Rockingham Planning Commission Eminent Domain Vision for Rt. 1 Corridor

[hamptoninsider]

From Hampton Falls through Hampton and N. Hampton, the meddling Rockingham Planning Commission--- commissioned a study which proposes widening Rt. 1 in those areas to four lanes, and using railroad easements where possible to acquire.  This proposal would require wholesale Eminent Domain takings of private property in each of these Towns.  Warren Bambury is on the Commission.  Fred Rice as a "private citizen" supports this plan.

Additionally, this dynamic duo including members of the Hampton Beach Area Commission, chaired by Mr. Rice, supports making Rt. 1A  Seabrook a toll road to support a new bridge across Hampton Harbor.

What is insidious is that a State Rep. from Seabrook named Ben Moore is willing to go against his whole Town to propose this legislation.  Nancy Stiles, a freshman State Rep.from Hampton, supposedly supports this horrible proposal.  Let's show Mr. Rice what we think of his Legislative supporters come this primary and subsequent November election.

The wallets of all taxpayers will be bled dry if Mr. Rice and Mr. Bambury have their way.

Expose all backroom politicians before they gain any more momentum.

[Pat McCotter]

Notice of eviction
By Susan Morse
smorse@seacoastonline.com

SEABROOK - An estimated 30 business owners are being evicted to make way for eight new retailers, the biggest of which will be larger than the new Lowe?s Home Improvement in Seabrook.
Still unknown is what?s going into the proposed anchor store at the former Bailey?s manufacturing site.

Not even the Planning Board knows.

On Tuesday night, the board was presented with a site plan for eight commercial retail businesses, ranging in size from 10,000 square feet to 127,280 square feet.

The new Lowe?s, located across the street on Route 1, is considered among the largest big box retailers at 120,000 square feet, according to Seabrook Building Inspector Paul Garand.

Anchor 2 is proposed at 68,000 square feet and the other six planned structures are smaller in size.

The commercial enterprise would be located at the intersection of Route 1 and Provident Way, a road located across Route 1 from Route 107, with access to Interstate 95.

Project Engineer Steven Lehmann of Bedford, presented the site plan for developer DDR Seabrook LLC.

Developers Diversified Realty of Beachwood, Ohio, bills itself on the Web site, ddr.com, as "the nation?s leading owner, developer and manager of market dominant community centers."

"DDR is having a lot of conversations," presumably with potential tenants, Lehmann said.

Garand said before the site plan can be approved DDR Seabrook needs approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment to allow for more than one building on the lot.

DDR already owns the Bailey land and this month it bought the adjacent Lafayette Commercial Park at 692 Lafayette Road from Lafayette Seabrook Trust.

Lafayette Commercial Park contains 30 businesses in at least two buildings.

Former property managers, father and son Jack and Joe Murray, have operated the business since the 1980s.

Not even the Murrays know what?s planned for the site, they said.

"Everybody thought it was a Super Wal-Mart," Jack Murray said. "You?d hear Kohl?s mentioned, Target ...."

It was a tough decision to sell, Joe Murray said.

"It came down to a business decision," he said. "It just made sense. We made the company buy the property with all of the tenants intact."

After the closing, DDR sent a letter to the approximately 30 tenants to leave at the end of May.

Most have no long-term leases, according to the Murrays, though some have leases that extend beyond May.

This includes My Skizzors owner, Myung Kim, who recently opened her hair salon after signing a year lease in November.

Kim said she has until November to move out. She invested thousands of dollars in sinks and fixtures, she said, items that will be hard to relocate. She pays $1,500 a month in rent.

She has built up a clientele and wants to stay in town, she said.

After her experience renting, she?d like to buy a space.

"I don?t want people pushing me out again," she said. "I?m scared now."

She is using Realtor Denise Gauron of Century 21 Family in Hampton Falls.

Next to My Skizzors is the Gold Leaf Tobacconist, a business that recently moved to Lafayette Commercial Park from another Seabrook site.

Tenants in the two-story strip mall out back pay as little as $800 a month in rent. They will have trouble finding another location in Seabrook, Gauron said.

"There?s not a lot available to rent," she said. "There?s not a lot of affordable Route 1 rentals."

The businesses include Advance America Cash Advance, Seabrook Fireworks Spectacular, Energy North Propane, and numerous auto shops.

[Kat Kanning]

The article didn't say anything about eminent domain.