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Blue ribbon housing committee urges steps to add permanently below‑market units, recommends Sherburne land process

Portsmouth City Council · December 23, 2025

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Summary

Portsmouth’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Affordable Housing reported progress including processes to move Sherburne School land toward housing partnerships, recommended Gateway Neighborhood Overlay zoning, and cited current and proposed projects that would add permanently below-market units.

Councilors presented the Blue Ribbon Committee’s year-end report on affordable housing on Dec. 22, describing a multi-year effort to identify city-owned and private sites, recommend zoning changes and create financing tools to produce permanently below‑market housing.

Councilor Taber summarized the committee’s work: the group met 25 times with additional subgroups and recommended a process for reviewing applications to dispose of Sherburne School land and select a housing partner. The committee also endorsed zoning changes including a Gateway Neighborhood Overlay District (GNOD) intended to enable higher‑density and permanently below‑market housing and suggested exploring a 1% revolving loan fund to support smaller developments.

The presentation cited ongoing projects and targets: Sherburne phase 1 was described as 90 units approved and permanently below market; another project (referred to as Christchurch) was listed at 44 permanently below‑market units; the committee identified Sherburne phase 2 and other pipeline sites that together support the committee’s goal of permitting roughly 500 units over time with a majority below market rate. The committee also recommended expanding programs for first‑time homebuyers, reviewing parking-phase rules, and promoting accessory dwelling units and co‑living models.

Councilors thanked the committee for cross‑sector membership and staff support; the council did not take a formal action to adopt these recommendations on Dec. 22 but indicated they would consider committee recommendations during upcoming agenda items and planning-board referrals.