Hawk Jady Hill Community - Exeter, NH
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76 Portsmouth Avenue Proposed Development
Next Meeting: Planning Board Dec 19, 2024 7pm at the Library Meeting Room
Doors will be locked at 8pm, so please arrive before that if you wish to attend.
 
Green & Company developers are proposing to build an 8 building 70 unit mixed use residential and commercial complex between Portsmouth Ave and Haven Ln adjacent the Jady Hill neighborhood.  This project is proposed to be built in two phases. Phase 1 is the 34 units adjacent Bonnie Dr & Haven Lane in the currently forested unimproved land.  Phase 2 is proposed along Portsmouth Ave 5 or 10 years later when the current lease for the autoparts store expires.  See Google Maps for overview map.
 
Jady Hill Community Objections To Proposed Development At 76 Portsmouth Ave

We object to the total destruction of 4+ acres of currently forested land in an area which has already been heavily developed:

  • The Exeter 2011 Natural Resources Composite Map 8B lists this area as
    Highest Ranked Habitat in Region. The number and variety of animals we have documented coming and going through this area is in clear support of it's designation. Because of the bounding by 2 rivers, and 2 busy roadways, and the previous deforestation, and the proximity to fresh water in Wheelwright Creek, animals in this area have very little quality habitat left. See Exhibit A 
  • The excessive amounts of untreated storm water runoff into and adjacent to this pacel from Portsmouth Ave, Alumni Dr, and Jady Hill poses a risk to the health of the Wetlands, Wheelwright Creek & the Squamscott River and the only thing helping to keep the water quality in check is the treatment currently provided by this vegatative area and the wetlands. Deforestation, increased impervious surfaces, lack of maintenance on the manmade flow & treatment, and driveway chemicals / salt will certainly not help. See Exhibit B
  • The currently forested area acts as visual and audio buffer between Portsmouth Ave and Haven Ln / Bonnie Dr which currently separates the C2 zone from the R3 neighborhood.

We object to the proposed Phase 1 construction for the following reasons:

  • The height, scale, and density of the proposed structures is wildly inappropriate immediately adjacent ranch and cape style single family homes.  See Exhibit C, Exhibit D, Exhibit E
  • The complete removal of wetland buffers in this area is completely unacceptible, goes against well defined best practices, and will certainly decrease the effectiveness of the existing wetlands to clean water before it enters Wheelwright Creek.
  • The altering of this terrain will likely increase flooding, pooling, and home
    damage in the Jady Hill Neighborhood. Nothing is addressing the current water issue which exists. Westside Dr & Riverwoods both went through the same process and have created water issues. Excessive tax dollars are now required to fix the problem at Westside Dr.  See Exhibit B
  • The current buffer separating the Jady High neighborhood from Portsmouth Ave is being completely removed and replaced with a vapor thin buffer which will not adequitly obscure the new structures from the existing residences.

We object to the use of MUND to facilitate the construction of a larger Multi-Family housing complex not connected to Portsmouth Ave:

  • The intent of MUND is to promote mixed used development on Portsmouth Ave, not disconnected from it.
  • The use of existing disconnected commercial which may or may not ever be redeveloped to facilitate a HUGE multi-family complex is unacceptible. Equally objectionable is a cut-through road connecting Portmouth Ave to Haven Lane, should this be an alternate choice.
  • MUND is allowing 50 foot structures too close to small residential homes is unacceptible.  See Exhibit C, Exhibit D, Exhibit E
  • MUND requires pedestrian and bicycle circulation and no accommodation was made for this, nor to Portsmouth Ave.

In Summary, we would like to see no buildings or roads in the currently unimproved forested land (Phase 1), nor any destruction of the vegetative buffer and wildlife habitat in this area.  We would also like to see this area protected from future developement.

The purpose of Master Planning and Zoning Ordinances is to promote and to protect.  Clearly "promote" is working, evidenced by the massive amount of development in Exeter today.  Protect isn't broken but is certainly lagging behind especially when it comes to protecting our homes from the massive scale of these structures.  We believe the following Zoning Ordinance Amendment will help protect our homes:   No structure within 100 feet of a residential zone should exceed the maximum allowed height of that residential zone.  This article shall superceed all special exceptions and variances.  In the event of a conflict between residential zones, the shortest maximum height allowed shall be followed.  See Exhibit E

 

History Of Proposed Development:

  • Dec 4, 2024, Jady Hill Community held its third meeting about the proposed development at the Exeter Library and discussed changes to the plan and what the next steps are.
  • Dec 4, 2024, Green & Co developers brought a revised development plan set to the Exeter Technical Review Committee for comment and review.  The Committee had a lot of comments, some requirements and some suggestions.  3 members of the Jady Hill Community were there and allowed to ask and share comments.  Conditional Use Application, Site Design Plans, Drainage Report

       ---------- ⇓ ----------   INITIAL DESIGN 1 See Community Comments   ---------- ⇓ ----------

  • Aug 13, 2024, Jady Hill Community held its second meeting about the proposed development at the Exeter Library to discuss what had happened and what the next steps were.
  • July 22, 2024, the Select Board held a short discussion about the project and that a number of residents had stood up to discuss it at past meetings.  SB Video
  • July 11, 2024, Jones & Beach Engineers presented the Conceptual Site Plan design to the Planning Board meeting for preliminary non-binding review.  After the presentation a number of Jady Hill Residents stood up in opposition to parts of the development plan to discuss their views (see Minutes page 6, #3).  PB Packet, PB Minutes, PB Video
  • July 9, 2024, Jones & Beach Engineers along with soils expert Jim Grove presented the Conceptual Site Plan design to the Conservation Commission for preliminary non-binding review.  After the presentation a number of Jady Hill Residents stood up in opposition to parts of the development plan to discuss their views (see Minutes page 4, #3).  CC Packet, CC Minutes, CC Video
  • July 8, 2024, Jady Hill Community members held a meeting at 28 Haven Lane to discuss what we should do about the proposed development / Abutters Notice.
  • June 30, 2024 +-, Abutters Notice delivered to serveral Jady Hill Community Residents.
  • June 20, 2024, Jones & Beach submitted the Design Review Application to the Exeter Planning Board for consideration at the July 11th meeting.
  • March - June 2024, Jones & Beach Engineers Inc on behalf of Green & Company developers created a Conceptual Site Plan design for the clearing of land, the altering of wetlands, the building of 4 buildings totaling 124 residential units plus 4,680 s.f. commercial retail space, and a connecting road from at 76 Portsmouth Avenue through to Haven Lane.
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