Melissa Ouellette is exactly the type of professional we want to attract to Portsmouth. With high housing costs preventing Melissa from saving for a home, she is dependent on her landlord keeping rents level, or being able to find a similar place in the future to be able to stay in Portsmouth.
Rising costs, low vacancy rates and high demand make that process unpredictable, preventing Melissa from planning to settle in Portsmouth permanently and build her life here.
We need to allow for people like Melissa to build their lives in Portsmouth and stay here long term. The Housing Committee zoning changes aim to address this issue by allowing for additional residential units in our existing commercial areas like the former Kmart building on Woodbury Avenue. At its June 5 meeting, the zoning changes were referred by the City Council to the Planning Board for its June meeting. If you support the Housing Committee zoning changes, sign the petition at https://goo.gl/forms/pEmL35S4muts3zwU2.
Rebecca Perkins is a Portsmouth City Councilor.
