From:	Michael Behrendt
Sent:	Wednesday, December 07, 2016 10:52 AM
Subject:	Mixed use zoning amendment - comments from Peter Stanhope

To the Planning Board,
Regarding the zoning amendment now under consideration by the Planning Board 
regarding mixed use with residential, please see the email from Peter Stanhope 
below.

Michael Behrendt
Durham Town Planner
Town of Durham
8 Newmarket Road
Durham, NH  03824
(603) 868-8064
www.ci.durham.nh.us


From: Peter Stanhope []  
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2016 2:45 PM 
To: Michael Behrendt 
Cc: Todd Selig 
Subject: Communication to planning board for consideration

Dear Mr. Chairman and Planning Board members, 
I write to express concern with the ordinance revision before you relative to land 
use in the CBD zone. I find repeated comments in the public record in the 
development of the wording that  appears to be a clear intent to discriminate 
against  a specific group in Durham’s population. Housing restrictions intended to 
discriminate by excluding any group has not been well received by both the state 
and federal courts. After encouraging the inclusion of this segment of Durham’s 
population in the CBD the record shows that without and basis the wording is 
intended to now exclude this specific group.
Setting aside the discrimination issue but clearly a valid concern please note the 
intent is directly contrary to “Smart Growth” . Smart Growth is a well-researched 
successful goal of concentrating growth in the compact core of a community 
mixing commercial, residential, and cultural activities. There are a variety of 
factors that prove Smart Growth makes planning sense. Creating a core that is 
walkable, bikeable and served by public transportation  has shown to support a 
strong local business environment, reducing vehicular traffic and most 
importantly protecting the community natural environment from sprawl.
Adoption of the language as proposed will only drive growth onto unprotected 
natural lands, add traffic to the CBD and adversely influence local business 
growth. Finally with the business park under development and Young Drive in 
planning for over 55 housing there will be an adequate supply to meet the 
foreseeable needs of Durham’s population. The language as proposed is poor 
planning.
Respectfully
Peter Stanhope
37 Dover Road 
Durham NH