Board pushes back on broad exemptions for historic district, favors targeted streamlining

The Planning Board reviewed a City Council referral proposing to exempt or streamline review of new construction on vacant lots within Portsmouth’s historic district. Councilor Bllelock — who brought the referral forward — framed it as a potential tool to lower development costs on vacant parcels, while board members emphasized tradeoffs between easing development and protecting historic character.

Board members discussed a range of alternatives rather than outright exemption: pre-approved plans or materials, clearer HDC examples and guidance, selective boundary adjustments for specific lots, and stronger pre-conceptual design review to reduce repetitive submittals. Several members noted the real cost for small developers is time — months of review, lawyers and consultants — rather than HDC fees alone.

Members urged staff to coordinate with the Historic District Commission and master-plan teams and to return a report with concrete options. The board repeatedly cautioned that broad exemptions could harm downtown context and recommended focusing on narrowly tailored tools to reduce delay while keeping HDC review for areas with sensitive historic fabric.

Outcome: The board did not endorse a blanket exemption. Instead, members directed staff to craft options and guidance for council consideration, including further joint work with the HDC and a possible joint meeting to refine objectives and parameters.

What’s next: Staff and board members expect a report back to City Council and recommended follow-up work with the HDC on pre-approved materials and clearer design examples intended to shorten review time without sacrificing historic-context protections.