PORTSMOUTH
City leaders are launching a new set of plans under an initiative they call Destination Portsmouth that will include new looks at transportation, zoning and downtown.
The city already has a long-term comprehensive plan. The new initiative will help Portsmouth to implement it on a daily basis, Deputy City Manager Paul Holt said.
The city has hired consultants to study and develop plans on several issues. This year, four planning projects will come under the banner, Holt said.
- A master transportation plan.
- A new citywide zoning ordinance.
- A plan to enact codes specifically on High and London streets, along the downtown-to-Midtown corridor.
- A downtown master and waterfront development plan.
Olde Towne resident Terry Danaher, who chairs the city's housing adjustments and appeals board, said of some previous city plans that people get frustrated when they don't see a project completed.
She said City Council should allow the city manager to do his job and Portsmouth needs to better inform citizens about the status of projects.
The city has allocated $400,000 of its $562 million budget for Destination Portsmouth projects this fiscal year, which began July 1.
Already, Portsmouth has awarded a $262,000 contract for development of a form-based code that could regulate items such as building facades and public spaces such as sidewalks in a certain area.
Holt said the city plans to revise the zoning code because the existing code is restrictive and gives no guidance on what should be developed to be compatible with an existing neighborhood.
A form-based code, Holt said, involves identifying great parts of the city, documenting the conditions of that design, and writing code to match those conditions.
While the transportation plan and code change plan are new initiatives, Holt acknowledged that studies have been done of the downtown and waterfront areas.
He said the new plan would include updated information and build upon earlier studies by the Urban Land Institute and Urban Design Associates.
The city plans to hold public hearings on each topic later this year. The consultants will then draft plans based on citizen input from the hearings.
The plans should go before the planning commission and City Council by late summer, Holt said.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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Plan Plan and more Plans.
Vision 2005, Citizens Comprehensive Plan, 2025 Plan, Urban League Plans for a New City River Front and Entrance, Plans for Condos across from City Hall, Plans for New Police HQ, Plans for New Water Infrastructure and Drainage, Plans for Mid City, Plans for Airline Blvd., Plans for Holiday Inn, Time, Efforts, $$ Millions wasted on Consultants for Plans and Development Recommendations. Guess the new Deputy City Manager observed the cities status and implemented a "plan" to exit and return to her stable city in MD. Believe she observed what we all see, puff and fluff and no real drive, commitment and substance, talk, talk, plan , plan, plan, waste, waste, waste. Stop wasting money, your citizens and staff have all the resources you need.
I sure hope
That all of the consultants that Portsmouth hires are based in Portsmouth or does City Government go across city lines to hire them.
Diamond in the rough
For the last 3 years I have been rehabbing houses in Portsmouth and renting them to nice young families. I believe that Portsmouth is poised to become the next great Tidewater city and I am putting my money where my mouth is. Sure there are many challenges ahead (crime, schools, etc.) but the city is moving forward and Portsmouth natives believe in their city. Keep your eye on the sparrow.
Portsmouth Planning
1. Hire consultants (aka Grindoz)and describe the agenda
2. Come up with the answer
3. Announce the agenda and how the consultants will use community input to create the plan
4. Consultants create the plan
5. City elite sing the praises of the plan and lament the lack of funds to do more than the study and a couple of pieces that will benefit a few
6. Pay the consultants
7. Let time pass
8. Repeat from step 1
Probably no different from any other city.
And Then What!
Portsmouth would be better off if they would manage what they create instead of just creating new agendas. How many projects have been designed, implemented, constructed and then over time, forgotten. If you're going to build it, then maintain it!
Master Plan, Downtown Plan
I certainly hope the Capital Improvement Plan is factored in... Plan this, plan that, do nothing has been going on too long. How about the City's commitment to the Children's Museum? Tear down the next door building, and we'll give thousands to help you expand. -- Oops, just kidding - tear down the building and get nothing!
Remember Washington Park, the lead settlement, and the public safety center? Well, there's a fire station there, but no police building. The city continues to LEASE nearly a dozen buildings for the police, many in the downtown/waterfront area. Owning property is certainly less expensive in the long run - but for now the city just throws money away on rent payments.
Oh, and that public safety building - removed from the CIP year after year. Not needed, or not cost effective. But paying rent must be.
I would in the short term plan
Find some way to get rid of that nut case of a Mayor. That would be a big step in the right direction!
What Happened to the Comp Plan?
What happened to the Comprehensive Plan that was worked on for so many years which included the wishes of the Citizens? The Comp Plan was arrived at by a unique partnership of the Citizens and City Government. Is that now all going to be disregarded to be replaced by what some consultant suggests???? Another example of input by the Citizens being disregarded by local government!
I believe that you have it
I believe that you have it all wrong
That's nice
But somebody had better do something to permanently address Portsmouth's crime and the middle and high school education problems. Until that happens, People will not stay in Portsmouth. It doesn't help that Portsmouth's Tax rate is so much higher than other cities, or that there are vagrants who sleep on public benches because they are so drunk that they pass out, or that you can't get to anything in Portsmouth without driving through a crappy neighborhood. Or maybe I have it all wrong??
Once again....
the focus is on DOWNTOWN! This infuriates the rest of Portsmouth. Why doesn't the "facade code" apply to the hideous exteriors of the storefronts in Cradock? This is inexcusable! If we have to, we'll call for the Health Department to go into these buildings and find health code violations! We know for certain that Afton Theater is condemned and has been for more than 8 years. Why is it still standing? Who owns this building and who are they related to in City Hall? There is one person who owns most of Afton Square. She should be held accountable for hoarding buildings and not taking care of them! Derelict property owners should be fined for neglect!
There is more to Portsmouth than Olde Towne!