Land Use Committee

The Land Use Committee was created to look at diversifying Land Use Regulations within the City. The purpose is to review all current zoning and policies surrounding housing and development to encourage sustainable, diverse, and affordable development including expanded multi-modal transportation. With a report back to the City Council on recommended alterations to the zoning and existing policies along with any new zoning or policies to be considered important to furthering the City’s Goals.

The committee was formulated to consist of eight members of which two members from the City Council, Assistant Mayor, two members from the Planning Board, two members from Planning Department staff, one member from Economic Development Commission and one member from Portsmouth Housing Authority as approved by the Mayor.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

A. Increase diversity of housing types and price points.

B. Remove regulatory barriers for housing diversification in neighborhoods (eg. Accessory Dwelling Units) – while considering context sensitive design and impacts to traffic, on-street parking and other infrastructure impacts

C. Restructure incentives to deliver greater public benefit in workforce housing construction

D. Identify other regulatory updates whereby the right density can be conditioned with performance standards

E. Identify and maximize partnerships, coalitions, and funding opportunities to deliver affordable housing

F. Establish two Working Groups within the Committee: Supported Market and Regulatory