Franklin St. project before Exeter ZBA tonight

'Social club' proposed in residential development

EXETER The vacant lot that was once home to an old garage at 1 Franklin St. may soon become an "enchanting pocket neighborhood" where townhouses designed with porches to create a friendly atmosphere would be built along with a central clubhouse for residents.

The project, called Porches of Exeter, is part of a plan by current property owner Al Lampert to revitalize the Franklin Street area of downtown Exeter.

"The goal of the Porches neighborhood is to create a small community of active, engaged adults who desire a lifestyle built around close neighborly connection, healthy eating, physical activity, civic engagement and social vitality," Porches of Exeter founder Kathleen Mahoney said in a letter explaining the project submitted to the town.

The project is expected to go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment Tuesday night to seek a variance allowing for fewer parking spaces than required. While most of the project will be built in the commercial district, a portion of it is planned in a residential zone, meaning a second variance would be needed.

"A central component of the plan is to build front porches on all the homes to foster visibility, friendliness and connection among neighbors and passersby," Mahoney said.

According to plan, the project will also include The Club at Porches, which is described as a "supper and social club" that serves dinner only with members who will use the club mainly between 6 and 9 p.m. when other businesses have closed to ease the impact on downtown parking. The dining area would seat 75 people.

"We are targeting 100 memberships, 15 of which are residents who live in the homes in the Porches pocket neighborhood," the plan said.

Eleven out of the 15 planned townhouses have already been approved by the Planning Board, according to Lampert.

The project's small pocket park and parking lot planned for the corner of Franklin and Clifford streets would "call attention to the charming architecture of the Blue Moon and the Long Block, resulting in a friendlier, softer, more open and airy, welcoming face at this gateway point in the town," the plan said.

Originally posted here:
Franklin St. project before Exeter ZBA tonight