able to get out.”

Other neighbors raised concerns about runoff and drainage; staff said stormwater and drainage issues would be reviewed during the subsequent development plan/site-plan review and must meet the city’s stormwater and erosion-control requirements before construction. Several residents also raised questions about homeowners association costs and long-term neighborhood character.

Commissioner Jiggott moved to approve the use permit with conditions; the motion was seconded and the item was approved by a vote reported as 5 2 0. The commission’s approval includes standard conditions governing design standards, parking and other items noted in the staff report. The planning commission record says the item will be forwarded to city council for action at its Aug. 26 meeting.

Staff and the applicant said they had met with several nearby property owners before the hearing and that the applicant was willing to meet further with neighbors to address concerns. City planning staff and the engineering department will vet traffic and stormwater details during the plan-of-development and site-plan phases; those reviews are required before any building permits are issued.