Portsmouth taxpayers forced to subsidize developers

Oct. 24 − To the Editor:

I understand that Portsmouth needs more housing, especially affordable housing. But I’m concerned about the increased demand for parking that has come with development in the downtown and North and West Ends. Already demand for parking outstrips supply. The City’s garages and lots are jammed. The Foundry and Hanover garages have long waiting lists for monthly parking passes. But some developers are getting passes—passes in the form of City-issued variances that relieve them of ordinance requirements to provide adequate parking for the residents and businesses filling their buildings. Our city planning and zoning officials have bought into the developers’ arguments that the city has enough public parking and that

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