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Graham, Donna

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From: Linda Johansen 2

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 9:58 AM

To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Barriers Downtown

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

To the Board of Alderman,

I am fairly new to living in Nashua and frequenting Main Street. I will often look for restaurants that offer
outdoor seating/dining and don't find it common in Nashua. Therefore, I was delighted to find some outdoor
seating available downtown during the pandemic. Although I have enjoyed the flexibility to dine outdoors, |
have concerns of the negative impact to the community to continue the practice of concrete barriers another 3
years.

The concrete barriers downtown

* increase response times for emergency vehicles-- this should take priority over all else

* puta strain on traffic flows reducing the quality of life for those who commute on this road daily
¢ negatively affect available parking

e make access to local businesses more difficult

* are not aesthetically appealing.

I feel the decision to move forward another 3 years is premature. Nashua BOA should pause and further their
research for alternatives and long term solutions. For instance, assessing zoning laws and variances to allow
building upwards and incorporating roof-top patios for outdoor dining.

However, should a vote on the barriers pass, please consider alternative options. For instance, planters that
would beautify the area. They are designed in fiberglass, metal, and wood. Even the concrete ones are more
appealing than the barriers and can be beautified with flowers or dwarf conifers. Google searches on "planters
barriers restaurant pic" can provide several examples.

Thank you.
Regards,

Linda Johansen
58 Deerwood Dr, Nashua, NH 03063

Graham, Donna
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From: Claude Kallanian

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 10:13 AM
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Concrete Barriers

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown,

Hello,
It’s time to stop placing the concrete barriers on Main Street!

When driving my wife to work and back, Water Street completely backs up entering Main Street due
to the barriers in front of Peddler’s Daughter. It makes no sense to block those lanes of traffic when
in fact, that particular restaurant, which is great, already has outdoor seating on the side of its
building.

We also think that the barrier’s are unsightly - no matter how much they try to dress them up with
paintings.

The barriers may have been a good idea in the beginning, but it’s time to get back to normal and keep
the lanes open!

Thank you for listening!

Claude & Mary Kallanian
258 Pine Street
Nashua, NH 03060

Graham, Donna
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From: Michelle Scribner-MacLean
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 10:16 AM
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Outside dining

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is unknown.

Hello, Board of Selectpersons,

| am writing to let you know that | am in favor of outside dining again this summer in downtown Nashua.
Seeing people outside eating, enjoying, makes the downtown seems so vibrant and | think it makes folks want to
venture into those restaurants that offer it.

Thanks for all of your hard work and for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Dr, Michelle Scribner-MacLean
73 Hawthorne Village Road
Nashua

Graham, Donna
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From: Mark Duffett

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 10:28 AM
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Outdoor Dining - YES!!!

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

Deer Nashua Board of Aldermen,

I have always loved the atmosphere of dining outside. I love spending my time and money at local downtown
eateries: Martha’s Exchange, Peddler’s Daughter, Odd Fellows, Jajabelles, Main St Gyro, Farmers Market,
(Bagel Alley too, but 1 know they don’t have outdoor dining; they should)), etc.

These past few years, I have loved, loved spending time outdoors at these local downtown restaurants with
friends and families. Outside! In a vibrant alive downtown Nashua!

Outdoor dining makes the Nashua downtown come alive! It’s a walkable living city; what an awesome
atmosphere.

Please, please, please, allow the outdoor dining to continue!

Mark Duffett
Yarmouth Dr, Nashua NH

Graham, Donna
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From:

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 10:53 AM
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Traffic Barriers

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is unknown.
Dear Members of the BOA,

| am a resident of Nashua and a registered voter. In addition, my wife is handicapped and prefers easy access to
buildings and parking downtown. The barriers block a lot of on street parking and make this more difficult for
handicapped parking.

| would like the Board to keep the concrete barriers off Main St. They are unsightly, they cause terrible traffic
congestion, and they’re an unnecessary cost to the taxpayers. In addition, the placement of the barriers shows
preferential treatment for some businesses over others. | live downtown and walk the streets often so | observe this
first hand. Some large restaurants have huge outdoor seating areas that are full while others take up lots of space that is
rarely used. Some types of businesses, such as my pharmacy, do not have any need for additional sidewalk space, but
they suffer from the reduced on-street parking.

The barriers also block bike lanes and force bicyclists off the road and onto the sidewalks, which is a safety hazard.

No big city that successfully attracts tourists or local residents uses concrete barriers in this way. The barriers are
unsightly and cause traffic jams. Portsmouth is one example of a municipality that keeps its beauty, historical character,
and thriving business district free of such destructive things.

Thank you for your consideration and | look forward to a beautiful, clear Main Street this spring.

Best Regards,

Chris Joliat

Christopher Jjoliat
34 Franklin St Suite 408
Nashua, NH 03064

Chris

Christopher Joliat
34 Franklin St Suite 408
Nashua, NH 03064

Graham, Donna
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From: Nikki W

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 11:37 AM
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Concerned resident/business partner.

