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Council advances zoning map changes for Islington Creek neighborhood; public feedback mixed
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Summary
Portsmouth City Council approved second reading of a zoning-map amendment that trims two overlay districts and rezones several lots in the Islington Creek area; council scheduled third reading for Sept. 24 after extensive public hearing with neighbors divided.
Portsmouth City Council on Monday moved forward with zoning map amendments affecting the Islington Creek/Bridge Street area, voting to pass second reading and schedule third and final reading for Sept. 24.
The proposal amends Chapter 10 of the city zoning ordinance. It pulls portions of the North End Incentive Overlay District and the Downtown Overlay District back from parts of Islington Creek, and changes several parcels from Character District 5 (CD‑5) to Character District 4 (CD‑4). Those changes limit where developers can claim overlay incentives (such as additional height in exchange for community space or workforce housing) and remove a requirement for commercial on the entire ground floor in some rear portions of lots in the affected area.
Planner Peter Stith presented the maps and said the principal technical changes are: shifting the North End overlay boundary to align with the centerline of Foundry Place, trimming the Downtown Overlay boundary so it no longer extends as far into the neighborhood, and consolidating split-zoned parcels so several lots become entirely CD‑4 rather than split CD‑5/CD‑4.
Supporters of the amendments said the changes create a better transition from the downtown core to the lower-density historic neighborhood and reduce the requirement that the first floor be commercial in parts of the area. Several residents and commenters — including Robin Huslidge and K. Waldwick — said the changes are modest improvements and urged the council not to delay rezoning until the master-plan process, which could take years.
Opponents included owners of the Ferguson Building (Map 125 Lot 16) and other property owners who objected to an overlay line that would cut through existing buildings: "We find this latest proposal to be illogical and unfair ... It would go directly through our property," speaker Brad Gray said. The Ferguson family and the building’s representative argued the proposed line creates uncertainty for property owners and asked the council to leave their lots untouched. Several speakers pressed the council to reduce allowable heights along Bridge and Hill streets from 50 feet (2–4 stories) to 40 feet (2–3 stories) to preserve neighborhood scale.
Council discussion noted the area is largely developed, so changes will affect future redevelopment more than immediate projects; the recent construction on Foundry Place had already used the incentive overlay, staff said. Councilors who supported the vote said the changes correct zoning mismatches and that more comprehensive changes will be addressed through the upcoming master-plan process and future ordinance amendments.
Ending: Council passed second reading and set the third and final reading for the Sept. 24 meeting. Residents and property owners remain split: some urged action now to limit future redevelopment; others asked for further refinement to avoid splitting lots or to reduce height allowances.
