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Portsmouth planning director briefs new council members on rezoning and use-permit process
Summary
Director of Planning Rhonda Russell reviewed zoning-map amendments, use permits, staff and planning commission roles, and what council members should expect for two rezoning and two use-permit applications on the council agenda.
Rhonda Russell, director of planning for the City of Portsmouth, gave a step‑by‑step overview of the city’s zoning and application review process at the city’s work session, highlighting how rezoning and use‑permit applications move from staff review to the planning commission and then to the city council.
Russell explained that all properties carry an underlying zoning designation and that property owners may apply for a zoning map amendment (rezoning) when seeking a more intense or different use. She said staff evaluates applications against the comprehensive plan, available infrastructure, existing nearby facilities, and input from adjacent property owners. Russell described the staff recommendation process, the planning commission public hearing (with notices to adjacent owners), and that planning commission recommendations are forwarded to council. She also explained that applicants may offer voluntary proffers as conditions tied to rezoning applications.
On use permits, Russell said the planning ordinance allows a site‑specific evaluation where staff, the planning commission and council may recommend conditions; unlike voluntary proffers, use‑permit conditions are imposed as a permit requirement. Russell told council members there are two rezoning and two use‑permit applications on the evening’s agenda and that the council had received an amended proffer statement for one rezoning application. She reiterated that the applicant is the formal presenter at the council public hearing and that staff will be available to answer council questions.
Councilwoman Thomas asked whether departmental and external stakeholders always receive applications. Russell said planning staff issues interdepartmental and interagency comment requests for every application, and that a “no comment” notation in the packet means the application was sent but no response was returned.
Russell’s briefing was intended to orient newer council members to the tools (rezoning, use permits), typical evaluation criteria and the sequence of public hearings and agency notifications; no formal action was taken during the presentation.
