Al Fleury makes final pitch for controversial 94-unit apartment complex in Hampton

Traffic increase, property values factoring into outcry about 18-unit boutique hotel and retail/commercial space

 Al Fleury’s team made its final pitch before the town Zoning Board last week for a proposed 94-unit apartment complex in downtown Hampton.

Fleury’s attorney, Justin Pasay, told the Zoning Board Thursday, Jan. 18, that they don’t expect the development would cause a significant traffic increase on Lafayette Road, High Street and Dearborn Avenue or impact abutting property values. The project would also include an 18-unit boutique hotel and new retail/commercial space.

The development, proposed at the former Webber Antiques property, remains controversial as the Zoning Board prepares to decide whether to grant five variances for the project in February.

Residents of Dearborn Avenue who spoke against the project in past meetings returned Jan. 18. Many said they doubted the Fleury team’s predictions regarding traffic and reiterated their belief the project is too big.

“To me, it’s massive, it’s intrusive, it’s out of character for the neighborhood,” said David O’Shaughnessy, a Dearborn Avenue resident. “It’s my belief, we have zoning laws to prevent stuff like this.”

Fleury makes pitch to revitalize downtown Hampton

The project, put forth by Fleury alongside his brother Adam, would merge 495 Lafayette Road, 48-52 High Street and 6 Dearborn Ave. It would include a 4½-story, 59.75-foot L-shaped apartment building on Route 1 across from the Old Salt with one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.

The project requires height and density variances. The allowed units per structure in that part of town is eight. The allowed height is 35 feet.

Pasay opened the meeting by refuting what he called misinformation about the project. While some have alleged the project will bring more than 200 new cars to the development, he pointed out that nearly half of the units are one-bedroom apartments. Town zoning requires two parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Pasay said a traffic study shows the proposed development will generate 43 new trips during the peak morning traffic hour and 60 new trips total in the evening.

“We’re not talking about 100 cars, 200 cars on the road at once,” Pasay said.

Pasay said the properties contributed to traffic before Fleury purchased them. He said those numbers factor into lowering the number of trips. He pointed to Webber Antiques, which also rented rooms, and the High Street location, which was a school.

Pasay said with that history included, the number of new trips is only 15 in the morning and 26 at night. Fleury’s team also provided a 90-page report to the Zoning Board on the projected impact on home values.

Brian White, whose firm White Appraisal completed the report, said he looked at noise, view and use as factors in diminishing neighboring property values and found no expected impact.

White said a natural tree buffer and fences will help muffle sounds. He also said the new commercial space and hotel should add to property values in the area, not bring them down.

“The view of new high-quality buildings will be an improvement over the existing building,” White said.

White also said he spoke with assessors from various other cities and towns who said similar projects had no effects in those communities. He pointed to the residential development at 150 US Route 1 Bypass in Portsmouth, where there was “no sales data to indicate a diminishing of value.” He also noted projects in Dover and Durham that had multistory structures built.

“Several five-story buildings were constructed, and no diminishing of value was found,” White said.

Residents remain skeptical about downtown development

Those from Dearborn Avenue remained skeptical the project would not harm their home values. After viewing an image of the proposed apartment building and its size, Sarah Deroche of Dearborn Avenue said she doubted the Fleury team’s appraiser.

“My personal opinion is it will devalue my property,” Deroche said.

Molly St. Jeanne, a business owner in Hampton who has said the project would help young couples stay in Hampton, said during public comment Fleury’s experts should be taken seriously.

“I don’t know that it’s really appropriate for me to comment on things that I’m not an expert on,” St. Jeanne said. “I ask that we really listen to the experts and treat them like the experts they are.”

Others remained adamant the existing zoning reflects the intent of the voters.

Hannah Edgar, who lives on Dearborn Avenue, called the request for variances “excessive relief” for height and density.

“In my opinion, this project completely contradicts the zoning rules and regulations that have been voted on by the town,” Edgar said. “It’s my belief that these rules are here for a reason.”

Zoning Board to vote on facts of the case, not Fleury’s character

Board Chair Bill O’Brien said the public comment portion of the application process was closed after the January meeting. He said the board’s next meeting will be to decide whether to approve the project.

Board members said previously they had been flooded with support letters for Fleury’s project. Many who support the development have cited Fleury’s positive impact in Hampton with his many businesses and projects in town.

Board members said again Thursday that Fleury’s record and character were not being deliberated, but rather the project’s details and whether the board can legally grant the variances. O’Brien said he was well aware of Fleury’s work in town, having been on the Zoning Board when they approved several of his projects.

“I did it for Wally’s. I did it for Bernie’s. I did it for the Goat. I did it for the Mexican restaurant,” O’Brien said. “I know what he does. I just like to get that off the table. I want to deal in facts.”

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