A Block Contel Goes for Approval for Third Time

The developers of a controversial Hampton Beach project will once again seek approval for a structure on a vacant Hampton Beach lot, although they're coming back with a new design just one month after their latest proposal was rejected by Hampton's Zoning Board during another lengthy public meeting.

Green and Company Building and Development Corporation will ask for a variance for a five-story, 36-unit contel building on Hampton Beach's A Block during a zoning board public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The proposed structure is significantly different in size and scope than the developers' previous eight-story proposals, which came in at 89 feet and 100 feet tall.

The 89-foot-tall proposal wasn't granted a variance on Oct. 17 because zoning board members thought an exemption that large — even though the proposal came in 11 feet shorter than the original plans — would be unfair to nearby lots and developers because it would put them at an "economic disadvantage." 

The new proposal features up to eight commercial units on the ground level along 275 Ocean Blvd., while the upper four floors feature 36 one-bedroom contel units, according to zoning board documents. Previous proposals called for more than 50 two-bedroom units.

Green and Co. will come back before the zoning board not long after members Bill O'Brien and Tom McGuirk publicly discussed a range of new height limits for beach buildings in that area.

The proposal also comes just weeks after a special event designed to gather public input as the Hampton Planning Board works on a warrant article to increase Hampton's 50-foot building height restriction. 

Green and Co. had some strong words for the town of Hampton during that event.