From:	Michael Behrendt
Sent:	Wednesday, March 08, 2017 4:22 PM
Subject:	Mixed use amendment - email from Erin Hardie Hale

To the Planning Board,
Please see the email below.

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


From: Erin Hardie Hale []  
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2017 11:53 AM 
To: Michael Behrendt 
Subject: Re: Amendments related to mixed use residential zoning in the CBD

Re: Amendments related to mixed use residential zoning in the CBD

Dear Members of the Planning Board, 

I am unable to attend the public hearing on 3/8, but I would like to express my support 
for the town-council proposed amendments to restrict mixed use residential zoning in 
our Central Business District.  

I have repeatedly expressed my concern to this board about the addition of several 
hundred student beds in the proposed re-development of the Mill Plaza.  While I 
recognize these zoning changes would not affect the Mill Plaza property, 
the amendments would ensure that Durham protects itself from similar time-
consuming and costly design review processes with other developers who see money 
to be made from student housing with little regard to the character of our community. 

Without these amendments, several hundred more beds (in addition to the 330 
proposed in the current Mill Plaza design) could be permitted. It is my understanding - 
from Jim Lawson's presentation to the TC on 3/6/17- that the supply of student 
housing has already met demand. If we allow ADDITIONAL student housing to be 
built downtown, we take the risk that students will opt to live closer to campus rather 
than at the Lodges or the Cottages. These complexes were built specifically for 
students in mind and it is unlikely they will appeal to families or other professionals, 
so we could very well end up with lots of empty apartments on the outskirts of town 
and losses in tax revenue.  

I support the addition of an amendment that allows elderly mixed use housing, as it 
would diversify the population downtown and the businesses that the town is able to 
support year round.  

Thank you for your consideration and your time. 

Sincerely, 

Erin Hale  
74 Mill Road
Durham