7.16.2026 Planning Board

The City of Portsmouth Planning Board held a meeting on July 16, 2026, focusing on several key planning and zoning matters. The board approved a one-year extension for a site plan and wetland conditional use permit for an electric vehicle charging station at 505 US Route 1 Bypass. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a public hearing and discussion regarding a wetland conditional use permit for a FedEx distribution facility at 218 Griffin Road, involving site improvements such as a new concrete loading dock and security fencing. The board voted to grant the permit with conditions. Another major topic was a conceptual consultation and zoning amendment request by Banfield Realty LLC to rezone property at 375 Banfield Road from Industrial 1 to Gateway Neighborhood Business G1 to allow for residential development, including workforce housing. The board engaged in extensive discussion about the appropriateness of spot zoning, traffic concerns, environmental cleanup, and alignment with the city’s master plan. Ultimately, the board recommended referring the rezoning request to the master plan process for broader corridor review before making a formal recommendation to the City Council. Additionally, the board discussed procedural updates including joint meetings with the Historic District Commission for a large project, amendments to site plan regulations particularly regarding parking requirements, and proposed changes to wetland conditional use permit criteria for previously developed sites. The meeting concluded with updates on fire department concerns about road widths and access in relation to parking and traffic calming measures.