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

To Whom it May Concern:

| am writing as a concerned citizen, driver, downtown resident and employee of Nashua who uses Main St several times
per day. | frequent Main St. daily for dining and shopping, as both a driver and pedestrian. | fear that cutting half of the
lanes down is not conducive to proper flow of traffic and dangerous for not only pedestrians but also those driving on the
street.

Not to mention the fire and rescue stating it takes an extra minute and nine seconds to get through traffic, that could be
the difference of life or death. The police also expressed safety and concerns about increased response times. The fire
chief said it would be difficult to even operate the Ladder truck on a working fire if needed as they would need to operate
around the barriers. As far as I'm concerned, this should be the end of this discussion. When public safety becomes a
concern, there should be no further discussion about the barriers. During the Covid pandemic, the BOA constantly said,
lets listen to the experts (BOH, CDC, etc...) and follow their advice which has been done with the various mandates. Now
we have experts stating they have concerns about the barriers and they are falling on deaf ears as we are not listening to
them.

I'd prefer to leave downtown as is. Restaurants have been able to get along find before the pandemic and will continue to
do business after. The restaurants are thriving downtown especially on the weekends. Many do not even have the staff to
support their indoor dining, never mind EXPANDED outdoor dining. The restaurants that want outdoor dining may still do
so on the sidewalks like they have in years past. We do not need to change the roadways 24/7 to add more dining seats
that are only used for a portion of the day and are only beneficial to restaurants. The barriers will be detrimental to all
retailers and non-restaurant establishments as the increased traffic and lack of parking deters patrons from coming
downtown.

It's time to start normalizing and living our normal lives again. Stop putting up the barriers. Please.

Working at a downtown business (Nashua Collision Center), I've had many customers in the summer explain they're on
their way but running late due to traffic in the area. | don't want to work late because my customers can't get here on time.
I'm here from 7:30pm to 5pm M-F. I'd like to leave work on time, but the traffic this causes and undue stress is
unacceptable not to mention my customers being very frustrated not being able to easily navigate downtown.

| frequently (4+ times per week) dine downtown. As | mentioned earlier, restaurants do not have the staff (servers,
bartenders and kitchen) to sustain the inside and outside seating. They barely have the staff for a busy Saturday night
with just indoor seating. It's just unreasonable at this point in time.

I'd hate to need a fireman or a rescue and wait a full minute and nine seconds longer than was necessary because Main
St traffic was too difficult to get down.

Let's all be reasonable not only keep traffic flowing but keep public safety in mind!
Nicole Wilde

36 Mason St

Nashua, NH 03060

Nicole Wilde

cio

Nashua Collision Center, Inc.
32 Mason St.

Nashua, NH 03060

Graham, Donna

From: Wes Anderson

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 9:23 AM
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: No to Main st. barriers

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

] am not in favor of the barriers on main st. I understand that this helped restaurants during the pandemic. I feel
like this only helped restaurants. | supported the restaurants throughout the pandemic by ordering take out. It is
nice to sit outside and dine but it is not nice on main st. The barriers increase traffic and lines of cars. I do not
believe it is nice to have a bite of food and wash it down with a big huff of exhaust fumes. This is a public
health matter, a traffic problem, and a taxpayer burden. I am a homeowner in Nashua and get crushed by the
taxes here. The restaurants get extra space for their business and get extra square footage. I am not sure if they
pay for the barriers to get put up or pay additional taxes for the extra space, but you could reply and educate me
on the matter. In my neighborhood I have sidewalks crumbling and potholes. They are not fixed but the priority
is restaurants and barriers. Please do not put the barriers back up.

Wes Anderson
9 N 7th St, Nashua, NH 03060

Graham, Donna

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From: Lynne Trask i :

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 12:37 PM

To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Removal of barriers in Main Street

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is unknown.
Good afternoon-

| vote for no barriers on Main St. They are | slightly, cause too much traffic and are an impairment to the Fire/Police and
ambulances. Covid is moving in, we no longer need them.

Lynne Trask
33 Summer Street

Graham, Denna

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From: Jim Bernard

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 1:01 PM

To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Expanded out door Dining

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

Hello,

?? Lam writing this at the request of several downtown restaurants who have taken to social media asking for support. |
am in favor of continuing the expanded outdoor dining. Over the last 2 years my wife and have taken advantage of it and
it has been nothing short of wonderful. The vibe on Main St. on a warm Thursday, ??Friday night and all day Saturday
and Sunday is fantastic. The restaurants are full and on a lot of evenings there is music. Nashua need to continue to
invest in the downtown to attract new and younger resident.

?? | have never had had an issue finding a parking space even on the busiest of nights nor has the traffic been a problem.
There seems to be a very small minority of citizens who have decided to take exception of everything this board and any

comment sessions reflect the opinions of most of the citizens in the City.
??

Regards

??

Jim Bernard

21 Lewis St,

Nashua NH
??