Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 7 as proposed by the Board of Selectmen for the Hampton Zoning Ordinance as follows?
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to add new Article XIX-A, the “Interstate Corridor Overlay District”, which includes the following sections: 19-A.1 stating the purpose of facilitating development of real property exclusively accessed from Interstate 95. 19- A.2 citing the boundary as having frontage upon Interstate 95 south of its intersection with Towle Farm Road, lying within 1,000 feet of the centerline of said portion of Interstate 95, and having State of New Hampshire owned and exclusive points of entrance and egress (notwithstanding secondary emergency access) to and from Interstate 95. 19-A.3 stating that the dimensional requirements for the Interstate Corridor Overlay District shall be the same as those provided for the underlying General (G) Zoning District. 19-A.4 citing permitted uses to include retail sales, restaurants, emergency response roadside vehicle repair, passenger vehicle filling stations, electric vehicle charging stations, visitor/welcome centers with restroom facilities, outdoor recreation areas for picnicking and pet exercise, and higher education information kiosks. 19-A.5 requiring Site Plan Review. 19-A.6 requiring a 50-foot-wide vegetative buffer and/or sound mitigating buffer to be maintained on site between any building or improvement that is undertaken in this zone and the property line of any abutting residentially improved lot. 19-A.7 prohibiting the overnight parking and/or idling of large commercial vehicles. Also, amend Article III – Use Regulations to add Note (8) cross referencing Section 19-A.4 for the Permitted Uses and Facilities in the Interstate Corridor Overlay District.
What it means: This Article is to establish an Interstate Corridor Overlay District. It was brought forth by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission and sponsored by the Board of Selectmen, relative to the State-owned property (currently the rest stop areas on both sides of I 95). The state of NH has wide latitude in terms of what can be done there. The State has intentions of re-developing and possibly selling portions of the properties. This Article would allow the Town of Hampton a voice in the permitted uses of the properties to include retail sales, restaurants, emergency response roadside vehicle repair, passenger vehicle filling stations, electric vehicle charging stations, visitor/welcome centers with restroom facilities, outdoor recreation areas for picnicking and pet exercise, and higher education information kiosks.
Click to enlarge. (Courtesy: NH Liquor Commission)
Those in favor say: By approving this Article, the Town of Hampton would have a voice in development even though the State owns the property. Approval would allow Hampton to work with the State in structuring allowed redevelopment plans. Should the State sell any portions of the property, the uses of the property would be restricted to those included in the Article. If not approved, the State would be able to move forward without Town involvement. Any portions sold by the State would become taxable property by the Town.
Those opposed say: Although no one spoke against this Article, there were concerns regarding the wastewater flow impact on the Town. Future development impacts on Town resources were also discussed, and it was noted that those would be offset by the additional tax revenue generated by the development.
There is no direct tax impact.