Somersworth 2023 City Council candidate Richard Brooks
Name: Richard Brooks
Education: GED
Occupation: Self-employed.
Political or civic experience highlights: I have served the city of Somersworth as an election official, usually as moderator, for 10 years, Historic District Commission member for 10 years, and Zoning Board of Adjustment member for six years.
What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: More effective and longer advance notice about public meetings to better inform citizens about topics and agenda items allowing them to offer opinions and insight prior to decisions being made. The minimal 24 hours required by law is not nearly enough to get involved.
Zoning updates. We need to relax the zoning uses for small businesses that do not fit neatly into the current uses. We also need to relax housing unit restrictions that interfere with reasonable growth.
Continue the support and funding of our first responders that keep our city and residents safe.
What is the biggest problem Somersworth is facing and how you would solve it?: I believe one of our biggest problems is filling the vacant downtown businesses. Our government overregulates nearly every aspect of businesses. I believe we need to relax the zoning regulations related to uses. Small mom and pop businesses find it extremely difficult to compete against large corporate chains that easily squeeze out competition with minimal returns based on volume sales. These local businesses then easily fall victim to overregulation from the government driving the last nail in their coffin. As a business owner I believe we need to update our zoning regulations.
Should the city work to create below market rate housing, and where is the best site?: Prior to the pandemic, this city had far more than its fair share of below market rate housing. Unless that has changed, we do not need more below market rate housing. I would also note that market rate prices do not necessarily mean that the housing is affordable for the citizens of this city. Prices are out of control in many areas. I don’t believe the local government has much influence or chance to fix the cost of living until the state and federal governments reign in their own spending problems.
Should the council address the pace and type of development in the city? If yes, how?: Somersworth is a very small city with only 10 square miles and much of it is developed. Somersworth is running out of open space, so we need to consider the environmental impacts as well. Somersworth is also lucky to have preserved the historic character of our downtown core, that character should be preserved as it can never be replaced or recreated. Somersworth needs something to attract and encourage development that historic character and the riverfront are the most significant attractions we must work with. We need to embrace both but also relax some zoning use requirements to encourage business coupled with responsible residential development to help retain those businesses.
Does the city need to make changes to its approach to parking as development increases?: Yes, many business owners already complain about the lack of parking for their customers. The City Council recently eliminated the need for any parking requirements in our downtown core. This is a recipe for disaster as development grows. We may have pockets of underutilized parking, but casting aside any need for parking will only create larger problems down the road. Until we have dependable and effective mass transit, parking should be supplied by the property owner for all vehicles associated with future development. I have to keep my belongings on my own property; vehicles should not be an exception.
What is the city doing well and where is there room for improvement?: Over the last decade the city has had to play catch up with improvements to the roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure and the city has done very well in that department. As for improvements, we need more residents to get involved. Too many positions go unfilled. No one filed to run for Ward 5 School Board a very important position in our city. Almost half the election worker positions are also vacant, and there are also several positions vacant on land use boards. We need more residents to be involved beyond simply commenting on social media.
What is the city’s responsibility to its homeless population, both this winter and long term?: Every city and town has a group of vulnerable people that need assistance from time to time. The Tri-Cities have worked well together recently to make an impact. Other towns and cities need to step up and provide for their residents, we must not become one of New Hampshire’s only resources. I believe we are already leading by example.
Does the city need to do more to enforce codes regarding apartments in disrepair? If yes, what?: Absentee landlords that simply collect rent and avoid substantial repairs are a problem. That problem will persist as long as the rental industry remains unregulated without oversight or licensing requirements. Nearly every other business is over regulated, why are landlords with more than a handful of rental units not subject to some sort of regulation? Yes, we need to do more, but until there is oversight, there is no chance of reigning in slumlords.
What should be done with the former National Guard property?: That one property alone is zoned as recreation, which allows very few choices without rezoning it. I believe that an outdoor entertainment venue or community center makes sense, but schools are already considered our community centers but only if you can provide an insurance binder for the use, making it nearly impossible for many. Or maybe it could be used as an experiment to allow tiny homes or some sort of smaller more affordable housing options. I believe important decisions should not be hastily rushed into when there are so many potential options to consider.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth 2023 City Council candidate Richard Brooks
