Hooksett businesses warn Route 3 widening will take frontage parking and impair operations; some say plan is a 'de facto taking'
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Summary
Multiple business owners testified that the Route 3 design would remove frontage parking, block customer access and render some buildings unusable. Pro Technologies and building owner Steve Lawrence said the current design would eliminate key customer parking and may force relocation or closure.
Hooksett business owners told the New Hampshire Department of Transportation at a May 15 public hearing that proposed widening of U.S. Route 3 would significantly harm operations along the corridor by removing frontage parking and changing driveway access.
Owners and attorneys described specific, business‑level impacts. "I will lose everything I've worked for in Hooksett," said Steve Lawrence, owner of a building at 1234 Hooksett Road, who said the project would remove roughly 10 front‑row parking spaces and eliminate garage access. Lawrence told the commission the loss of frontage parking would make the building unusable for his tenant and could render the structure difficult to re‑lease.
Pro Technologies, a Hooksett security company, said the proposed layout would likewise eliminate customer parking and block its primary client entrance. "Proceeding with the current project would equate to a de facto taking, of my client's entire building and parcel, rendering it a functional obsolescence," attorney Austin Michaelaitis said on behalf of Pro Technologies and the property owner. Michelle Canning, chief executive officer of Pro Technologies, said the company operates 24/7, serves thousands of accounts, and that a move would be "extremely detrimental" to growth and employees.
Other business owners described impacts and asked for mitigation. Steven Weiner, who operates an auto dealership at 1194 Hooksett Road, said the plan would take part of his front display area and asked DOT to consider a retaining wall to reduce property take. Tom Osborne of Osborne's Farm and Garden and other local proprietors urged reconsideration of a signal at Mammoth Road in favor of a roundabout, saying truck circulation and left‑turn movements for large delivery vehicles are part of the corridor's commercial reality.
DOT staff responded that some impacts are unavoidable under the proposed five‑lane section and that a reduction to a three‑lane layout would still require the same sidewalk, shoulder and utility placement that removes front parking in some locations. David Smith told the hearing that "even a 3 lane layout ... would still impact the 10 parking spots along the frontage" for the building at 1234 Hooksett Road.
Legal and procedural remedies discussed: Attorney Austin Michaelaitis and other property representatives raised zoning, ADA and functional‑use concerns tied to the changes, including steeper drive slopes and constrained parking. DOT staff and the Bureau of Right of Way said appraisals and offers for affected properties would be prepared if the commission finds the layout necessary. Eric Sargent, the bureau administrator, described the acquisition process and said appraisals will reflect fair market value, negotiations will be attempted, and unresolved matters may be filed with the New Hampshire Board of Tax and Land Appeals.
Business owners also raised construction‑period concerns including access during construction and the durability of pavement patches after utility relocations. DOT staff said business accesses will be maintained during construction and a construction administrator will coordinate daily operations, but acknowledged construction will be disruptive over the projected three construction seasons.
Ending: Business representatives asked the commission to reconsider intersections or design details to reduce property impacts; DOT said further design refinements and written comment responses will be included in the report of the commissioner.
