The Portsmouth City Council has softened its stand on a proposed permanent fence to mark a boundary line between homes on Richards Avenue and the site chosen for the new public library.

Seven property owners who live next to the proposed site for the new Portsmouth Library spoke before the city council on Monday night to protest the proposed fence. Speaking as individuals, some said that the city had taken a "hostile" approach toward the neighborhood out of spite for some residents' vocal opposition to the proposed library. One cited the Berlin Wall and the Israel-Palestine Wall as other examples of this type of fence building.

The city has said that the fence is to establish the property boundary and promote safety at the construction site. Residents questioned why cheaper survey flags weren't planned instead of a permanent fence; why only their property line required fencing for safety purposes, and not the rest of the library site; and why a permanent fence was being erected without regard to aesthetics at the library site.

In response, the city council later voted to hold off on the fence for now, but to fence the entire property with a temporary construction fence no more than 30 days prior to deconstruction of the former JFK Armory on the site.

City Manager John Bohenko said the city is in the process of interviewing construction firms for the project. Bohenko said he expected demolition might begin in three or four months.

The council also voted to send questions about parking and traffic impacts to the traffic and safety committee, which will also examine the effect on local intersections if Parrott Ave is turned into a one-way street to accommodate additional traffic and parking in the neighborhood due to the library.