From: Michael Behrendt Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 2:48 PM Subject: Durham Business Park proposal - email from Keefe To the PB, FYI. Michael Behrendt Director of Planning and Community Development Town of Durham 8 Newmarket Road Durham, New Hampshire 03824-2898 (603) 868-8064 (phone) mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us www.ci.durham.nh.us ------------------ Durham Planning Board Members Dear Members of the Board, As Durham residents, and abutters to the Durham Business park we are writing to voice questions and concerns about the current proposal for an Eldercare facility. Among the issues that need to be considered: Is this even a permitted use for the DBP? It seems like what is being proposed is a residential use, not a true Eldercare operation. If you are just building apartment buildings, etc. and restricting it to 55 and older it really isn’t an assisted living or senior care facility is it? The density being proposed for this seems way too high in comparison to other areas of Town. I doubt this type of use was envisioned when the original wording for the Business park was being written. Three three story buildings, and 14 houses seems like a lot for this piece of land. Is there anything in place that really says this much development is permissible? What language or restrictions exist to ensure that next year the Developer, or a potential next owner can’t come back and say that given the dimensional standards permit him to put in another 300 units? (I don’t know what would really be possible). I would really hate to see another massive sprawling project like Peak here as the first thing you see as you come into Durham. Visible clearly from route 4, and the Oyster River as well. Is this a logical location for Elderly housing? It’s nowhere near the Downtown area, stores, or restaurants. The only access is via Route 4. It’s immediately adjacent to the Wastewater treatment plant. That should look good on marketing brochures. Traffic and turning onto and off of Route 4 is already horrible. This could add an additional 116 cars, or perhaps double that (Or more, if future expansion is envisioned). Given the Design Guidelines for the Durham Business park it doesn’t seem like this project really fits. In the second paragraph the wording reads “The view into the site from the bridge on Route 4, the Oyster River, and Johnson’s Creek are of particular importance. The desired outcome is to have the buildings sited to preserve the significant views.”. Unless the original wording meant that significant views were to be of the three large buildings, and 14 houses this doesn’t seem to work, as that is exactly what you are going to be seeing from the bridge, Johnson’s Creek, and the Oyster River. Hoping the Planning Board takes a long hard look at this project and either rejects it, or scales it back considerably. Sincerely, Daniel Keefe Leda Keefe Patrick Keefe Lara Keefe + the two cats, who also don’t like the idea. 59 Piscataqua Rd Durham, NH