Portsmouth At A Crossroads: Either We Design Our Future, Or It Just Happens

The discussion at this past Monday's City Council meeting about the height limit ordinance was fascinating to watch.  Differing opinions were offered with such thoughtfulness and intelligence.  The entire discussion was demonstrative of people coming together to examine our future.  Portsmouth at its best.

I come down on the side of supporting smarter growth, and I back the height limitations ordinance, though I'd like to see it perhaps a bit clearer, and without the loophole of an  "exceptions" provision. 

But overall, the ordinance, along with other steps, makes sense if we want to bring balance to the growth of our Downtown. 

As one resident, Ralph Dibernardo, inferred -- right now the sky, or the North Church Steeple, might otherwise become the height limit by default. And while Ralph's comment was criticized by someone else as being exaggeration, fact is the sky is the limit -- all it takes is a proposal by a developer to get that possibility a-rolling. 

That recently happened at Hampton Beach when an architect proposed a 100 foot high building that has some people cheerleading that it is a good idea for future tourism and development.  Who would have thought?   

And since all of our ordinances, including the Master Plan, can be amended, i.e. changed, by the City Council at almost any time -- only the Charter is set in stone and changes only occur with voter approval -- Ralph's observation is something to raise our caution.  

It is with that caution that I suggest the height ordinance proposal is not good enough.  What we need is something more.   What we need is a thorough soul-searching and collaboration -- perhaps done annually or every two or three years from now on -- that involves all those who wish to contribute to the dialogue.  I'm a solid believer in the collective value, wisdom, and vision of summitry-- bringing good people together to focus on a topic or problem. 

As an organizer of a number of summits, including Portsmouth 2020 visioning summitry some time ago, I've seen them work.   So let's do it on brainstorming Portsmouth's future design. 

Let's bring together, for the several hours or the full day that it will take, the good people of Portsmouth to regularly summit about our Downtown, and other parts of the city.  Yes, some efforts in past years have been made to do this, but it needs to be on-going, and very inclusive and "big-picture" oriented.   

Let's involve members of the Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Historic District Committee, including city staff.  But also invite members of Portsmouth Advocates, Portsmouth Now, the Chamber of Commerce, Portsmouth Listens participants, those who took part in the form-based zoning charette, and the Taxpayers' Association among others.  Let's reach out to developers and architects as well -- they can be our friends and allies in designing our future, and each have different visions -- big and small, high and not, and some of them celebrate greenspace as the priority.   

If the summit is fully inclusive, with respectful dialogue by all involved, we can then follow-up with forums which focus on all parts of our city.  Much of the development and growth our community has experienced during the past has contributed positively -- especially those developments that have rehabilitated, restored, and renewed old buildings.

The "re" concepts are always valuable.  We should be proud when that kind of development and investment occurs.  Development can be our best ally, and developers and investors are our friends.  But we have to manage growth whenever it happens.  Just how high?  How full?  How much?  Where?   

As Clare Kittredge said on behalf of PortsmouthNow, no one wants to "freeze-frame Portsmouth."  Many of us just want more thoughtfulness and intelligence about that development to which the powers-who-are say "yes." 

And while form-based zoning may help, that, too is not the whole answer.  We need to do more.   One speaker at the council hearing asked a provocative question:  will be we proud to show off our community in the future?  

In a number of commentaries, I have often written about having a "2050 vision."  That's just 37 years from now, and our decisions today define that vision. 

As former City Councilor John Hynes used to ask:  "How big can Portsmouth become and still be 'Portsmouth?'"   A mix of the "old" and "new," whether it's design and architecture or the young and old in age among us, need to guide our community.  

While development and growth can be our assets, and developers and investors our friends, being smart about growth is important for our future.  Collective wisdom with all of our residents involved can pay off with many dividends. 

We're at a crossroads right now, and either we design our future, or it just happens. 

Jim Splaine
201 Oriental Gardens
Portsmouth, NH  03801
jimsplaine@aol.com