Councilor
Ned Raynolds
Age: 43, yrs. in Portsmouth: 7
Occupation: energy and environmental policy specialist
Public Experience: 2 terms on City Council

As the cost of living in Portsmouth rises, what can be done to provide affordable housing for working families and people with moderate incomes?

I believe our greatest challenge with respect to workforce housing is reconciling our OWN conflicting desires -- everyone says it’s too hard for “working people” to afford housing in the City, but every new project of any size runs into a buzz saw of neighborhood opposition based on fears about “traffic,” “parking,” and density.  Our current zoning ordinance requirements for minimum street frontage, maximum % of lot coverage, lot line setbacks, required parking spaces, etc., strongly discourage smaller, multiple dwellings or multifamily dwellings.  We need to change both what is required and allowed, and creatively design some incentives for developers to propose smaller, more affordable and/or multi-family units - AND we need to have our Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and neighborhood associations on the same page with respect to the next batch of housing units built in the City – do we want more half-million+ condos, or places regular people can afford?

What would you do to manage growth in the city’s Northern Tier?

While I know there’s concern over the amount of development coming to the northern tier, the Westin Conference Center will be a tremendous boost to our tax base and our local economy – easing pressure on residential property taxes (a high priority for everyone!). The numerous Boards and the City staff who had a hand in reviewing the project (including the Historic District Commission, on which I’ve served as Council representative this past term), – did an excellent job making sure that such a large project - along with the redevelopment of the Parade Mall – will complement, and not overwhelm our downtown.  We should certainly aim to channel as much car traffic as possible via the enhanced “Exit 7 Gateway” (Market St. extension) project and in every other way possible strive to make our downtown a “Drive to, walk through” – rather than a “Drive through” destination.”

What kind of new businesses would you like to see opening in Portsmouth?

Unique, locally owned businesses are an integral part of the character of our downtown and an important part of the entire city's economy.  While the City can't give these businesses property tax discounts (per the State Constitution) or control the rents their landlords charge, we should strive to ensure that City ordinances and fees don't make it any tougher than it already is for them to succeed in a world of franchises and Internet shopping.  When we have the opportunity, we should take affirmative steps to help & promote them – I will propose that the retail spaces that will be owned by the City on the Deer St. side of the Conference Center garage, as well as any potential retail space in the McIntyre Building site redevelopment, have preferential terms for locally-owned, independent businesses.

What would you do to promote sustainable practices and green building in the city?

I’ll continue the advocacy and leadership in this area that I’ve demonstrated since involving myself – 6 months after moving here – in the (unsuccessful) push to make our renovated/expanded High School a “green”building. Our new LEED-Silver-certified Library – for which I was the catalyst, after turning my attention to that project – now stands as a monument to our foresight and our values – and saves us tens of thousands annually in energy costs!  (It also earned Portsmouth the distinction of having built the 1^st LEED-certified municipal building in New Hampshire).  In addition, during my time on the Council, I‘ve been its leading advocate for making Portsmouth a more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly city.  As small as Portsmouth is, it ought to be a Mecca of cycling and walking as legitimate means of transportation; I will work to see that our next Capital Improvement Plan include striped bicycle lanes on major City arteries so that cycling is officially recognized and given safe space on the roads.

What was the last cultural or artistic event you attended in Portsmouth?

With three young children, I don’t get out as much as I’d like – but I did manage to get to the Sept. 8^th re-opening/unveiling of the Music Hall’s restored dome, featuring Tiempo Libre …  the house was rockin’!  I also spearheaded the effort from the Council side to address Portsmouth’s reputation (and the practices that created it) as a city hostile to buskers;  I worked closely with Denise Wheeler and Chris Greiner (and with the support of my fellow Councilor Chris Dwyer) to get the City’s policies clarified and to put on the first “Busk ‘til Dusk” event. 

It was largely the artistic community that made Portsmouth a popular destination, but now most artists will tell you that they cannot afford to live or work here. Have we killed the goose that laid the golden egg?