Finishing Touches Could Be Put on Big Beach Change Thursday

A town-sponsored warrant article that would up the maximum building height at Hampton Beach will have to go to another public session Thursday before appearing on the March ballot.

The first hearing on the matter, which featured a variety of comments from residents but few concerns and no opposition, was held last month during a lengthy Hampton Planning Board meeting that featured several other proposed zoning amendments.

The heart and intent of the maximum height article, which calls for an increase in the livable space limit from 50 feet to 70 feet, was unchanged, although a second public hearing is required if language contained within the article is changed or if additional definitions and information are added, according to Brendan McNamara, the vice chairman of the planning board.

McNamara said Town Attorney Mark Gearreald cleaned up some of the language and reworked the section explaining that an additional 10 feet of non-livable space — space for elevator overrides and architectural features — is allowed on top of the 70-foot limit.

Because of this, the board will re-present the article at a second public hearing at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, at Hampton Town Hall. Any comments, concerns or questions from the public are welcome.

"We certainly don’t want to exclude the public by any means," he said.

The board held a special public forum about the proposed change before the first public hearing in order to make sure residents could voice their opinions and ask questions.

The Hampton Beach Area Commission has lent its support for increasing the maximum building height, and HBAC President John Nyhan echoed Wednesday many of the remarks he's made in previous public sessions. 




[Editor's note: The original version of this story was originally posted on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013.]