Form based code cannot be adequately explained in this posting. Suffice it to say it is another beautification concept as one can readily see by the use of "enjoyable" throughout the survey. One also has to consider how would we get from existing to this designers Nirvana? Again, if there are real issues that are negatively impacting businesses on Portsmouth Avenue, as well as safety issues and these can be supported with solid documentation, then they should be addressed. But, should taxpayers, in light of other expenses coming at them from sewer and water to maintaining infrastructure, be asked to fund a makeover of Portsmouth Avenue.
The Town Planner and her handful of supporters need to get off this quest to remake Exeter in the image of Newburyport. All seem to readily accept we have four separated areas in town requiring attention: Portsmouth Avenue, Epping Road, Lincoln Street and downtown. We need to direct tax dollars to the area with the greatest NEED and greatest potential for development and new tax revenue. Cut out the monkey business and get down to serious business.
Survey: http://exeternh.gov/planning/
Live, work, shop and recreation that is not automobile centric is key to any of the development areas. Those areas are Lincoln St., Downtown, Portsmouth Avenue, Epping Road and Rockingham Feed/FreshFishDaley neighborhoods. FP
ReplyDelete"We need to direct tax dollars to the area with the greatest NEED and greatest potential for development and new tax revenue. " Please, how about reducing the number of tax dollars and quit calling taxes "revenue." It's stolen loot
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with redirecting our tax dollars. This has everything to do with giving landowners options from regulations and giving them a chance to develop their land more fully and efficiently. You are really off track with this evaluation and I encourage you to become more informed.
ReplyDeletePardon me, but can you guarantee that taxpayers will not fund potential changes to the road, sidewalks, curbs, suggested landscaping, lighting, ad nauseum? Maybe it gives landowners more options, but it sounds like it is a pretty subjective proposition. What is pleasing to one (and required) may do nothing to advantage the landowner. This is a pretty open-ended, vague process for one to become more informed.
DeleteThis everything to do with finite tax dollars. Take a guess at the tax dollar cost of infrastructure changes for a "Complete Street" makeover of the Portsmouth Avenue strip?
DeleteThe key to anything is to give a developer or landowner options. Less of a setback or a rearrangement of a buidling for more building coverage for a landowner to conventional zoning may be good for the town and its taxpayers. Changes to the road are about to happen. If it was done in such a way to save us long term costs what would be wrong with that. Your concept that form based code is something that the town will require but not give as an option is unfortunate. What is so wrong with exploring something that many towns and cities have found to be very good for economic development thus saving us from increased taxes.
ReplyDeleteForm based code gives the town planning authority more subjective control over development. That places future development in the hands of a few unelected individuals. If a developer sees an advantage in a certain type of development, they will do it whether there is form based code or not. Towns without form based code have achieved the same results.
DeleteA survey has already been posted that is biased toward receiving responses that support form-based code without folks having a good idea what FBC is. Folks are already questioning TIF and for good reason. If FBC would be so good for those who will ultimately fund the aforementioned items, then provide the documentation and start holding open meetings before spending more time and money with a consultant.
ReplyDeleteThe survey was interesting, but I don't understand the emphasis on walking and bicycling in a lengthy commercial area. And exactly what pieces of property along the street would be available for development that would conform to FBC? E. W.
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