9.10.2026 Housing Committee

The City of Portsmouth Housing Blue Ribbon Committee met on September 10, 2026, to review findings from RKG Associates regarding the city's workforce housing policy and discuss the draft Housing Opportunity Zone ordinance under RSA 79-E. The RKG presentation highlighted that the current workforce housing policy's bonus density incentives do not financially benefit developers, making voluntary participation unlikely. Recommendations included revising zoning to reduce by-right density, adjusting workforce housing requirements to apply only to bonus units, and considering financial incentives such as tax abatements to improve feasibility. The committee also discussed the flexibility of the Housing Opportunity Zone tax relief program, including negotiation of workforce housing percentages and tax relief duration, with an emphasis on balancing public benefit and developer feasibility. No votes were taken; the committee planned to revisit these topics in future meetings and requested further presentations on affordable housing projects and pro forma analyses to better understand financial impacts. Public comments underscored the complexity of housing policy and the need for coordinated strategies to increase permanently affordable workforce housing in Portsmouth.