Hampton business leaders, neighbors clash over Al Fleury's 94-unit apartment project

HAMPTON — Al Fleury’s pitch for a 94-unit apartment building in downtown Hampton has been praised by business owners, but residents who live on Dearborn Avenue say it’s too big for their neighborhood.

Fleury is asking the town's Zoning Board for height and density variances to make room for his 4½-story L-shaped building across from the Old Salt with a front on High Street and an exit and entrance onto Dearborn Avenue. The development also includes two other buildings, one 18-room boutique hotel on Route 1 and a café-style commercial space on High Street.

The project went before the Zoning Board last week, with the hearing continued until Dec. 21.

Kathy Currier, who lives on Dearborn Avenue, said she likes the hotel and potential café and welcomes some new residential units to the area. However, she said 94 units is too much and would impact traffic and safety.

“I would say at least half,” Currier said. “You’re putting too much density.”

Currier was one of several abutters who appeared at the Nov. 20 meeting to speak against the project. They were joined by supporters of the project, including Galley Hatch owner John Tinios.

Tinios said the project could bring bustling activity to the downtown where his family has run its restaurant for 53 years.

“It’s a bold move, and it’s a move that I think can continue to spark interest in the town and the growth of the town,” Tinios said. “This is good growth.”

But not everyone was convinced.

“There’s parts of this project that I think are great, they really are. I commend you guys trying to revitalize Hampton,” Dearborn Avenue resident Adam Edgar said. “I’d love to see it. I’m just not sure that this is it.”

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Neighbors say the project is too big for the neighborhood

Fleury wants to merge three properties he has bought in the last few years to build the project. Those include the former Webber Antiques property at 495 Lafayette Road, 48-52 High St. and 6 Dearborn Ave.

Fleury needs variances from the ZBA because town zoning in that area allows only eight residential units per structure and has a height limit of three stories at 35 feet.

The majority of the people who spoke against the project lived on Dearborn Avenue. They argued the addition of new traffic from the large development would bring new safety problems for people living in the neighborhood.

Paul Martin noted that many business owners pushing for growth do not actually live near downtown.

“I noticed a lot of people are for the project do not live on Dearborn Avenue,” Martin said, “(and) that are not going to be subject to the things that (residents) talked about.”

Martin said he walks his dog every day on his street. He fears more traffic coming onto Dearborn Avenue will make it more dangerous for him and the families there.

Priscilla MacInnis, who lived for 30 years on Dearborn Avenue before moving to Exeter Road, said the neighborhood has many elderly residents who walk along the street. She, too, was concerned about the impact of a new throughway that sends more than 90 drivers onto Dearborn Avenue.

“It’s a beautiful project,” McInnis said. “It’s in the absolute worst space.”

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Business leaders say the project could revitalize downtown

Support for the project included many business owners, from Joe Higgins of the Old Salt to Dean Merrill, president of Experience Hampton, whose insurance office is on High Street. Merrill argued the plans for a rail trail parallel to Route 1 indicate the area was intended for more people.

Others who spoke in favor included people advocating for more housing in Hampton.

Amanda Swan, who lives on Ocean Boulevard, said she grew up in Hampton and wants to continue living here. She said she is waiting to own a home but currently rents. It is challenging for people like herself, she said, to find a place to live in town amid a shortage of affordable housing.

“That shortage makes it very difficult for people like me, people that just graduated from college, just graduated high school, kids that grew up here that can’t afford to live here,” Swan said. “This project would provide housing for those people.”

Fleury said he is projecting rents of between $1,600-$1,700 for units in his proposed building.

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Will the Zoning Board approve the project?

ZBA members continued Fleury’s application to a later meeting, but Zoning Board Vice Chair Erika DeVries has already said the relief may not be justified. She said the project achieves some of the master plan’s goals, which include "diverse and affordable housing options" and a "thriving downtown environment." However, she doubted the board could approve a building with more than 90 units in a zone that only permits eight.

“That isn’t like horseshoes and hand grenades,” DeVries said. “That is basically saying that we’re just going to ignore that provision.”

DeVries said Fleury might consider a warrant article on a future Town Meeting ballot asking voters to amend the zoning ordinance to allow for the project.

Other elected officials say the ordinances should be amended anyway to help revitalize the downtown.

Selectman Rusty Bridle, who represents the selectmen on the Planning Board, said there will always be concern for traffic but Hampton needs to “do something with the downtown.”

“We’re always going to have congestion. It’s the way that the town was built,” Bridle said. “But do I think we need housing in town? Absolutely.”

Planning Board Chair Ann Carnaby said her board will need to reexamine zoning in the downtown at some point, “whether it’s this year or next.”

She said it is hard to say whether density such as found in Fleury’s proposal could work in an ordinance amendment given the impact people have on the town’s infrastructure.

“It’s no one element that can be moved without moving everybody on the chess board,” Carnaby said.

Asked if he would put forth a warrant article to change the zoning, Fleury said he believes the ZBA has the ability to grant him the variances requested. He believes the property will be developed, whether by himself or not, and that his proposed project is the best use for the land.

“The board is there to grant variances, not to reject strong comprehensive projects aimed at filling the criteria of the Master Plan,” Fleury said.

Tom Moulton, a developer who proposed a similar project across the street from Fleury, believes changing the zoning will be the key to revitalizing the downtown. He pitched a 103-unit apartment building next to the Old Salt to the ZBA in January but withdrew when he learned he would not receive a favorable vote on the variances sought.

Moulton believes a compromise can be made between business leaders and the residents. He said density is critical to making a project work financially, and he hopes future zoning can make way for projects that are viable for builders who want to bring affordable housing.

“I wouldn’t want to see 50 people holding the town hostage from growth,” Moulton said. “If the math doesn’t work, the project doesn’t work.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Al Fleury's apartment plan divides Hampton business owners, residents