Changes May Be Coming to Portsmouth's Port

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The Port is under the jurisdiction of the Pease Development Authority.

The PDA enjoys considerable flexibility in business development at the former Air Force Base, but it's limited at what it can do at the waterfront. .

And that is something that Dick Green, the PDA's Executive Director wants to change.

(Green) :18

“When the Port was transferred to be overseen by the PDA, not all of the same opportunities of the legislation to finance the redevelopment were passed on with the change when they transferred the port.”

For example, the PDA can't enter into long term leases at the Port.

Currently, any lease between the PDA and a private business at the port must be approved by the Governor and Council if it is longer than seven years.

Changing that, says Green, would enourage other uses. .
Right now, the only businesses at the Port are scrap metal and road salt.

(Green) :12

“Those of us that are seriously looking at that waterfront property feel that it is really not being used for its highest and best value. Waterfront property where that is located is very valuable.”

And opening up those leasing restrictions, Green says, would allow all sorts of commerce at the Port.

(Green) :13

“We’re more concerned with manufactured products, certainly container operations would be high on our list. But finished products, we have a free trade zone there that could be taken greater advantage of.

But allowing for a diversity of businesses is just one benefit of changing the leasing rules.

Many city officials, including Mayor Steve Marchand feel that the piles of metal and salt take away the aesthetic value of the waterfront.

(Marchand) :20

“This is the gateway for many people coming off exit 7 off I95, and ideally you’d like something that is not only economically viable but aesthetically pleasing. And I know it’s been a long term goal of the city to develop and intensify efforts for aesthetically pleasing changes.

Portsmouth's State Representative Laura Pantelakos agrees.

(Pantelakos) :17

“That port is not working to its potential. And I believe that the PDA is working in the right direction to get it there. I believe we should have cargo ships coming in…cruise ships. That land is too valuable to be used for storage of salt and scrap.”

Pantelakos is working with the PDA director Green to increase the agency’s power over port operations.

She has sponsored a bill that would give the PDA's Board of Directors the power to hire and fire the Port Director.

Currently that power is in the hands of the Governor and the Executive Council.

The bill would also give the PDA power over port personnel..

Pantelakos expects a vote on her legislation within the next couple of weeks.

But Green cautions that change at the Port won’t happen overnight.

The state does receive revenue from the existing businesses there.

So he’ll be looking for backing from the full PDA Board, as well as the Portsmouth City Council.

For NHPR News, this is Roger Wood in Portsmouth.