6.11.2026 Housing Committee

The City of Portsmouth Housing Committee convened on June 11, 2026, to discuss various housing policy initiatives and potential zoning and tax incentive strategies to address the city's housing needs. A key focus was on advancing RSA 79-E, a tax relief mechanism aimed at incentivizing workforce and affordable housing development through housing opportunity zones, office conversions, and rehabilitation projects. Committee members debated the scope of these zones, including whether to apply them citywide or limit them to specific redevelopment areas, and discussed the balance between tax incentives and community benefits such as income-restricted units. The committee also considered short-term and long-term zoning updates, including lot size and dimensional requirements, and the potential hiring of external consultants to assist with comprehensive zoning revisions following the master plan update. While no formal votes were taken due to lack of quorum, there was consensus on recommending staff develop draft proposals for RSA 79-E implementation and related housing actions to present to the city council. Other topics included fee waivers for affordable housing projects, expedited permitting processes, and the integration of live-work artist spaces funded through the housing trust fund. The committee plans to continue refining these initiatives with a goal of submitting a housing action plan to the council by July.