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Planning board eyes narrowing 'performance zone' uses to attract dining and mixed-use
Summary
Members proposed trimming permitted uses in the commercial 'performance zone'—removing or limiting self-storage, car washes, dealerships and similar low‑value uses—to encourage redevelopment into mixed‑use and dining-oriented businesses.
Planning-board members discussed proposals to tighten the permitted-use list for Hooksett’s commercial 'performance zone' to discourage oversaturation of lower-value uses like self-storage and car washes and to encourage restaurants, dining districts and mixed-use redevelopment.
Several members argued the existing allowed-use list has drawn an overabundance of storage facilities and car washes and that narrowing the list would give the board more leverage. One member said the board could remove specific uses from the performance‑zone allowed list and rely on waivers or a case-by-case approach to preserve flexibility: "By stripping those out, narrowing that scope, then we have a bit more control over that ordinance," a member said.
The board sketched a short list of candidate uses to remove or restrict (self-storage, car washes, car dealerships, vape shops and similar uses) and agreed members would prepare a draft list for review. They discussed the legal path (zoning amendments, hearings, and potential voter involvement) and noted that variances and waivers would remain a tool during the transition.
