Planning commission approves conditional use permit for 500 Rodman event venue

The Portsmouth Planning Commission voted Aug. 4 to approve Use Permit UP2608, allowing an indoor event venue at 500 Rodman Avenue in the West Haven area. Tracy Cross, the applicant, told commissioners the venue is intended as a community-oriented space for nonprofit events, meetings and reunions and said the operators have completed interior acoustical work and installed perimeter security cameras.

"We are committed to operate this venue responsibly and professionally," applicant Tracy Cross said during the public hearing, describing outreach to neighbors, a security contract and an access plan to shared parking. Senior planner Malcolm Jones told the commission staff found the proposal consistent with applicable zoning standards and noted the applicant secured a shared-parking agreement that makes 59 spaces available in addition to 17 on-site spaces required by the ordinance.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on alcohol service and insurance. Staff said alcohol would be served under event-specific temporary ABC permits rather than a permanent ABC license; the applicant stated renters would obtain the temporary permits and provide a $1,000,000 insurance policy per event. Attorney Miller said insurance requirements are generally handled by property owners and not imposed by the use-permit review.

The commission approved the permit "with conditions," a motion made by Commissioner Watkins and seconded; the vote tally was recorded as 6 yes, 0 no and 1 abstention (Commissioner Taylor). The permit will be subject to the listed conditions on hours, noise mitigation, parking verification and security operations before a certificate of occupancy is finalized.