Planning board conditionally approves 134 Pleasant Street redevelopment and recommends parking‑lot easement for stormwater pipe

The Portsmouth Planning Board voted to grant conditional site plan approval for WMC LLC’s redevelopment of 134 Pleasant Street and recommended that the City Council authorize an easement across the Parrot Avenue municipal parking lot to accommodate an off‑site stormwater pipe.

The approval, moved and seconded by board members after applicant testimony, is conditioned on revised site and floor plans showing the bank and drive‑through remaining in the existing footprint, updated traffic and parking calculations demonstrating no increased impact, and satisfaction of standard staff conditions (2.1–2.7) before issuance of building permits. The board also added staff review to ensure the revisions conform to representations made at the meeting.

John Shagnen of Haley Ward, speaking for the project team, told the board the owner, Mark McNab, elected to keep the bank in its present location so that the bank’s drive‑through would remain a pre‑existing nonconforming use. Shagnen said converting some bank area to residential units will reduce traffic: “that relocation of the bank facility will actually make less traffic because it’s a little smaller,” he said. Deputy City Attorney Trevor reminded the board that the public hearing had been closed at the prior meeting and that no new evidence could be added at this session unless the board chose to reopen the hearing.

The board also voted to recommend that the City Council grant a license or easement allowing a private stormwater pipe and related drainage infrastructure to cross city‑owned property within the Parrot Avenue lot, subject to final legal review and Department of Public Works approval. The motion preserves the city’s right to require removal, modification or relocation of the pipe at the property owner’s expense should municipal needs change.

Why it matters: The project combines reuse and new construction in a historic character district and involves off‑site infrastructure work that would put stormwater and sewer separation responsibility partially on the private developer while using city property for a pipe connection. Board members emphasized verifying traffic and parking calculations and using staff review to confirm as‑built plan changes before permitting.

What’s next: The Planning Board’s recommendation to authorize the Parrot Avenue easement will be forwarded to the City Council for final action; staff will review revised site and floor plans and updated traffic/parking data prior to administrative sign‑off.